Chess World Championship: Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana

[W E Ray]

So, who ya got, King Magnus of the Vikings or the American challenger?

It's a tough one for me because I played a few Blitz games against Caruana in skittles rooms (in between tournament games) back in the early '00s when he was a ten/eleven year old Expert, and I really liked the kid -- but I became a big fan of Magnus when he cracked 2500 as an IM in '03 and had him pegged as a future World Champion.

I admit I want Magnus to win. But it's tough.

How about you?

[Corporal Half Past Tuesday]

Whichever team is coached by Bill Belicheck.

[W E Ray]

Nah, I don't believe either Carlsen or Caruana will cheat -- and that's what Belicheck teams do to win.

[W E Ray]

Super Game 1

Thought Carlsen was slightly better after the Opening. And Caruana having time control issues.

Intense Middle Game!

But Magnus couldn’t find the breakthrough and, after 30 banal Endgame just-in-case moves,.... DRAW

Fun game to watch!

And we thought Woody Harrelson’s blunder in the ceremonial would steal the show!

[W E Ray]

Boring Game 2 after Caruana’s fascinating Opening play made us think we might be in for a real treat of a positional tour-de-force.

But no, after the Opening — a bland DRAW.