Chess - The Scotsman 09/08/2012

Published on 09/08/2012 03:36

Thursday’s puzzle...

A record 164 federation teams have entered next month’s Istanbul Olympiad. Chess has no paralympics but three composite teams of blind, deaf and other disabled players will be competing – much like “Blade Runner” sprinter, Oscar Pistorius – on equal terms in the main event.

Ever since the world chess federation became IOC-recognised in 1995, FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has sought to have chess included in the Olympic Games. At the Bled Olympiad of 2002, FIDE even introduced drug-testing for players and Vishy Anand and challenger Boris Gelfand were subjected to testing during their world title match in Moscow in May.

The Sydney Games of 2000 did feature an exhibition chess match between Anand and Alexei Shirov, but FIDE received no backing whatsoever to have chess included for the future. FIDE then tried the comparison of the Winter Olympics sport of curling, often described by the media as “chess on ice”, but the IOC also swept that argument away.

Regardless of the arguments for and against, just as with any sport, in chess you need to have tactics, critical thinking, and quick mental reflexes in play.

At the Russian Championship Superfinal now underway in Moscow, new 16-year-old sensation Daniil Dubov has to be kicking himself for missing the winning shot of 32 ...b3! in an exciting battle with Peter Svidler, the six-time champion.

P Svidler - D Dubov

65th Russian Ch. Superfinal, (4)

Sicilian Richter-Rauzer

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Bg5 e6 7 Qd2 a6 8 0–0–0 Bd7 9 f4 b5 10 Bxf6 gxf6 11 Kb1 Qb6 12 Nxc6 Bxc6 13 f5 b4 14 Ne2 e5 15 Ng3 h5 16 h4 Qc5 17 Qe2 Ke7 18 Nxh5 Bb5 19 Qg4 Bh6 20 Rd5 Qc7 21 Qd1 Bc6 22 Bc4 Rac8 23 Bb3 a5 24 Rd3 a4 25 Bxf7 Bxe4 26 Be6 d5 27 Bxd5 Bxd3 28 cxd3 Rhd8 29 Bc4 Qxc4 30 dxc4 Rxd1+ 31 Rxd1 Rxc4 32 g4 Rxg4? 33 Rd7+ Kf8 34 Rd8+ Ke7 35 Rd7+ Kf8 36 Rd8+ Ke7 37 Rd7+ Kf8 draw agreed