Anand was 14 seconds from winning game 7
There was a situation which could have made headline news at the start of game 7 between Anand and Carlsen. However, it is not widely reported.
Timeline:
At 2: 54:25 pm, Anand arrived at his chair. As usual, he is served tea by one of the hotel staff.
At 2:57:26 pm, Carlsen emerged from the backroom rest area.
At 2:57:32 pm, the players once again had a no look handshake. Carlsen then sat down, filled out his score sheet, then adjusted his pieces.
At 2:58:52 pm, Carlsen looked at the monitor for the starting time. It showed a 1 min 08 second remaining on the countdown clock. He decided to get up and went to the restroom.
The rule is if he is not seated before 3:00 pm, he would be forfeited. At this time, the chief arbiter nervously looked at the monitor and his watch. He confirmed to me that he was very nervous as he did not want to forfeit any player. However, he said that he would have no choice if Magnus is not seated timely.
At 2:59:37 pm, Carlsen once again emerged from the backroom area.
At 2:59:42 pm, Carlsen arrived to his chair, the second time. You can see the arbiter staring at the countdown clock.
At 2:59:46 pm, Carlsen sat down on his chair. He avoided the game 7 forfeit by 14 seconds!
All photos by Paul Truong
This does not follow from the FIDE Rules of Chess. Carlsen was at the board before the game started (that is, what the rules require); the rule does not say, that he must be at the board, when the clock is started, but that he must arrive at the board before the start of the session. That was obviously the case. I can’t find anything more specific about it in the match regulation.
MF (Chess Arbiter)
Seems unnecessary but Carlsen may have to learn the hard way, slightly bizarre for Magnus to do this. Why does he let this be an issue?
when nature calls what do you expect magnus to do?
MF, maybe you should turn in your arbiter’s license and resign if you don’t know FIDE rules? Better for everyone. How can you run tournaments if you’re unaware of the rules?
it’s the only way Magnus could lose this match
I agree. If arbiter doesn’t know the rules, he should be suspended or have to retake the course.
Polgar: At 2:57:32 pm, the players once again had a no look handshake. Carlsen then sat down, filled out his score sheet, then adjusted his pieces.
FIDE Rulkes of Chess 6.6.a: Any player who arrives at the chessboard after the start of the session shall lose the game.
MF (Chess Arbiter)
It is a really stupid rule – maybe one hour was too long but to almost forfeit a game because of a tinkle is patently ridiculous!
“stupid rules”
MF, please do chess a favor and turn in your arbiter card. You’re obviously the most incompetent arbiter in Germany. You’re now accusing the world championship arbiter of being wrong? You’re giving all arbiters a bad name.
“FIDE Rules of Chess 6.6.a: Any player who arrives at the chessboard after the start of the session shall lose the game.” If this is the only rule referencing this, I agree with MF that the rule can be interpreted several different ways and should be specified more precisely. As an extreme example, if a player leaves the board after the start of a session (whatever that means) and then returns, he can technically be forfeited (since he would be arriving at the chessboard after the start of the session). The frequent name calling and insults on this blog are unnecessary and detract from an otherwise excellent blog.
“6.6 a.Any player who arrives at the chessboard after the start of the session shall lose the game. Thus the default time is 0 minutes. The rules of a competition may specify
otherwise.”
Clearly, Calsen arrived BEFORE the start of the session, or he would have been unable to have filled out his scoresheet.
The arbiter is staring at the countdown clock so that White’s clock may be started on time.
Alert FIDE quickly. They should fly MF to Chennai to be the chief arbiter since he’s the only one who knows FIDE rules. LOL He’s now attacking the most respected arbiter.
Carlsen clearly arrived before the start of the match and he has black and will start after Anand. If he has white and the clock starts then technically did not start. What happens if white makes the first move and Carlsen disappear and returns a few minutes later to start his black move? Will he be disqualified?
FIDE rule for the World Championship (both players are fully aware of this):
If either player is NOT seated when the count down clock shows 0, he is forfeited. There is no exception.
If a player comes early, fills out his score sheet, then leaves for the bathroom, he will be forfeited if he is not back and seated by the time the clock shows 0. There is no exception.
This is an official FIDE rule, and has been confirmed by numerous high level FIDE International Arbiters at this World Championship.
Anyone else who says otherwise is simply uninformed and wrong.
Susan Polgar
Actually Anand would have won the match had he played 26d4 instead of 26qf3
By Shiv
Anand would have won the 7th Game had he played 26d4 instead of 26qf3??