Ecuador With Sensational Win in Beijing
Category – Pair Blitz Men and Women
IM Martha Fierro and GM Franco Matamoros have achieved historic success by winning the gold medal in mixed blitz doubles at the World Mind Sport Games. The South American team fought their way to the top by battling the heavy-weights. They beat China (Ni Hua and Hou Yifan) in the 11th round of the regular competition to qualify for the semifinals, along with India, Ukraine and Iran. Next was Iran (Ehsan Ghaem Maghami and Atousa Pourkashiyan), when GM Matamoros exchanges wins with Iranian Grandmaster, but IM Fierro topped the WWCC participant Pourkashiyan by 1.5-0.5.
Both rounds of the final match between India and Ecuador ended with the same score of 1-1 (all games decided!). In order to determine overall winner, a sudden death game was to take place on the men’s board. Then there comes another (small) Armageddon controversy – in the huge time trouble, GM Franco Matamoros accidentally swept a piece off the board and had no time to restore the position. The arbiters awarded the victory to Krishnan Sasikiran, but the Appeals Committee, calling on the principles of Fair play, ruled that the game will be replayed from beginning. It should be noted, however, that the final position in the first sudden death game was drawing (see the moves bellow, top game). In the repeated game, Ecuadorian GM won with black pieces and brought his country a gold medal.
Here is the full article on chessdom.com.
I dare say that the decision of the Appeals Committee (whoever was in it) was wrong. They should not overrule their own choice of arbiter, one of highest knowledge and expertise, compared to low arbiter knowledge of Appeals Committee (as is usually, made up of FIDE officials and titled players who have not served as arbiters). Fair play? Come on, give me a break!
Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!
Congratulations!!!
– E
This ‘sweeping a piece off the board’ technique seems to be getting established.
Is there a pattern developing here?