Anand is now -320 at Pinny, looks like a good value. When Gelfand won the candidates matches (thusly becoming the challenger) I thought line would be -500 or so.
Gelfand is obviously a very though match player, he beat Kramnik in a match many years ago. Even if his tournament results are not so great (in part due to giving to many draws to lower players), he usually has held his own against the top players. In this regard he is a perfect pupil of his early trainer, Tigran Petrosian.
For big events Gelfand is always very well prepared. I remember in a world cup match, a frustrated Kamsky down 1 point to Gelfand, playing in the next-to-last game a toothless offbeat opening with white. After the game Kamsky said "Gelfand is so ridiculously well prepared, that this was my best option".
But Anand matches well with Gelfand. His opening preparation is also legendary. And he is regarded by many as the best rapid player ever. So, in the event of a tied match, Anand would be a clear favorite in the rapid tiebreak.
The first game was a surprise. Gelfand playing a Grunfeld defense? Someone may remember Kasparov in the 2nd game match vs Kramnik in 2000, playing the Grunfeld and getting crushed. After the game, Kasparov said Gelfand surely helped Kramnik with his analysis vs the Grunfeld. So, Gelfand, one of the foremost players of the white side of the Grunfeld, now plays it with black? Really a surprise, and Anand got nothing in the first game.
Anyone in SBR follows chess? I remember Mathy posting some insight on the Anand - Topalov match.
Gelfand is obviously a very though match player, he beat Kramnik in a match many years ago. Even if his tournament results are not so great (in part due to giving to many draws to lower players), he usually has held his own against the top players. In this regard he is a perfect pupil of his early trainer, Tigran Petrosian.
For big events Gelfand is always very well prepared. I remember in a world cup match, a frustrated Kamsky down 1 point to Gelfand, playing in the next-to-last game a toothless offbeat opening with white. After the game Kamsky said "Gelfand is so ridiculously well prepared, that this was my best option".
But Anand matches well with Gelfand. His opening preparation is also legendary. And he is regarded by many as the best rapid player ever. So, in the event of a tied match, Anand would be a clear favorite in the rapid tiebreak.
The first game was a surprise. Gelfand playing a Grunfeld defense? Someone may remember Kasparov in the 2nd game match vs Kramnik in 2000, playing the Grunfeld and getting crushed. After the game, Kasparov said Gelfand surely helped Kramnik with his analysis vs the Grunfeld. So, Gelfand, one of the foremost players of the white side of the Grunfeld, now plays it with black? Really a surprise, and Anand got nothing in the first game.
Anyone in SBR follows chess? I remember Mathy posting some insight on the Anand - Topalov match.