Hey everyone!! The LCC LIVE coverage starts in 17 minutes at this link here. I'm not going to reporting on the everyday results and events as I normally would, but I might show PGNs between some of the bigger games, like today's Anand and Nakamura, and maybe updated standings. not full in depth stuff that you people are probably all sick of that anyway.

   But here are the pairings for Round 1:

   Nigel Short vs. Vladimir Kramnik

   Luke McShane vs Magnus Carlsen(defending Champion)

   Michael Adams vs David Howell

   Vishy Anand vs. Hikaru Nakamura

Format: 8 players and all play all. Seven rounds.(SRR event)

Category: The event is currently Category 20 and 2700+ and quite close to 2730 (actual 2729).

Rules: Classical time control like Linares. 40/2, 20/1, g/15'+30". Sofia Rules.

   -Mark

   For anyone not watching the live feed/commentary, these two guys are making this a very enjoyable event. All four games are being very well contested. There are no clear cut winners right now on any of the boards. Knowing me, I will report the entire first round if it keeps going like this 

   -Mark

Is Carlsen about to lose to Luke McShane!??

  seems like it. They just mentioned it so it looks like it'll be over very soon

I'm watching it on ChessBomb, and Stockfish has McShane up by 3pts!

Kramnik is about to give Short a nice farewell

I don't see see how Naka has any hope against Anand at this point

Wow! I bet the Carlsen fanboys are drinking early today!

  Finished report with PGNs are found here

   -Mark

I didn't see any of it, but Mark said the commentators were great. He really enjoyed it!

  Yes the commentary for the L.C.C. is some of the best I have seen since the Sofia World Championship Match. They make this event a lot of fun to watch and listen to. The feed of the actual video of the games is a little choppy, refreshing every few seconds or so but everything else is just grand. I'm looking forward to round 2, if I can get some heavy sleep before then.

   -Mark

  I'll be posting the Round 2 games once they are over. Today's big matchup is Kramnik/Nakamura, but all of the games should be great to watch. Live coverage is going on now at the link in post #1  

  -Mark