I wasn’t inclined to say anything about this – in the grand scheme of things, those articles will be forgotten pretty quickly I imagine. But after reading something over at the USCF site by Ian Rogers, I was kind of annoyed. I don’t even have any particular beef with Rogers, or whoever wrote the Reykjavik article for the other sites. I think it’s all just fluff that most people seem to lap up without thinking about.
After detailing the 3-move draw, Rogers writes: “However the spectators, both at the Harpa tournament hall and online felt ripped off. Bobby Fischer was probably turning in his grave.”
As they say, “it’s easy to sacrifice your opponent’s pieces.” If you want to change the draw behavior, it’s silly to throw stones from the sideline when you expect all the change to come from the players themselves, without any change in the surrounding organizations and organizers.
Would it be nice to have interesting, fighting games on every board in every round? Yeah, sure. But why would you think that will change because some writer – who has essentially done the same thing before – says it should?! On top of that, even organizers who have such anti-early draw rules don’t enforce them when the players are pretty good! Gibraltar has had a 30-move minimum policy for a few years at least, but it can be skated around pretty easily – either if you have any old, nonsensical 3-time repetition on move 5, or if you’re over 2700. Ironically, those are usually the games that “need” the anti-draw rules.
(There are many more examples of players skirting the spirit of the rule – Anand-Adams from Baden-Baden just now, or many of the Zurich games would all qualify. In other words, almost nobody is a saint by this measure, but this is much tougher to police I think.)
Source: http://vbhat.wordpress.com
Well written. I agree with GM Bhat.
How much did the spectators pay for the privilege of watching the games?
How much did the spectators pay for the privilege of watching the games?
How much did the spectators pay for the privilege of watching the games?
Ian Rogers can write, but can he play So, or Eljanov?
Ian Rogers didn’t do what he preaches. I think he is just envious or prejudiced.
Well said, thanks.
‘But why would you think that will change because some writer – who has essentially done the same thing before – says it should?!’
Because he knows what he is talking about and he has learned from his mistakes and doesn’t want others to falter like him.
‘In other words, almost nobody is a saint by this measure, but this is much tougher to police I think’
Of course you can’t police anything. But others can and will.
‘Well written. I agree with GM Bhat.’
You can agree. But I disagree. Now what and how? Who finally decides who is right??
Who is right?
Both Eljanov and So are right. If the organizers are OK with the draw, then why even this discussion?
What wrong with mutual respect? They proved they were both better than the rest in 9 rounds in Reykjavik, so they did not have to prove to anyone who’s better between them.
Now, since most of us are under 2700, I guess Eljanov and So have the right to call us patzers; or woulod you like to take any of them in cash game in blitz to prove you’re n0ot a patzer?
You don’t understand much about chess?
Who cares if the organisers agree, they will then be punished also, same like some previous organisers for doing bad things.
‘Now, since most of us are under 2700, I guess Eljanov and So have the right to call us patzers; or woulod you like to take any of them in cash game in blitz to prove you’re n0ot a patzer?’
Cash game in blitz?? Are you normal person? You play chess for money and talk about ethics?? You are chess parasite.
What’s up with a the ambiguous comments people are making nowadays? I say no rules were broken…if you don’t like draws…make it a 30-move minimum…if players still draw in 7 moves by 3-fold repetition…let it be…they paid their own entry fee…it’s easy for people to judge others from the sideliness…I would have drawn on move 3 possibly-considering if I were them…both players may have already been tired and from this strong and long tourney and would like to know that they are pretty much guaranteed first place! If organizers don’t like 3-move draws…change the rules! Nuff said!
“Cash game in blitz?? Are you normal person? You play chess for money and talk about ethics?? You are chess parasite.”
Don’t be naive, normal people all over the world play money in blitz. You go to Dupont circle in Washington DC and you can hardly get a game without betting.
What is a chews “parasite” anyways?
I think Eljanov or So can give most of us patzers 5-1, five minutes for us, one minute for them.
You win Reykjavik, you are in Tal’s company!!