Poikovsky Chess Tournament, held somewhere in Russia.
Participants:
Shirov, Alexei (ESP)
2741
Gashimov, Vugar (AZE)
2717
Jakovenko, Dmitry (RUS)
2709
Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS)
2699
Wang Hao (CHN)
2691
Bologan, Viktor (MDA)
2686
Inarkiev, Ernesto (RUS)
2675
Volokitin, Andrei (UKR)
2672
Onischuk, Alexander (USA)
2670
Sutovsky, Emil (ISR)
2654
I only have one play so far. I'm not too familiar with many of the players, for one. And surprisingly, I didn't notice any lines that were way off. I think I've got a good edge on one, though:
Rublevsky vs Bologan
Picks
Bologan +260
No Draw +159
Bologan is a very impressive player who doesn't get a lot of credit. Rublevsky is, of course, also very good but he's getting old and his best years are behind him. Having met Bologan and played some games with him, he is very determined to break into the Super GM category, and in some tournaments [he won Dortmund a couple years ago] he shows some brilliance. Now, more tangible reasons for betting Bologan to win:
1) Their last game was a draw, but the ones before that were decisive. In fact, the last decisive game was a win for Bologan.
2) The games they've played have been hard fought and SHARP positions, and in all of them Bologan's chances were as good as Rublevsky's.
3) Given 1 and 2, I also bet the No Draw.
Even if Bologan loses I still make money. Hopefully not a quick draw but you never know.
Participants:
Shirov, Alexei (ESP)
2741
Gashimov, Vugar (AZE)
2717
Jakovenko, Dmitry (RUS)
2709
Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS)
2699
Wang Hao (CHN)
2691
Bologan, Viktor (MDA)
2686
Inarkiev, Ernesto (RUS)
2675
Volokitin, Andrei (UKR)
2672
Onischuk, Alexander (USA)
2670
Sutovsky, Emil (ISR)
2654
I only have one play so far. I'm not too familiar with many of the players, for one. And surprisingly, I didn't notice any lines that were way off. I think I've got a good edge on one, though:
Rublevsky vs Bologan
Picks
Bologan +260
No Draw +159
Bologan is a very impressive player who doesn't get a lot of credit. Rublevsky is, of course, also very good but he's getting old and his best years are behind him. Having met Bologan and played some games with him, he is very determined to break into the Super GM category, and in some tournaments [he won Dortmund a couple years ago] he shows some brilliance. Now, more tangible reasons for betting Bologan to win:
1) Their last game was a draw, but the ones before that were decisive. In fact, the last decisive game was a win for Bologan.
2) The games they've played have been hard fought and SHARP positions, and in all of them Bologan's chances were as good as Rublevsky's.
3) Given 1 and 2, I also bet the No Draw.
Even if Bologan loses I still make money. Hopefully not a quick draw but you never know.
