World Chess Championship 2012

Gelfand vs. Anand is right around the corner!

Who are you going for, why?

Expected opening; e4, d4 or c4? 

Will Chess.com have live shows or post-game analysis only? 

How good is Gelfand? 

I predict not good enough to make it an interesting match.

 I just went to Chessgames to check their record against each other.

Overall record:  Viswanathan Anand beat Boris Gelfand 16 to 6, with 44 draws.

I'm not really interested, a WCC in which the champion is #4 and the challenger is #16 on the FIDE Top 100 List (Jan 2012) list isn't exactly my idea of a sterling event, but that's just me

There's something wrong with this picture, but of course Carlsen dropping out of the Candidates Matches or Tnmt or whatever they're doing now certainly didn't help matters.

BTW I guess the # of games in this prestigous event is classified I couldn't find it online at FIDE or a few other sites, but I think it's 12 just like the last "WCC" what a joke.

Boris certainly does bore us. I would have preferred Aronian as contender.

Gelfand is there because FIDE employs a flawed system of short knockouts to pick the challenger. Anand will crush him.

I certainly expect it to be a close match, since they have had almost a year to study each other's game. Ideally, Gelfand should surprise Anand by taking the first decisive game, then it would be a match for sure! But if Anand takes the early lead, from what I've seen, is that Anand could just draw his way to holding his title from there.

The kramnik vs aronian match will be more interesting

It's hard to believe so many chess players are not excited about a World Chess Championship match? It could be an upset! Ya' never know

 That was good for a chuckle.  

Of course it could be an upset. If Anand refuses to take time off from competition in order to prepare because he does not view Gelfand as a credible threat, then Gelfand might surprise him. But, if Anand brings his usual level of preparation (and skips the Tata Steel tournament), then Gelfand has no chance.

I think there's a good chance he will 

It's an excellent point that Anand could be over-confident. Also, the physical fitness of both players for their duel, may play an important factor. I should look up whether these two are the oldest players in a WC.

But after 1993 it's 15-1 to Anand (the one loss being in a rapid game).

"The Oldest Players since 1886!

By the time the 2012 World Chess Championship Match rolls around in May – Anand will be 42 years old and Gelfand will be 43 years old, so the 2012 World Chess Championship will feature the oldest players since the 1st World Chess Championship between Steinitz and Zukertort in 1886!"

http://www.onlinechesslessons.net/2011/11/09/2012-world-chess-championship/

I think its good that the defending champion gets to play automatically in the next final.  There is a champion and a challenger and that is how it should be in my opinion. 

Likewise in boxing the defending champion automatically gets to defend his crown in the next fight. 

Vishy Anand is a wonderful player and he should not be over confident while playing with Boris Gelfand. The match is going to be strong since both players had a of time to learn and analyze the style of their opponent. I feel that d4 is going to be the opening move in Game 1. All the best to both the players.