World Cup Prediction Contest

On several occasions already, I’ve mentioned the Prediction Contest that was organized for the World Cup. In fact, I’ve probably started to bore my readers who couldn’t care less what my predictions were. But I hope you’ll indulge my whims a...

World Cup Day 6 — Youth Prevails

Today the second round of the World Cup finished, with playoffs for the 15 matches that were tied 1-1. This time there were surprisingly few lengthy playoffs. Thirteen of the fifteen playoffs were decided in the first two games, another was decided in the next two...

World Cup Day 4: Agony and Ecstasy

I didn’t catch very much of the action on Day 4 of the World Cup, because I had other commitments, but I did steal a glance at it now and then. Today was very nearly a whitewash for the higher-rated players. Out of 32 games, only one lower-rated player was able...

World Cup Day 3

As expected, the playoff day for Round 1 of the World Cup was full of drama, with unbelievable reversals of fortune, controversy, and yes, two Armageddon games. The most unbelievable shift of fortune occurred in the match between #27 Evgeny Alekseev and #102 Baskaran...