Photo by Betsy Dynako
Here are the pairings of round 4:
1. Alisa Melekhina – Batchimeg Tuvshintugs
2. Camilla Baginskaite – Tatev Abrahamyan
3. Elizabeth Vicary – Katerina Rohonyan
4. Anna Zatonskih – Irina Krush
5. Tsagaan Battsetseg – Chouchanik Airapetian
Games can be followed LIVE on the official website tonight: http://www.uswcc2007.com/live.htm
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Zatonskih and Krush will draw.
The games have been very interesting so far.
Are the players supposed to be holding their own names? If so, Baginskaite and Zatonskih switched cards…and Baginskaite added an extra ‘twist’ to what she was holding! (lol) Did anyone else switch cards?
Why do we have an 11 move draw between Zatonskih and Krush ??
crucial round? What criticality does it have? 11 move draw by the highlighted parties? BAH!
it doesnt bode well when you hold your name upside down in a photo
An 11-move between the two top seeds (and two former Champions no less) in the middle of the tournament?!!!
Disappointing! Disgraceful!
Susan, what do you think of behavior like this by chess professionals (e.g. the many last round draws at the World Open)?
High-level chess cannot attract a lot of interest if amateurs/spectators witness a lot of this kind of nonsense…
Position Player Points
1 Tsagaan Battsetseg 3½
2-3 Anna Zatonskih 3
2-3 Katerina Rohonyan 3
4-5 Irina Krush 2½
4-5 Camilla Baginskaite 2½
6 Batchimeg Tuvshintugs 2
7-8 Elizabeth Vicary 1½
7-8 Alisa Melekhina 1½
9 Tatev Abrahamyan ½
10 Chouchanik Airapetian 0
It was Zatonskih’s birthday for God sakes. Krush wasn’t going to try to show her up on her birthday. And why should Zatonskih press for win when she’s already a half point ahead of Krush in the standings?
(in answer to anonymous):
so what if it’s one’s birthday? Do you get a bye or an easy game from your opponent just because it’s your birthday? That’s hardly professional!
Yes, Zatonskih was leading but it’s only round *4* of a 10 rounder! It’s not like it’s the last round where a draw clinches the championship or a situation where a safe draw secures a norm. (Even in those cases, it’s not great to see but at least there’s some justification)
Deliberately taking a perfunctory draw because you have a slim lead or because it’s your birthday or even if you’re playing a friend is ridiculous. Last time they played each other, it was a 61 move fighting draw in the North American FIDE 2006. That’s more like it!
Susan, do you know some other rationale or context behind the 11-move draw? It sure is disappointing to a observer from a distance.
Good coverage!