CHESS #1388
Coronavirus has led to complications in sporting schedules. The Prague Masters saw Wei Yi replaced by Alireza Firouzja due to the China lockdown. The two Chinese Candidates, Wang Hao and Ding Liren, have been asked to arrive early in Yekaterinburg to comply with a 14-day quarantine requirement. This could severely impact their preparations. China is also a major chess “host” and it’s an open question what would happen to planned events in 2020.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Team Championships saw an absurd controversy centred on analog watches. The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) won both the Open and Women’s events handily. The Airports Authority of India took second place in both events with the Railways Sports Promotion Board in third place.
Baskaran Adhiban of PSPB was forfeited in Round three for wearing a watch during his game versus C R Krishna. In an incredible repeat, Swati Ghate was also forfeited on the last day, against Tania Sachdeva for the same reason. Both were wearing analog (mechanical) watches, which are allowed in international competition. Smart watches are banned for obvious reasons.
However, the Indian chess federation has, sensibly enough, decided that it places too much of a burden on arbiters, if they must examine every watch since a smart watch can be disguised to look like a classic analog. In both cases, the player just forgot to take it off before sitting at the board. Adhiban won first prize on top board despite this, and Swati was 5.5 from 6 before she forfeited.
A far more complicated controversy is brewing in the All India Chess Federation elections, which were held under a directive of the Madras High Court with a retired justice as the returning officer. The government rules for sports elections in India demand that every electoral candidate should present nomination forms in person. Most of the candidates for the AICF elections did not actually do this. As a result, only five nominations were accepted for a total of 16 posts and obviously those candidates will be “elected” unopposed. This is truly absurd and it’s likely that some sort of reboot will be required.
The Diagram, Black to Play, (White: C. S. Rajawat Vs Black: Adhiban, National Teams 2020) provides an illustration of why Adhiban is nicknamed “The Beast”. He played 9.— Ne4 10 Qe3 e5! 11. Nxe5? [ 11. Bxe5 Bxe5 12. Nxa8 is also good for black but this loses]
Now Black played the stunning 11. — Qc7! 12. Nxg6 Qa5+ 13. b4 Qxb4+ 14. c3 Qxc3+ 15. Qxc3 Nxc3 16. Nxf8 Nc6! Black will pick up the Kt later. The game ended with 17. Bd3 Bxf8 18. Kd2 Bb4 19. a3? Ne4+ 20. Ke3 ? Bd2+ 21. Kf3 Bg4# (0-1).