Lubomir Kavalek
International Chess Grandmaster
Former U.S. Champion
Posted: May 26, 2010 01:23 PM
Chess Champ Kamsky Wins in Overtime
Chess is different than most other sports. A draw, not a win, is the most common result of a chess game and may even win you championships. Imagine a sporting event, in which the visiting team gets more chances to score, but when time expires and the score is tied, the championship trophy goes to a home team. Something similar happened Tuesday at this year’s U.S. Championship at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center in St. Louis.
In a dramatic single playoff game, GM Gata Kamsky displayed great defensive skills and won the U.S. title by drawing with the black pieces. His opponent, GM Yuri Shulman, had more time for the game, but according to the rules had to win with the white pieces. He was close, but missed several chances, allowing Kamsky to escape. “Gata had nine lives,” said Shulman, expressing his frustration after the championship game.
The championship’s new hybrid format was confusing, but it led to fighting chess. The $173,000 event began with seven Swiss rounds to determine four out of 24 players for the round-robin Final. It worked perfectly as the top three rated players and pre-tournament favorites, the defending U.S. champion GM Hikaru Nakamura, former world championship challenger Gata Kamsky and former U.S. champion GM Alexander Onischuk, qualified and were joined by the 2008 titleholder Yuri Shulman. Each grandmaster scored three wins, four draws and no losses.
Last Sunday was decisive in the Final Four. Onischuk turned down a draw offer and lost to Kamsky. Shulman eliminated Nakamura. It set the stage for the Kamsky-Shulman confrontation. They drew their regular game on Monday and Kamsky won the title and the $30,000 first prize the next day in the playoff.
Here is the full article.
I wonder if the organizer will now go after GM Kavalek too for making fun of the stupid draw odd playoff format. He also says that it’s confusing just like some of the players. Maybe they should listen to people’s feedback and advices instead of flexing their ego. The entire format is simply stupid.
I honestly don’t understand what was so confusing about the format. I mean, c’mon, we play chess(!!)- one of the deepest, most intricate, most complex works of mankind. And, yet, we can’t understand a simple playoff regime with three parts:
1) 7 round swiss to determine final four for a…
2) 4 player round robin. If no winner is decided then …
3) A “Bid” game in which white gets 60 minutes and black goes to whichever player bids the lowest amount with draw odds.
Is that so tough?
Brad Hoehne
The format of the tournament should be self explanatory in 1 sentence. When there are pages of stupid rules, it becomes confusing to the average Joe. This is marketing 101.
K.I.S.S. = Keep It Simple Stupid!
Whoever came up with this format thinks he/she is cute. This is also causing problems with FIDE. This is why the USCF is always in deep doodoo with FIDE.
If this system is confusing for a chess fan and chess player – he/she is thinking too little. Think more and the confusing is gone.
I totally agree with GM Kavalek. He’s a neutral voice and I hope Mr. Sinquefield will pay attention to this. This tournament is great but why not make it better?
Be careful GM Kavalek, the people who created this format will have a scorch earth attitude toward anyone who doesn’t put them on the pedestal. They’ve no ability to take criticism. Don’t jeopardize your career over this.
A fair observation by a multiple time U.S. Champion. Obviously the current players can’t speak up because they’re afraid. By the way, what’s the company behind US Chess League? I can’t seem to find which company owns it or any tax record for it. Does anyone know?
Just because the tournament is well run doesn’t mean that there aren’t flaws with the format. I don’t think this is a FIDE approved format. Can anyone confirm the FIDE rules since there are norm possibilities?
The format was a terrific idea and the rules were clearly defined.
Obviously, there will be people who don’t like ‘the new’, and people who don’t have the patience or intelligence to understand it.
Nobody has said that the format was unfair or produced the wrong decision.
I simply don’t see what the problem is.