NICK BARNETT CHESS

THE STRING of draws in the World Championship has had commentators debating the format of this match. Before the days of live global viewership (and an audience with less staying power and tolerance of boredom), this would not have happened but Edward Scimia, writing on a website entitled Spruce Crafts, announced that the organizers of Norway Chess to be held 3 to 15th June 2019, have introduced a different format. Players who split a point, will have to play an Armageddon game, having the same color as in the original game. If Black, with less time on the clock, holds a draw, the player wins this Armageddon. The following point system will be used:

Victory, main game: 2 points

Loss, main game: 0 points

Draw, main game & loss, Armageddon: ½ point

Draw, main game & victory, Armageddon: 1½ points

The 2019 edition of Norway Chess will also see a shorter time control for the regular games. There will be no increment, and players get two hours on the clock for the whole game.

The Armageddon games will not be FIDE rated, and will not affect the rating changes of the classical games, only the scores in the tournament standings.

The overall goal is ‘to create a tournament with fewer draws per game, create more excitement for spectators and put more pressure on the players’, according to the organisers.

Meanwhile Carlsen has told the state broadcaster NRK that he may not defend his classical crown in 2020. He blamed lack of motivation plus burnout: “I have not played amazing in recent years.’ He wants changes to the qualifying cycle and shorter time controls in the championship match.

Magnus Carlsen, liked the idea. ‘It is very exciting and it will completely change the dynamics of the tournament,’ he said. ‘It will be fun to try out. I do not mind trying new things. I think it’s super exciting and I hope everyone wants to take part.’

The format is similar to a suggestion made in 2011 by former FIDE world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov. In an open letter to FIDE, the Uzbek GM wrote that draws in classical tournaments should be abolished altogether. It was tried at the 2006 Danish Championship. There, after a draw the players played a rapid game with reversed colors. The tournament was won by GM Sune Berg Hansen, who commented to Chess.com:

‘If that was a draw as well, we would move to blitz and I think up to four blitz games before an Armageddon. There were only full points - which was ridiculous. So I won with six points The system was horrible, but would be good for Magnus!’

For comment or news please write to thechessnik@ gmail.com