Chess

SCOTS have been involved in various international chess events recently. The most prestigious appearance, however, is in a non-playing capacity. Alex McFarlane of Uddingston is one of the arbiters (the chess version of referees) in the World Championship Candidates matches that are currently underway in Kazan, Russia. These matches will determine the challenger to the reigning champion, Viswanathan Anand.

The life of a chess arbiter is tranquil compared to their football equivalents, but there was some drama in Russia in a blitz play-off between Kramnik and Radjabov. Both players had only seconds left when the digital clock failed. The arbiters found a replacement and eventually set it to the correct time. Luckily, McFarlane was in charge of a different match, so his only involvement was telling ex-World Champion Vladimir Kramnik to be quiet, as other players were distracted by the commotion. Kramnik survived to reach the next round, with debate continuing about whether he benefited from the delay.

Scots have also been in action over the board. At the recent European Seniors Championship in Austria the Scottish team performed well to finish 11th. On top board IM Craig Pritchett scored a fine 7/9 including the following quick win against a Finnish veteran.

White: C Pritchett; Black: P Morant. Opening: Maroczy Bind.

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 Nc3 Nc6 4 d4 cxd4 5 Nxd4 g6 6 e4 Bg7 7 Be3 d6 8 Be2 0–0 9 Qd2 Ng4 This move has been played many times, but I believe the exchange it provokes is misguided. White's central pawns are on white squares, so the e2-bishop is potentially less effective than the f6-knight. Simple and standard is 9...Bd7 10 0–0 Nxd4 11 Bxd4 Bc6 12 f3 a5 13 b3 Nd7 when Black's dream is to swap two more pairs of minor pieces and then prove his knight will be stronger on c5 than the e2-bishop. 10 Bxg4 Bxg4 11 0–0 Rc8 12 b3 a6 13 Rac1 Bd7 14 Rfd1 Re8 The next few moves show that Black has run out of ideas about how to improve his position. When easy options suddenly disappear, often the damage was done several moves earlier; in this case on move 9. 15 Nd5 Ne5 16 f3 e6 17 Nc3 Qa5 18 a4 Rb8 19 h3 Red8 20 Bh6 Bh8?? Any other sensible move would leave Black just a little worse. Beginners are taught to be wary of leaving their king with no legal moves, as one check would be mate... 21 Nd5! Black resigned, as his queen is under attack and 21...Qxd2 22 Ne7 is checkmate.