Tata Steel Chess - First round

We were all waiting for this moment: the first round has started! While many games are still in progress, two games have already been decided in the A-Group:

1. Jan Smeets won very fast, surprising his opponent, Alexei Shirov, right from the very beginning. The opening preparation went very well and Jan is now the happy owner of a full point!

2. Carlsen - Aronian was a quick draw, many players seeing this result as a wise decision to keep your energy on a high level for the rest of the tournament.

As mentioned in my previous article, there has been a big image change with the tournament, the sea blue colour having a calming effect for the players and the audience...I guess:)

Pictures from the playing hall:

B-Group and the audience

Ian seems to be relaxed having
White against Kramnik.

Are they playing on the seaside?!:) 

View of the A-Group

Aruna is not here this time, which is a bit unusual,
 but she is  surely supporting her husband.

Ruslan Ponomariov: focusing on his game
against Anand.

Things went wrong today for Alexei...

B-Group: Luke McShane against Wouter Spoelman.

Reporters all over the place, trying to deliver you
the best images!

Levon was Black against Magnus and he is probably
happy with a draw. His usual second: Gabriel Sargissian,
is playing in the B-Group.

A tipical posture for a Top GM: usually this is either
a sign that they are trying to remember their lines,
either a way to visualize better, because the squares are in the way,
instead of helping:)

The press-room: here we are sitting, commenting
and drinking a LOT of coffee:))

Still the press-room, from a different angle:
looking at the games on the tv-screens.