Tal Memorial 2013
: Created:25 Jun 2013 , byBoris Gelfand in first place achieved a life-time best performance but what happened to Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen?
Boris Gelfand is a very likeable character and no one will begrudge him his clear victory in June's Mikhael Tal Memorial. He was unbeaten with three wins and six draws.
Betweeen 6th and 26th November Magnus Carlsen challenges Vishy Anand for his world championship in Chennai, India. In this tournament Carlsen was second and Anand came ninth out of ten but it should not be assumed that in match play Carlsen will automatically become the champion.
On the plus side for Anand is his match experience and coupled with home advantage this could be decisive. However Carlsen is twenty years the younger man and it requires no insight to predict that he will attempt to grind down Anand in long games. Assuming that Carlsen has insisted on air-conditioning in the venue I back him to become the new champion.