![[es]](/mwf/v12/flags/es.png "Spain")
It was yesterday, in the chat from ChessBomb's transmission of the game between Kramnik and Anand, when someone said that the reigning chess champion had gone 17 classical games without a single win. I thought... 17, only?
For some time I've been meaning to look at his data, to start with, his last tournament victory was at Linares 2008 (58 months ago!) But that's just the top of the iceberg. While in the last four years he's seen his ELO go all the way up to his all-time record of 2817, that's basically thanks to his WCCs against Topalov, who had quite an inflated ELO at the time, and Kramnik (thanks to better preparation). Some easy wins against much lower rated GMs on the Bundesliga have also helped him maintain his rating. But, even counting those results, his score in nearly 5 years is +31 =120 -15. When it comes to tournaments alone... +19 =93 -10, only 26 ELO points above the average competition.
With top tournaments employing more and more the new score system, it's unlikely he'll ever win again unless he stops playing for a draw.
For some time I've been meaning to look at his data, to start with, his last tournament victory was at Linares 2008 (58 months ago!) But that's just the top of the iceberg. While in the last four years he's seen his ELO go all the way up to his all-time record of 2817, that's basically thanks to his WCCs against Topalov, who had quite an inflated ELO at the time, and Kramnik (thanks to better preparation). Some easy wins against much lower rated GMs on the Bundesliga have also helped him maintain his rating. But, even counting those results, his score in nearly 5 years is +31 =120 -15. When it comes to tournaments alone... +19 =93 -10, only 26 ELO points above the average competition.
With top tournaments employing more and more the new score system, it's unlikely he'll ever win again unless he stops playing for a draw.
![[de]](/mwf/v12/flags/de.png "Germany")
Anand is way past his peak for quite some time now. He seems unable to create pressure and play for a win. The sad thing is that he takes spots away from the young guns in the WCC.
> the reigning chess champion had gone 17 classical games without a single win. I thought... 17, only?
You seem to have forgotten about his match against Gelfand.
> that's basically thanks to his WCCs against Topalov, who had quite an inflated ELO at the time, and Kramnik (thanks to better preparation).
That's such an incredibly simplisitc and unfair statement, I can't imagine you are serious. Both his matches against Topalov and against Kramnik were on an incredibly high level, both concerning preparation and OTB play. In my view, these were clearly the best matches since at least Kasparov-Karpov 1990.
It is hard to dispute that Anand's results in tournaments have been far from great for quite some time. He is still one of the strongest players ever, even if he is past his prime now.
His only win in the WCC was on game 8, which makes 4 (rest of the match) + 10 (Bilbao) + 3 (start of London)= 17
As for being "simplisitc and unfair" just calculate his ELO with or without those games and report back.
As for being "simplisitc and unfair" just calculate his ELO with or without those games and report back.
> His only win in the WCC was on game 8, which makes 4 (rest of the match) + 10 (Bilbao) + 3 (start of London)= 17
So? You had said 'only 17?' and so I commented that you probably forgot about the match.
> As for being "simplisitc and unfair" just calculate his ELO with or without those games and report back.
Thanks for letting me report to you. I commented on your remarks about his matches against Topalov ('overrated') and Kramnik ('thanks to better preparation'). These remarks were simplistic and unfair, I stand by that. Anand's performance in both of these matches was superb. So what is the relevance of his Elo performance in tournaments for this issue?
I didn't offer a different number because 17 is correct. The fact that made it look wrong is this: Anand's been playing few tournaments of late, and the last ones before his WCC match (from November and December of 2011) had given him a score of +1 =15 -1. That victory, together with the one that allowed him to retain the title as World Champion where the only two in more that a year that stuck to mind. So I didn't have all this in my head when I read "17", but it certainly was at the back of my mind. It was only a first sight reaction and what prompted me to compile the data offered, nothing more.
"what is the relevance of his Elo performance in tournaments for this issue?"
What issue? My statement is that his ELO performance in the last four years has been "masked" by the aforementioned games, and I don't have to stand by it more than I should when saying 2+2=4. If you want to prove I'm wrong go ahead and do the work.
"what is the relevance of his Elo performance in tournaments for this issue?"
What issue? My statement is that his ELO performance in the last four years has been "masked" by the aforementioned games, and I don't have to stand by it more than I should when saying 2+2=4. If you want to prove I'm wrong go ahead and do the work.
![[us]](/mwf/v12/flags/us.png "United States")
Anand is 42 years old and he has a child. He simply can't bring it the way he used to, let's say, 10 years ago. He has one more one million dollar championship check waiting for him and then he'll start doing whatever it is that ex-world champions do.
For his fans, his recent games have been quite disappointing. I was hoping he could win one more WC match but looking at Carlsen, I am afraid that is asking for too much.
For his fans, his recent games have been quite disappointing. I was hoping he could win one more WC match but looking at Carlsen, I am afraid that is asking for too much.
It’s annoying that the WC is more than 80 Elo points below the best player.
Yes, but as you remember "the best player" chose not to compete for WC.
I'm questioning the whole WC system with defending the title and stuff. I will say chess is the only sport were the WC goes right through to the final. Also the qualifier didn’t produce the best challenger. Maybe I'm too negative here but I want to see Carlsen, Aronian, Kramnik, Radjabov, Karjakin, Caruana headbutting it off to be WC.
I agree with you that the last WC was a disappointment. However, overall, I like the current system. The way things are right now, most likely you'll get Anand vs Carlsen which I think is a pretty attractive match. If you make everyone qualify, you may end up getting something like Khazimdzanov vs Ponomariov.
I guess he heard us talking about him. Anand won his game today.
Insane wide open tactical game.
Insane wide open tactical game.
> Some easy wins against much lower rated GMs on the Bundesliga have also helped him maintain his rating.
What he said.
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