Carlsen is Depressing

He's been drinking the blood of virgins for a looong time. You'll never catch up.

Somewhat related, preteen masters (as few of them on the planet as there are) used to depress me a little, but I got over it.  I forgot how I got over it so this post may not help much... maybe something like only a few people in the world play to be the best, I play because I love the game and to improve and that's enough.  Something like that.

And Magnus is also worlds away from GM... at least weak GMs.  More than a GM, he's the highest rated guy on the planet.  I think he could do a 10-20 board simul vs low rated GMs

He is a gifted young man with genius ability, but more importantly, he puts forth gigantic effort. Even if mere mortal fish like myself put forth as much effort, my meager brain would be capable of far more than my minescule accomplishments to date. Drive, coupled with natural ability, can make magic!

If you want to be depressed, you should watch the youtube videos of little 6 year olds playing 12 string guitars. I really feel like the left-overs when I watch some little dude tear it up on some highspeed song.

Id like to see that simul, honda!

Did someone say nordic gods?  I thought I was incognito?

He is just very gifted, end of story! He does lose occasionally, not often! At least Gelfand got a draw off of him the other day! He might turn out to be the greatest chess player of all time... don't get depressed, just enjoy the chess (my advice...)

it looks easy for him but if you knew how much time he have spent studying chess you would not be depressed anymore:)

But seriously, a clock simul?  That's much tougher than a regular simul -- that's much tougher than enormous time odds... well, I guess I'm assuming it was something like G/20.

Yeah, in the ongoing Bazna Kings tourney Carlsen had black against Ponomariov and was cooked out of the opening, Carlsen saw this and so on top of it all gave up the exchange because with quiet play he might as well resign.  Luckily for him, Ponomariov folded, and with 2-3 serious errors had not only given back the advantage, but was then lost.  Carlsen won, but clearly he's not perfect.

Kaspy has taken on "the Swiss national team, the French (twice), the US junior team, the German junior team, the German Olympiad squad and finally the Argentenians and the Israelis."

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1016404

 Someone said, "Nobody ever won a game by resigning." (this is not a direct quote)...even if you are behind in the opening, it's just the opening, behind in material means nothing as well...just keep playing your best until it's definite that a win is out of reach; when it is out of reach, then resign, otherwise keep playing. I'm actually not disagreeing with you, I believe that nobody's perfect too...although more than anything, I think there are things to learn from this particular example as there's always something to learn, win or lose.

Now there is a subject I can relate to! - as opposed to all the chess related stuff. On second thought: it is probably an experience we all have to deal with, especially in the age of internet: no matter how good you are at whatever it is you like to do, you can always find numerous people who outperform you with an ease that makes you want to kill. Unfortunately the only remedy appears to be taking your bongo's back to the jungle and drinking lots of alcohol.

Obviously, you should take up the King's Gambit.

What makes you think it is easy for any of these people. Every talented person you see is backed by hours and years of hard work.

I understand. The 'ease' was meant more to accentuate the difference between the almost incredible skills some people display on, for example, the guitar as opposed to those of (just to get personal) struggling me. Also, a lot of effort in acquiring mastery is devoted to automatizing (basic) skills to the level that they require little or no attention, i.e. have become easy (e.g. pattern recognition in chess, chord changes in playing guitar).

If you really think that evens it out, then you haven't been in contact with naturally talented people enough.

Even when you are 'just good' at something, it does come more easily than for others (visibly), and natural talent makes work look like playtime too.

I'm not saying there never is work involved, but the battle isn't uphill for everyone. For the really talented, it could as well be valley. They just have to speed down their cart faster than the other super talented guys and gals..

Umm, exactly, that's why Carlsen did his best to play for complications instead of resigning.

Also I'm not sure you understand what it means to give a top GM a +- out of the opening... but it is good advice for beginners, and maybe even intermediate players, that they can learn something even by playing on in hopeless positions.  GMs already know their error during the game, they play on for hopes of a mistake :)