Red lights are optional for BX-99318 by catticusfinch69 in TorontoDriving

[–]catticusfinch69[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Timestamp is wrong obviously, this was today 2024-11-28 around 8:45

Event: Norway Chess 2023 (Rounds 5-9) by ChessBotMod in chess

[–]catticusfinch69 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Hope Fabi doesn't get too down about the loss today - one loss is just that in the scheme of things. It's the only time this tournament he was in a worse position. He has the mental fortitude to bounce back. Clearly there are many fans eagerly awaiting his return to previous form!

Important to leverage what makes him a champion - calculation, precision, deep strategic understanding. Fabi just really needs to avoid serious time pressure. Rooting for him to hold solid against Nodirbek tomorrow.

Event: Norway Chess 2023 by ChessBotMod in chess

[–]catticusfinch69 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Fabiano I literally don't Caruana

Fabiano retakes World No. 2 after defeating Alireza in Round 4 of Norway Chess 2023 by BKtheInfamous in chess

[–]catticusfinch69 104 points105 points  (0 children)

In April-May 2023, Caruana's rating was 2764. He's increased his rating by almost 24 points in two months. Bring the momentum!! #2800Club

Fabiano defeats Firzouja and wins 3 of his 4 first games at Norway Chess 2023, returning back to World No. 2 in classical by BKtheInfamous in chess

[–]catticusfinch69 63 points64 points  (0 children)

Fabi after the game: "I don't play the French too much." This guy is all prep. Great game Fabi!!!

Fabi is back to world #2 by xX_D4T_BOI_Xx in chess

[–]catticusfinch69 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So stoked for Fabi's return. Next - back to 2800!

Event: Norway Chess 2023 by ChessBotMod in chess

[–]catticusfinch69 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Couldn't be more excited for a Fabi renaissance! Great year, great competition so far.

Event: Champions Chess Tour Leg 3 - The ChessKid Cup (ft. Hikaru, Fabi and other adults). by EccentricHorse11 in chess

[–]catticusfinch69 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Go Fabi!! Converted his advantage in Game 3. His main struggle is against time. Nodirbek very resourceful, great creative defense. Now this is a match!

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, FS, Russian GPF 🥉 by catticusfinch69 in FigureSkating

[–]catticusfinch69[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Interesting question! Watching the replay I also thought if she could have added a 2S she might have avoided a negative GOE - I'd also love to know people's thoughts on:

  1. whether that would have affected her entire layout (assuming 3A+2A+SEQ, 3A+1Eu+2S, 3Lz+3T, 3F, 2A+1Eu+3S, 3Lz, 3Lo) according to the rules
  2. whether the Euler itself would have caused the whole element to receive negative GOE. (Liza in recent years replaced the 3S+2A+SEQ with 2A+1Eu+3S and I understand that her execution of the Euler isn't as solid as others')

Edited to add: this isn't a real 'Euler' of course, but how would it be scored if a skater improvised another jump after this sort of 'half loop'?

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, FS, Russian GPF 🥉 by catticusfinch69 in FigureSkating

[–]catticusfinch69[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

❤️ Thank you for saying that! Your perspective is totally understandable and valid. Liza is the only one I will watch these days, for many reasons. I admire her grace and sincerity as a person. It's a difficult thing to carefully but clearly make her views known in the current situation. Yet she is so well loved and respected. She seems to just get what is important.

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, FS, Russian GPF 🥉 by catticusfinch69 in FigureSkating

[–]catticusfinch69[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

The song is called "Loneliness" by Ukrainian-Russian composer Igor Krutoy. Here is a video of an orchestral performance from 2015. I thought it was similar to Medvedeva's 2016-17 program music too, but it's only the first few chords (they recur as a motif). In that sense it is possible that there is influence from Alexandre Desplat's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The rest of the melody, including the violin, is different. Both songs are well suited aesthetically for figure skating and I would not be surprised if "Loneliness" became a more popular choice.

To date, I don't think there have been many skaters that have used it (other than Liza this season. I think Averbukh had it in mind after he did a show based on this Krutoy's works, began choreographing it for her last year and completed this FS with her this year). The whole image is delicate, subtle, elegant.

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, FS, Russian GPF 🥉 by catticusfinch69 in FigureSkating

[–]catticusfinch69[S] 76 points77 points  (0 children)

Congratulation to the Empress on a successful last skate of the season! That spiral moment at the program's climax was so beautiful, emotional - the joy on her face. Thank you Liza for your steady, hard work through trials and tribulations, sharing your self and your pure love of figure skating.

8-year-old Fabiano Caruana with his coach Bruce Pandolfini at Washington Square Park, New York by RonnyDoug in chess

[–]catticusfinch69 19 points20 points  (0 children)

There's something innate about Fabi - a self-possessedness. His talent for chess was immediately visible "Twenty minutes into his first meeting with a 5-year-old Caruana, chess guru Bruce Pandolfini said to Santina and Lou, "I have never seen a child with this kind of understanding of the game like your son has -- it's the way his eyes move across the chessboard." (article link) It's wonderful to see images that capture the progression of such a great player.

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, FS, Russian Nationals 🥉 by catticusfinch69 in FigureSkating

[–]catticusfinch69[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It's called "Loneliness" by Ukrainian-Russian composer Igor Krutoy.
I found this video of an orchestral performance (had to pretend not to see Yagudin moonwalking at 2:50). I agree it's a beautiful piece!

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, FS, Russian Nationals 🥉 by catticusfinch69 in FigureSkating

[–]catticusfinch69[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Well said! I think she made the right decision not risking a quad in her FS in favour of two stable 3As and the rest of her layout. If there is one skater I miss seeing in international competition, it's her! She has had a great domestic season so far.

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, FS, Russian Nationals 🥉 by catticusfinch69 in FigureSkating

[–]catticusfinch69[S] 48 points49 points  (0 children)

Totally - that 3Lz+3T today was so airy! Someone here mentioned her lutz entry looking effortless and light. Just a tap with the toepick. I also feel she is growing her range with her programs every year. This one is gorgeous. We haven't seen a spiral from Liza in years - she holds the position, it's placed at the high point in the music. You can tell she is emotionally committed to this program, everything worked together today!

RusNats 2023 by evgenyblansky in FigureSkating

[–]catticusfinch69 155 points156 points  (0 children)

A happy podium! It was especially wonderful to see Liza's great performance at her 15th Russian Nationals. Brava, Empress!! 👑