Sunday, August 31, 2008

Women's World Chess Championship

Now here's an unexpected decision from an Appeals Committee. In the "Armaggedon" game between Pole Monica Socko and Romanian Sabina Foisor in the Women's World Chess Championship underway in Nalchik, the following position (or something very much like it) was arrived at ...



With White to move, and Black having just flagged, the Appeals Committee awarded the win ... to White!

Not enough mating material you say? Look again ...



Apparently, the rule for Armaggedon games is that if a mating position can be constructed (with worst possible play, in this case) against a player whose flag has fallen, then that player loses.

A king and knight versus a lone king would have been a draw. And in the circumstances of the match, a draw would mean that Black would have gone on to the next round.

Weird, eh?

3 comments:

Chess Manitoba said...

This one really takes the cake.


http://nalchik2008.fide.com/video/?lang=rus

Nigel Hanrahan said...

Details, Tony, details. There are a number of videos at that link, and the video that actually plays deals with a couple of questions: on youth vs. experience and also on the absent players.

Also - the women in the press conference were, as part of the player's undertaking, required to participate ... no matter how inexperienced at speaking under the media glare they were.

Do you have a favorite, BTW?

Chess Manitoba said...

Sorry at the time, it was the featured video


Round 1 tie-breaks (of course !)

Starts with Pia Cramling eating a banana, but soon you see the infamous game and aftermath.

A must see.