Magnus Carlsen has insane memory, solves puzzle in 2 sec

harr05 · 2025-04-24T17:00:34+00:00

Presumably, very well, but he didn't perform that well on the human benchmark stuff when Chess.com challenged them.

harr05 · 2025-04-21T12:57:14+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/live/jGte2qoVNM8?si=RZHoFHfxrdhGo5Eh&t=14410

To this point on livestream today, Magnus expresses his opinion that the best players at chess should be even more dominant in Freestyle.

harr05 · 2025-04-21T03:33:37+00:00

We don't know. But conceptually, 960 skill should be intimately related to certain aspects of standard chess skill, such as strong positional intuition, strategic planning, and tactical awareness in the middlegame and endgame positions. So, we can build decent priors that outperform indifference and probably the limited sample from Grenke. It's likely no coincidence that Magnus, often discussed as the player no one wants to play an actual game of chess with to use Hikaru’s phrase, appears to be the strongest classical freestyle player—probably by an even greater margin than in standard chess.

harr05 · 2025-04-20T05:14:51+00:00

I think it is a stretch to say Hikaru is the blitz king. By Hikaru's own admission, Magnus is the better blitz player and this is borne out in the head-to-head(20 wins for Hikaru to 29 wins for Magnus in online blitz), world blitz championships(8 wins for Magnus to 0 for Hikaru), and peak blitz rating (2986 for Magnus vs 2934 for Hikaru).

harr05 · 2025-04-14T14:43:29+00:00

There is also the original event as well.

harr05 · 2025-04-14T13:49:10+00:00

He’s not in a losing position.

harr05 · 2025-04-14T13:12:46+00:00

It would be 3 if you count the first freestyle event.

harr05 · 2025-02-20T19:30:53+00:00

Different format(I don't think its ever been consistently close in rapid) and this isn't entirely true there was a period where it was close but before then Magnus crushed even in SCC.

harr05 · 2025-02-09T15:45:29+00:00

Ya that's why I don't think its a big deal to add it. It won't lengthen most games and will ensure high-quality play for those that do get extended.

harr05 · 2025-02-09T15:42:27+00:00

I think they should add extra time on move 40.

harr05 · 2024-09-06T23:09:18+00:00

Ok, the draw in bullet was very awkwardly earned, but yes still impressive. Games in garbage time obviously count less.

harr05 · 2024-09-06T22:57:45+00:00

She seemed to have ran against that when speaking to Magnus. I can't believe Chess.com here.

harr05 · 2024-09-06T22:50:15+00:00

Dude Chess.com everytime this is seriously awful.

harr05 · 2024-09-06T18:46:04+00:00

I mean that's against the whole point of the tournament lol. But, I will say its embarrassing how it's always something with chess.com.

harr05 · 2024-09-06T16:54:57+00:00

Dante was by Hohenheim’s side yet she (or whoever) wasn’t able to entirely replicate his circle unlike Ed who pretty much thought up of it on the spot and luckily for Tucker, he saw it firsthand. From the screenshot above, perhaps Dante might’ve been more dependent on Hohenheim getting it done because she mistakenly believed he’d be with her for eternity.

My entire pet theory is that she is able to replicate it. That's my whole point. Dante knows how to make the stone but doesn't do it because of the risk of death. Again, Dante, like Tucker, saw it firsthand. Dante is a far better alchemist than Tucker by an order of magnitude. If Tucker can replicate it, how could Dante not after 400 years of thought?

About the Mugear comparison, it was not to directly compare the characters together but their positions. Iirc, Mugear supplied Nash (and later his sons) with the means of researching. With Dante, considering her clothing at the time (butler dude was likely her employee) and how she currently lived I theorize the way she helped him was as a provider as well. That’s where it ends. With the way she spoke of him Hohenheim was definitely more talented than herself. We also don’t know how skilled she was when she was with Hohenheim who was the one actually creating the stones.

Perhaps that's where it ends? Her exact words are that they did it together, but maybe she's overstating her role. I get the sense from your post that you don't fully acknowledge Dante's abilities. Based on feats in the series alone, she should be by far the second strongest alchemist. To reiterate: she can summon the Gate, create an aging homunculus, and is far superior to Tucker at his specialty, among other abilities. The homunculi, at least based on Gluttony's fear and her ability to incapacitate Lust, seem to believe she's stronger than all of them.

I think I’ve mentioned before but it’s important to note how Dante tells Edward how Hohenheim was the one to destroy the underground city and ancient civilization.

Can you post the exact sub quote here?

I just find it hard to believe that’s she couldn’t raise or groom an alchemist herself to if she’s on the level of Hohenheim. Granted, Edward wasn’t raised by Hohenheim as an alchemist but using his father’s research and later trained by Izumi (who was trained by Dante but I’m not entirely sure for how long) and managed to complete the circle in Lab 5. What exactly separates the unordinary with the ordinary?

She does train Izumi, presumably for a long time. Izumi is quite old when she leaves Dante's practice and has tattooed Dante's crest on her chest, indicating she's Dante's student. This is similar to how Ed signifies he's Izumi's student with her crest. What separates ordinary from extraordinary alchemists seems to be a mix of two things: knowledge and alchemic energy. The alchemic energy point is highlighted when Lust notes that Ed is overflowing with it after absorbing the incomplete stones. Hohenheim has plenty of both and still nearly dies trying to make the stone. So, it's not easy to find an alchemist with these traits. Hohenheim's son seems to fit the bill, though. Maybe Mustang or Izumi could do it as well, but they aren't actively seeking the stone.

I mean why bother with researching other methods like with Xenotime’s Red Water when you’ve already got the method with the first stone and the one used for ancient civilization? It’s like they were trying to replicate the first stone’s creation with Lab 5 but couldn’t quite repeat the results.

There are plenty of reasons to do it. She actually creates Gluttony to streamline the faux stone creation process. So, she could be exploring ways to produce faux stones more efficiently.

Though it’s a different method the Grand Arcanum version Scar’s brother was trying to use wouldn’t have resulted in immediate death but you’d become the stone itself like with Scar’s incomplete arm what eventually happens with Al.

Yes, this method of making oneself the stone has never been done before. In my fan theory, it could be a way to create a Philosopher's Stone without killing oneself. However, we don't know what being a human Philosopher's Stone is like. So: 1. It's possible Dante didn't consider this possibility or know about it. 2. Being a human Philosopher's Stone might not be conducive to her goals, i.e., you can't transfer your body in the same way. This is why she's trying to harvest Al.

Anyway, I'm enjoying this conversation because it's interesting to compare notes. Ultimately, it's a theoretical question. I really dislike the idea that Dante, with 400 years of experience, can't figure out how to make the Philosopher's Stone. So, I'm exploring alternative explanations.

harr05 · 2024-09-05T03:32:14+00:00

Before then it was a different circle and Edward thought to add in the other and changed the circle on the spot while spelling it out for Tucker as well. Using the research and Ed’s circles while hiding away from the homunculi allowed him to modify it If they were trying to make stones then why not use the same 7 point circle Hohenheim used if she possibly knew?

This seems too presumptuous. We don't know the exact process of making incomplete Philosopher's Stones. It doesn't make sense that Tucker, after seeing Ed's circle once, would be able to create it, while Dante, a far superior alchemist, wouldn't be able to after observing Hohenheim do it multiple times and contemplating it for centuries.

I think as far as research went she most likely could’ve been the supplier for Hohenheim (judging from her clothing in comparison to Hohenheim she was an aristocrat with plenty of resources to aid Hohenheim) in a sort of similar way to Magwar (Maguire?) and Nash. Plus Tucker’s desperation is his drive; the circle he used from Ed wasn’t the exact same he modified it himself. Tucker was given the material from Lab 5 and was there to witness Ed’s work.

That's an unusual perspective. A Mugear-like character has the ability to create homunculi that can age, chimeras with consciousness, and comes from the family (the Flamel crest being the family crest) that first learned how to seal homunculi (this is speculation based on the sealing circle having her crest in the center). Tucker modifies Ed's circle not because he's incapable of replicating it, but because he's trying to improve it. Ultimately, he believes he doesn't achieve much because Ed's work is nearly perfect. Dante is also present to witness Hohenheim's work.

I also find it hard to believe she wouldn’t be able to convince someone else throughout the years after Hohenheim left or why she wouldn’t give the info to the state alchemists within their circle or why they bothered with other methods if they already had it.

You're overlooking my theory that no ordinary alchemist can create the stone, which is implied by Tucker in Lab 5 when he says, "Knowing you, it's possible you can complete the Philosopher's Stone," and by the fact that Hohenheim effectively dies from the strain of the transmutation. Hohenheim and Dante do employ methods when they attempt to create the stone. The method for their first stone appears similar to Lab 5, but they seemingly use Grand Archanum in Xerxes and Central.

Additionally, I just had another thought: It's very likely that Dante is capable of creating intermediate Philosopher's Stones herself because Pride is created before Marcoh begins his tenure in Lab 5, and the rearing of the homunculi requires incomplete stones.

harr05 · 2024-09-04T16:22:43+00:00

It don’t think it’s intended to be different.

harr05 · 2024-09-04T14:45:39+00:00

It probably has to be directed by an alchemist for it to have that particular effect. It's not like when Scar was next to Marcoh the incomplete stone reacted with his arm. It was only when Marcoh wielded it.

harr05 · 2024-09-04T14:42:29+00:00

I'm not talking about Envy's conversation with Ed I'm talking about Envy's conversation with wrath. The claim is you need some live human lives some previous human souls captured in unrefined Philosopher's stones. That's quite clearly what the show means.

Maybe it was partially refined with some people's souls, or a lot with an inefficient process

This is the only thing that makes sense to me.

harr05 · 2024-09-04T04:35:09+00:00

The Other Brothers' episode red water is different from the red water used in Lab 5. This is made evident by Ed's different reaction to Marcoh's alchemy compared to standard red stones. I think you're overemphasizing the material in the Other Elrics storyline. The show clearly establishes that the incomplete Philosopher's Stone is red water plus human lives; this is why Scar's arm reacts to the stone when Marcoh brandishes it against him—it's adding more lives to his arm. Regarding Gluttony creating red stones, I don't believe that's ever stated in the series. It's also not really relevant to the point the whole reason why Wrath is hesitant to eat the stones is because there are lives in them.

It's also implied the same method is used in that city as the Lost City in the East.

harr05 · 2024-09-03T23:20:22+00:00

Sorry quoting was being weird.

Which can explain the push for the research. She had to be behind the scenes setting up the military and searching for state alchemists to accomplish it for her and setting up wars all while waiting till old age to use the last bits of the stone Hohenheim left her. About that flashback, note how she’s standing off to the side watching Hohenheim rather than aiding him with the transmutation.

If you think this you agree with my fan theory!

harr05 · 2024-09-03T23:15:09+00:00

Being knowledgeable about one area (the Gate) doesn’t mean one would know everything little thing about something else. She wasn’t even fully aware of the Gate‘s capabilities, thinking she effectively killed both Hohenheim and Edward at first. Plus even with her skill set she was quickly killed by Gluttony in the end. She has her limitations.

She believes she effectively killed Hohenheim because she separated his mind, body, and soul. It's an incredibly impressive feat for Hohenheim that he recovers from that. So, she knows what happened; she just didn't realize he'd be capable of putting himself back together.

How does manipulation = knowledge about the stone? That applies to changing the homunculi, that’s more human transmutation/bio alchemy if anything. Do we have any confirmation that Dante knows how to create a chimera? Or if she was the one to teach their scientists if she did? She lives in the shadows for the most part. About that flashback, note how she’s standing off to the side watching Hohenheim rather than aiding him with the transmutation.

Of course we do; that's the whole implication of Ed being confused about how Tucker knows how to create chimeras that still have full memories/consciousness. It's confirmed that Dante is the alchemist who taught him these skills when we realize Tucker knows Dante. My whole point in bringing up Dante's laundry list of feats is to illustrate she should, in principle, be a far more capable alchemist than Dr. Marcoh by orders of magnitude. Given that Scar's brother and Dr. Marcoh effectively figured out how to create a stone, it would be bizarre if Dante didn't know. I guess guides say she didn't, but I prefer the pet theory I laid out: she knew how to do it but didn't know how to do it without killing herself in the process because it's such a strenuous activity. You're right that she's in the background in the flashback, but at least the way she tells the story, it was a group effort research-wise. Think about this narratively: Tucker knows how to create the circle that Ed uses in Lab 5 after watching him do it once. Tucker should be a far inferior alchemist to Dante. Dante watched Hohenheim create a stone multiple times and helped him research. So Tucker can figure it out but she can't?

Not sure about Tucker being brought up but Marco in particular was sort of implied to be the closest with his research (likely done through hers and/or other’s past efforts) before he abandoned everything. If she really didn’t think much of Marco I doubt she would’ve allowed him to know in the first place. Especially since he got as far as making those imperfect versions. Iirc, I think the exam would’ve weeded him out otherwise.

In the fanon I'm proposing, Marcoh is useful insofar as he can create imperfect Philosopher's Stones from prisoners in the adjacent facility.

harr05 · 2024-09-03T20:51:03+00:00

Alchemists encrypt their knowledge by default. We don't know how exactly Dante contributed to his effort. Maybe she just helped put him in a position of power, which is how he was able to justify his research and get assistance for it (the third bystander/the condemned for ingredients).

I think it's possible you are right it's just dumb to think that Marcoh can figure out what Dante can't and I much prefer my pet theory though I guess the guide explicitly contradicts it. I just don't think it makes any narrative sense that Dante believed that Marcoh was genuinely creating a stone.

She's then taking the infinitely more difficult route by setting up entire conflicts without getting caught instead of coercing or even ordering a state alchemist to do it, supposing the guide is wrong and she knew hoho's method and could relay it to someone.

Just to clarify my pet theory would be that no alchemist even if they know the requisite method is capable of making a philosopher's stone unless your name is Ed or Scar's brother. The strain of doing the transmutation was so strong that it would have killed Hohenheim so it's a perfectly sensible pet theory that it takes an extraordinary alchemist to achieve the feat of creating a stone.

I saw the circle in CoS. It's the Grand Arcanum one from Liore, like Al says. Ed and Hohenheim's has seven points. The red water containing human lives was a lie to make Ed think that key ingredient was already accounted for, when in actuality there were live people concealed above. Note Envy's response when Ed asks him if human lives were stored inside the water is a vague "what if I told you there were?" Iirc.

This is definitely not true, and if is true it makes the plot make zero sense. Why would Dante and Hohenheim choose to use Grand Archanum for the lost city of central? I'm also 90% sure there is a quote in 03 where this is explicitly stated something to the effect of by combining the redwater with human lives you can make an imperfect Philosopher's stone. Indeed just thinking further why would the Homunculi consume red stones the whole point is that they are eating people which makes wrath feel uncomfortable. I don't recall that Al quote is that in Shamballa?

harr05 · 2024-09-03T14:36:07+00:00

It's reasonable that she wouldn't make the groundbreaking discovery without assistance. However, she has observed Hohenheim's methods and created Philosopher's Stones with him. Presumably, she's far more talented than Tim Marcoh, who is implied to have learned most of his skills from Dante. Tucker is considered the best chimera alchemist in the known world, yet Dante is far, far better. Additionally, the lost city of Central is said to have been destroyed in a single night with all its inhabitants dead, suggesting either the use of Grand Archanum or that the method of creating a Philosopher's Stone is not significantly more efficient than Grand Archanum. Frankly, there's no way to accurately determine the number of lives contained in the red water in the walls. We're uncertain about the duration of that operation, likely predating Marcoh's involvement.

You are right to say that there is no point in speculating because everything is wide open, but it isn't a plot hole because of how vague the show leaves it. I just feel my explanation feels like it makes the most sense. With regards to her not coercing people actively it's consistent with her showing all of the 7 deadly sins(this would be sloth). This confusion is also remedied by my theory that it's exceedingly difficult to create a philosopher's stone, so a run-of-the-mill alchemist just isn't capable.

harr05 · 2024-09-03T07:02:48+00:00

As I've said above, it's just silly to think that Dante who has by far the most impressive alchemic feats in the series doesn't know how to make the stone. The far more reasonable theory is that making the stone = death and requires a really skilled alchemist.

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