CHESS#1307

CHESS#1307

There's plenty of ongoing action this week. The first Grand Chess Tour event is on at Leuven, Belgium. P Harikrishna is playing a rapid match against David Navarra in Prague. Peter Svidler edged Yu Yangyi in a rapid-blitz match in Shenzhen. R Praggnanaandhaa is in terrible form. 

But the headlines in India have been dominated by WGM Soumya Swaminathan's decision not to play for the national squad at the Asian Team Championship 2018, in Iran from July 26 to August 4. The former world junior champion and law graduate from Pune stated in a Facebook post, “I find the Iranian law of compulsory headscarf to be in direct violation of my basic human rights, including my right to freedom of expression, and right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion". This is pretty much why Nazi Pakidze-Barnes did not play in the Women's World Championship in Tehran. The Muzychuk sisters avoided the World Speed Championships in Saudi Arabia for similar reasons. 

Such issues have arisen repeatedly every time Fide has awarded championship events to Shariat-observant nations like Iran or Saudi Arabia. In addition, there are problems with visas for Israelis, or for Qataris in Saudi Arabia, or for Armenians in Azerbaijan. This is grossly unfair to many individuals. 

However, Iran and Saudi Arabia are prepared to generously sponsor events, despite Fide's problems. So, this absurd situation is likely to continue. 

Meanwhile, Wesley So leads at Leuven in a 10-player double round-robin. He has scored 7 points from 9 rapid rounds at the time of writing (this will count double as 14 points). He is followed by Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Largave (both 5.5). Reigning world rapid champion Viswanathan Anand (2.5) has been out of form. 

Harikrishna is substituting for the injured Ding Liren in a 12-game rapid match. They are tied 3-3 with one win each. Svidler won 9.5-8.5 against Yu in a bloodbath with only five draws. Pragga is playing at the Schaakweek Apeldoorn round robin. He had hopes of making his third and final GM norm. He has two wins and five losses (!) after seven rounds, partly due to inveterate time-trouble and also due to taking unacceptable risks.  

The diagram, White to Play ( White: Fabiano Caruana Vs Black: Wesley So, Altibox Norway 2018) is from the epic last-round in a huge time-scramble. White wins with Rf1, or Bxb7 or Ra1. Caruana played  40.h3 ?? Rxh3+! 41.gxh3.  So didn't know he'd made the control and quickly played 41.— Rd3?? 42.Qg2! Rg3 43.hxg4! Rxg2 44.Kxg2 h4 45.Kf3 Qg3+ 46.Ke2 h3 47.Rg1 Qh4 48.e5 (1-0). Instead, 41.— Rd2! draws, with the idea 42. hxg4 hxg4 43. Qg2! Qh8+ 44. Kg1 Rxg2+ 45. Kxg2 Qh3+ 46. Kf2 Qf3+ 

Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player