Anyone want to play a game of chess?

[Mark_Weston]

@Gorath

If I’m not mistaken his streak has already ended last October at Norway Chess 2020 against Duda.

I think you’re probably right. I believe there’s some nitpicking going on as to whether the Norway Chess time controls (2 hours for the whole game, no time control increments) counts as a “classical” format. And the source I had for this weekend’s game being the end of the streak must have been bought into those nitpicks.

@Gorath

It’s not a surprise Magnus reacted so calmly, IMHO. One of the reasons the top guys are better than other GMs is that they are better at shutting off their emotions. After this game is before the next game, and negative emotions are not helpful. Magnus is certainly angry about himself, for overlooking a simple tactic for a player of his class and getting outplayed like this, but he’ll deal with it after the tournament. So, yes, just a bad day at the office.

Well, if the stories I’ve read about the experience of playing against a young Kasparov are anything to go by, not all of the top players are quite so unemotional!