English Chess Forum

What a farce. From Premier League games to a Sunday morning pub match on a shared pitch.

However, I do wonder whether Giri's clothing was suitable for such a game. Watching the replay of the finish he lost a lot of time continually adjusting the sleeve of his shirt. He really should have donned a short sleeved T-Shirt and saved himself valuable seconds. Poor technique.

Pete Doggers

Van Foreest: "I felt bad for Anish, and I felt a bit bad about this game. There was a lot of throwing pieces around. You don't want to win this way but it happened like this, and I'm just really happy now."

The all-Dutch playoff was scheduled to start at 18:10, two tables away from Firouzja-Wojtaszek, who were still playing. When these players reached the time control, the arbiters asked them to move to one of the tables farther away so that they would be less bothered by the moves of Giri and Van Foreest.

Firouzja was visibly disturbed (understandably so) and refused to leave the table. While the playoff was underway, he spoiled his promising position, and afterward, he was very angry at the arbiters and shouted at the main organizer.

You shouldn't be shouting at organisers but other than that who can blame him.

The all-Dutch playoff was scheduled to start at 18:10, two tables away from Firouzja-Wojtaszek, who were still playing. When these players reached the time control, the arbiters asked them to move to one of the tables farther away so that they would be less bothered by the moves of Giri and Van Foreest.

Firouzja was visibly disturbed (understandably so) and refused to leave the table. While the playoff was underway, he spoiled his promising position, and afterward, he was very angry at the arbiters and shouted at the main organizer.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 01, 2021 10:19 am

You shouldn't be shouting at organisers but other than that who can blame him.

It's a difficult problem. Whatever you do is likely to upset somebody. Keeping Giri and Van Foreest hanging around, needlessly from their point of view, wouldn't be very satisfactory.

One would hope that the players were warned beforehand that games might have to be moved. However, if my own experience of similar situations at the Gibraltar International Chess Festival is any indication, some players never absorb such warnings.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 01, 2021 10:19 am

Firouzja ... was very angry at the arbiters and shouted at the main organizer.

You shouldn't be shouting at organisers but other than that who can blame him.

I think that isn't the first time he's behaved inappropriately. Is he turning into another Nakamura?

While the playoff was underway, he spoiled his promising position

That is true. He played surprisingly aimlessly, which I put down at the time to tiredness at the end of a long and tough tournament.

"It's a difficult problem. Whatever you do is likely to upset somebody. Keeping Giri and Van Foreest hanging around, needlessly from their point of view, wouldn't be very satisfactory."

Although they might like a break before playing? It's not ideal to disturb the players unnecessarily, especially if Alireza were unaware that he was out of the tie-break.

Rather lower standard than this event, but I was playing the last round of 3rd Week Special at Hastings in the Falaise Hall in the late 70s and featured in the last game to finish. Having reached king and six pawns each, I was pressing for a win. I went for a toilet break and was intercepted by the organizer who informed me the position was drawn. I mildly told him not to interfere but he pursued his theme and told me to offer a draw as "we all want to go home". I just walked away and duly won an hour later. By then I would have played on until K v K...

David Sedgwick wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 01, 2021 11:13 am

It's a difficult problem. Whatever you do is likely to upset somebody. Keeping Giri and Van Foreest hanging around, needlessly from their point of view, wouldn't be very satisfactory.

Under normal circumstances isn't there an end of tournament dinner involving pea soup?

David Sedgwick wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 01, 2021 11:13 am

The all-Dutch playoff was scheduled to start at 18:10, two tables away from Firouzja-Wojtaszek, who were still playing. When these players reached the time control, the arbiters asked them to move to one of the tables farther away so that they would be less bothered by the moves of Giri and Van Foreest.

It's a difficult problem. Whatever you do is likely to upset somebody.

If the comment in the ChessBase report is accurate, it doesn't reflect well on the organisers.

ChessBase wrote: ... the arbiters asked [Firouzja] and Wojtaszek to move to another board in order for the Dutchmen to occupy centre stage.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 01, 2021 12:44 pm

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 01, 2021 10:19 am

Firouzja ... was very angry at the arbiters and shouted at the main organizer.

You shouldn't be shouting at organisers but other than that who can blame him.

I think that isn't the first time he's behaved inappropriately. Is he turning into another Nakamura?

Tbh if the reports are at all accurate in this instance, a lot of people wouldn't blame him.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 01, 2021 1:45 pm

If the comment in the ChessBase report is accurate

the Chessbase report wrote:By that time, the spectators and players that had finished their games

There were spectators?

No spectators according to Giri's tweet in response to Magnus; maybe the reference is to the online following

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 01, 2021 3:46 pm

There were spectators?

There are a few people other than players in this video of the closing ceremony. Some are probably seconds of the players or journalists; maybe all of them are. It would be reasonable to describe them as spectators.

Maybe, but we wouldn't at a football match.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 01, 2021 12:44 pm

I think that isn't the first time he's behaved inappropriately.

Really? I hadn't heard that.