One Down

This will be a brief update at the end of a long and exciting day, but one also with rather continuous internet problems.

The big news today was a convincing win by Hikaru Nakamura over Alexi Shirov that dropped Shirov to within 1/2 point of Naka and Carlsen. Hikaru is now in good shape entering the last half of the tournament. After playing Kramnik tomorrow, he will be facing the "weaker" players in the tournament. Meanwhile Shirov has yet to face most of the "strongest" players.

Carlsen enjoyed an Ivanchuk meltdown today and had an easy win, which means Magnus remains tied for second and Chuckie drops back a point. In third right now is Brazilian GM Dominguez. Kramnik needs to win to stay with him in third but right now Nigel Short has the ex-Champion on the ropes.

The last results update to share is that Ray Robson lost his first game and I was unable to speak with him.

That's it for my "news coverage" from the tournament. I return home tomorrow. And I need to go eat now before "rush hour" in this wee little village swarming with chess players who finished their games a little while ago.

However, I have a lot! of video clips and other sound recordings to go through so there will definitely be more coming ... when I have better access to the internet in the coming week.

Until then, this is your intrepid reporter signing off from Wijk aan Zee! - P