CHESS#1322

Double gold for China at Batumi was a great achievement. Indian fans were disappointed but both the teams played to potential and just lacked that little stroke of luck. One point that caused unhappiness in Batumi, and at the last Olympiad in Baku, was that medals were decided on tiebreaks.

China, the USA and Russia all scored 18 matchpoints (MP) and at Baku in 2016, the USA and Ukraine tied on 20 MPs. The key tiebreak was the Sonneborn Berger (SB). In SB, the MPs of opposing teams are multiplied by the match-scores. For example, China-USA was drawn 2-2 and since both scored 18 MP, both received 36 SB points. The lowest scoring opponent's results are chucked out, and the highest 10 SB scores summed in the tiebreak. 

This means nail-biting calculations, involving tail-enders. Round one saw USA vs Panama, Russia vs Uganda and China vs Morocco. Panama finished 96th (out of 185) with 11MP, Uganda (10) came 104th, while Morocco (12 MP) was 69th. A minimal difference in those tail-end scores could have changed medal placings. China had an SB of 372.5, USA was 360.5 and Russia 354.5. In Baku, the gold and silver swung on one game. Matthias Blubaum won in the last round in Germany vs Estonia. If he had drawn, Ukraine would have taken gold. 

This method is absurd, (and open to manipulation in prize money individual Swisses). Altibox Norway is going to try a new scoring system. Classical matches will be scored at 2 points for a win, and 0.5 for a draw. There will be an immediate blitz match play-off after a classical draw, and that will go to Armageddon if necessary to force a result. A tiebreak winner will score 1.5 so, there's premium for direct wins. This 4:1 scoring ratio and instant tie breaks "should" result in fewer final ties. 

The Diagram, (White: Jobava Vs Black: Sulskis, Olympiad 2018, Georgia Vs Lithuania), Black to Play leads into a splendid but flawed attack 19. — Ncxa4+! 20.bxa4 Nxa4+? [20...c5! wins — 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Qg4 Qe5+ 23.Kb1 d5 24.f4 Qf6] 21.Qxa4 Rxb5+ 22.Kc1 Rb4 23.Qc6 Rxf4!? 24.exf4 Qxf4+ 25.Rd2 Rb8 [Now white can win with 26. Bd5!]

White played 26.Qc3? Ba2! 27.Kd1 Bc4 28.Qa1?! [A draw is 28.Kc1 Ba2 etc.] 28...Qg5! 29.f4 Qf6! [This also wins in 29. Bc6 Qf6! 30. c3 d5] 30.c3 Qf5! 31.Kc1 Bd3?! [31...Qxf4! or 31. — d5!  both win] 32.Rb2 Qxf4+ 33.Kd1 Bb5 34.Rd2 Qf5 35.Re1 Bd3 36.Rb2 Bb5 37.Be4 Qxh3 38.Qxa5 Qg4+ 39.Kc2 Qg5 40.Ra2 d5 41.Qxc7 Re8 42.Ra7 Qf6 43.Qc5 Bc4 44.Rc7? [44.Bd3 Bxd3+ 45.Kxd3 Qf3+ 46.Kd2 Qf4+ 47.Kd1 Qg4+ 48.Kd2 Qg2+ 49.Kd1 Qg4+ draws] Now black finally won with 44...Qh4 45.Bxd5 Qh2+ (0–1) Since 46.Kd1 Rxe1+ 47. Kx1 Qe2#. 

Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player