The Fiction of 4545 League Play

Team tournament competition has been the staple of 4545 League play on the Internet Chess Club server for over 20 years. An impressive run, indeed. 

In any given round, team players must agree with their opponent to play their game at a set time within one week of the round’s start. If they can not agree to a mutually agreeable time, they may agree to a draw, splitting the point between them just as they would if they actually played the game to a draw by any of the ways a chess game is usually drawn over the board.  But, what does this mean for sporting competitiveness? 

A draw agreed to with no moves being played is at best a fiction. That fiction applied to a chess competition is really a lie that percolates through the remainder of a tournament.  If the drawing player has teammates who have not yet played their games for that round, the pressure increases on them to win. Will they push to hard for a win in a drawn position until they make an inaccurate move losing what was a drawn game? At best, the lie will have no real consequence on the standings. The reality can, and often is, different.

Is there a better way? Yes, if one accepts that forfeits are not anathema.  If the players can not reach a mutually agreed time for playing their game, have the league set a “fail safe” time on the last day of the week within which the round is to be played. If one of the players does not appear for the game at the “fail safe” time, they forfeit the game. The “fail safe” rule would have to be clearly stated at the beginning of the tournament.  A variant of this would be to set a time for all league games to be played, unless the players mutually agree to play at a different time within the week allowed for that round.  

Time zone differences can present problems for players finding mutually convenient times to schedule games. Would a “fail safe” forfeit be fair?  Yes, if the absolute default time is known before hand. If the time zone issue is that much of a problem for a player, a player should not enter a tournament. Absent an unforeseen emergency, it's difficult to believe that over the course of a week a player can't find some mutually agreeable time to play an opponent.   

Tournaments should be played between real opponents. The results should only reflect real games played by competitors. Reserve draws for real games played over the board physically or online. 

Kasparov's Mother, Klara Shagenova, Passes at Age 83

 An interesting article with remembrances by Gary and Frederic Friedel can be found in the following Chessbase article.

https://en.chessbase.com/post/klara-shagenovna-1937-2020

Lichess.org Enables Use of the dgt eBoard

The increasingly popular free chess server, Lichess.org, has enabled use of the dgt eBoard.  To use the dgt eBoard one must download dgt's free LiveChess application and have it functioning during games when using the eBoard. 

Instructions for using the dgt eBoard on the Lichess.org server can be found here:

https://lichess.org/dgt

Free download of dgt LiveChess software can be found here;

http://www.digitalgametechnology.com/index.php/software-section/dgt-livechess

Covid-19 Hits the Russian Super Final at Mocow's Fabled Central Chess Club

 Mikhail Antipov withdrew from the event having tested positive for Covid-19. Did he infect others at the event?  Time will tell.  The more pressing question(s) must be directed to FIDE, the Russian Chess Federation and the sponsors of this event. 

As these photos from the event clearly show, Covid-19 pandemic protection measures were inadequate.  An indoor venue, plexiglass screens that do nothing to prevent the spread of aerosolized Covid-19 virus and unmasked players were, sadly, the norm. Why was this event held with such lax infection protection protocols?  

Photos below from Chessbase.com

Sputnik V Anyone?

 Photo Spraggettchess

 

The Russian Championships go forward over the board.  Covid protections in place?  Apparently not all are playing masked. Sputnik V given to elite Russian players?

Photo Chessbase

Are We Our Names?

 From New In Chess.  Did the dear Grandmaster get the idea to change his name from alleged online cheaters simply opening a a new playing account using a different handle? 

Candidate's Tournament Suspended Due to COVID-19 Infection of Leading Player

Of course other international sporting events, Judo IIRC, also cancelled without having their competitors travel to the same city. But, Putin's man who heads FIDE knew better. And what about Radjabov? FIDE needs to be disbanded and a new organization created that will work for the interests of chess and not those looking to make their living on the backs of the workers---the chess players.

Tragic as this health crisis is, the looming worldwide economic collapse may present opportunities to create a more sane and just world by the survivors. In the meantime, self-isolate and try to survive.

If Dvorkovitch has any common decency left, he and his oligarch friends will charter private jets to take all of the competitors, their support people and journalists back to their home countries.

https://en.chessbase.com/post/breaking-news-fide-stops-the-candidates-tournament