Here is more about the recent Frank K. Berry US Women’s Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma:
More letters from our (ChessBase) readers (selection)
Callen Mascarenhas, Seattle
I don’t think a competition of such high stature should be judged through a Blitz match. The tournament is high-pressure as it is. And to decide the final game in a Blitz match sounds senseless, to say the least. The game should rightly be replayed under normal chess conditions, not even rapid.
Stan Schwab, Wilmette, IL, USA
The playoff format in the US Women’s Chess Championship was stupid because this was not the US Women’s Blitz Chess Championship. The result should be cancelled and the two finalists should play some number of normal games to determine the US Women’s Chess Champ in a fair way. As Forest Gump would say “Stupid is as stupid does.” And when it comes to chess, there’s a lot of it in the world of chess and the world outside of chess.
Jaime E. Fernandez, Wichita, KS, USA
Your article on the US Championship tiebreak misses a number of key points including
i) blitz tiebreaks have been used in top level tournaments in the past without generating controversy,
ii) blitz has its place in chess tradition and has been played competitively at the highest levels,
iii) some of the game’s greatest were outstanding blitz players and played blitz competitively, Tal and Fisher being highlights,
iv) it is a well established form of chess, and chessplayers know that blitz ends in a time scramble more often than not, so there was nothing really new or surprising for experienced chess players and fans in the game in question,
v) the rules were published in advance, and by accepting them, the players knew that at the very end, it was possible that the championship would be decided in a blitz time scramble. Tal and Fisher played blitz competitively, so why not Ms. Krush and Santonskih?
K. Sueya, Hyderabad, India
I am a avid blitz chess player. I would like to say to Irana: grow up and learn to accept results irrespective of how you feel. If you found there was a illegal move made by your apponent you should stop the clock and call the arbiter. Slamming the pieces is the worst of it. I am glad your not the US champ because you do not have the grace to be a champion. There are many experts who wrote that moving pieces in the opponent time is not illegal, so first learn the rules before you call your opponent names and demand the title.
Here is the full article.
Enough already.
It would be nice if the USCF President would come out and apologize to all the USCF members for this embarrassing fiasco. He was there for the US Championship. He was in many of the pictures. He wants the glory of bringing the $250,000 US Championship from San Diego to the $75,000 US Championship in Stillwater and Tulsa, Oklahoma. But I guess I won’t hold my breath for this apology to all the players.
It is rather clear to me that there are almostly no competent people to judge Armageddon and the rules around it.
The ONLY person who has the authority and knowledge to do this is FIDE senior arbiter Geurt Gijssen.
What he says is LAW. What others say is wasting breath. I had a pretty good laugh reading comments from before.
Enough already. Enough already. Stop it.
What does “chess bitch” have to say? Is Armaggedon for women or for men only?
Please stop this ridiculous discussion. It was a terrible loss for Krush – but RIGHTLY so. Move on! To conclude: I still think the way they decided the outcome of the tournament is a pretty reasonable way to do it.
Lightning might be better than blitz.
A veteran of many years of Chess among mere mortals, I am a strong fan of Irina Krush–she is a wonderful fighter who merits the admiration of any player. The Armageddon loss was a tough one, as any chessplayer understands. However, I am offended by snotty remarks demeaning a leading international competitor such as Irina Krush.
There is no point in giving more coverage on this controversy in this blog. Enough has been said.
Blitz skill is important to overall chess skill. This was not the US slow chess championship, it was the US chess championship. Anna was faster and couldn’t be mated in 6 minutes. Congrats to Anna, the champ.
The rules were ridiculous, but Stan’s suggestion of changing them retroactively is obviously unfair. All we can do is change them for next time.
‘However, I am offended by snotty remarks’
What’s snotty?
‘a leading international competitor such as Irina Krush.’
Not too difficult to be leading in a land with no good active women chess playeresses. Where would she be if in Russia? Top 100?
And no one mentions the fact Krush knocked over her on Knight and failed to put it back on the proper square, then she waits a WEEK to complain….
Aw come on!