(click on images for high-res version)
Right in front of the entrance is this map of Chess in New York. it not only highlights places where one can play chess, such as chess clubs or public spaces, or chess stores, but places that no longer exist but were once famous for chess in the city. All images in this report are high-resolution, so if you click on the above, you should be able to easily read the entire map.
After the hectic, not to say chaotic, day on Saturday, when the venue had been almost overrun by fans and families coming to see the champions at play, Monday seemed a stark contrast with a more ‘business-as-usual’ atmosphere. This isn’t to suggest it was empty by any means, but the long queues that had made navigating the space so difficult were no longer there.
Was it to be a quiet game for a third time? Though everyone hoped not, that is how it started.
The round started with a quiet Berlin, and though it seemed to sidestep the main line with the nearly immediate queen exchange, the line the players had opted for seemed to actually promise even less bite. In fact, while the mainline of the Berlin is no doubt a controversial choice nowadays among fans, with a fair number of vocal haters, it does offer some subtle imbalances that can lead to a dynamic struggle.
While the game got slowly underway, some of the members of Team Carlsen took advantage to announce the launch of Magnus Carlsen’s latest mobile app. The CEO Kate Murphy led the presentation as she answered questions, and then conducted various TV chats.
The development team behind the Magnus app
With little happening at the board yet, and many pessimistically predicting another uneventful game, a snack seemed in order. The venue’s café has a very pleasant café, but overall it is a basic offering, with espresso, soft drinks, and the like. Going down, right nearby, opens up a world of options though, many for quite reasonable prices… for Manhattan that is.
Walking around New York some, one thing that stands out is the significant selection of street food vendors. Hardly the only city with such, the street vendors in New York do stand out by the sheer variety of items for sale. You have the typical hot dog vendors with a large selection of fast food stuffs…
… but you also have much higher quality fare such as this Soup Station that specializes in a bowl of soup with a pleasant and delicious selection available. The line seen above is in fact over twice as long as fit in the image.
Just a couple of blocks away is a miniature coffeehouse, where espressos, cappuccinos, and even an impressive selection of deli items can be found for a perfect coffee break or breakfast-on-the-go.
Returning to the venue saw the game still going strong, and the body language of Magnus didn’t seem to promise much excitement. It is no secret Magnus is a player who relishes a long and tough endgame, but even he seemed less than enthused. This didn’t really bother those there of course, as many struck up impromptu games left and right, whether adults or children.
This is a very common scene, as fans set up a board to play some blitz
Kids are seen everywhere...
... and parents taking advantage to teach th3ir young ones.
Andrew Murray-Watson from AGON (above left) said that the official widget, not including the widgets at affiliate sites, which he proudly numbered at more than 30, had already enjoyed around half a million unique visits in the previous 48 hours of play. When asked how many of these were paying subscribers who accessed the video commentary, he would not go into numbers but assured me that it was a very healthy number and was growing. Stefan Löffler (right), the representative of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, was talking with Andrew, explaining how inconceivable it was there was no Journalist’s tournament. Eventually, Andrew agreed to set one up.
Whether or not he put on his jacket as a subtle tell that things had changed was not clear, but the World Champion's demeanor was clearly different
It was about now that a buzz spread throughout the venue and media room: Karjakin had made a terrible mistake! Carlsen was winning or at the very least a massive favorite. Indeed the computers and grandmasters present all agreed this looked like a wrap for the World Champion. He was going to strike first blood and the Calrsen Steamroller was about to start.
Looking in through the tinted panes in the spectator area, Magnus now looked awake, tense, and focused. He could smell blood.
What followed was a thrilling see-saw battle as Sergey Karjakin put up a stiff fight, showing all his defensive resources. The tension and fatigue showed as the game swung from drawn to winning on several occasions. It was no less an emotional rollercoaster for those watching, as claims that Karjakin had saved it, or that Carlsen was winning cropped up at regular intervals. In the media room, the journalists all stared at the screen which depicted only the game, with no live commentary, and many were challenging one another with ideas and variations. From rival colleagues we had returned to our roots: unabashed chess fans.
Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin (annotated by GM Yasser Seirawan)
After 48...Rh5+ Karjakin had sidestepped the potential trap Magnus had tendered
As the game neared its end, fans and pundits were glued to the screens
A disappointed Carlsen finally extends his hand
The moral victor was clear
Any doubts on who will be tossing and turning that night?
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