THE US took bronze at the Dresden Olympiad, beating Ukraine in the last round by the incredible margin of 3.5-0.5. This left the two teams tied on 17 match points and the US nosed in front on tie-break.
The aftermath means the result may not stand. The Ukrainians were disappointed since a 2.5-1.5 defeat would have left them in second-third and a tie guaranteed silver. Ukraine’s top board and world no: 3 Vassily Ivanchuk is reckoned the most eccentric personality in a sport with more than its fair share of eccentrics.
According to eye-witness descriptions, after his loss to Gata Kamsky, “Ivanchuk kicked a concrete pillar, then banged his fists on the food service counter outside the hall, before storming into the cloak room, all the time being followed by a couple of officials.” He brushed the officials aside and left the venue.
They wanted his urine sample for a drug-test. Fide wants chess to become an Olympic sport, and complies with IOC regulations in gender-segregating events (with one section restricted to women) and administers random drug tests.
According to IOC rules, Ivanchuk refused a drug test. His results may be expunged and his opponents awarded wins. He could be banned for two years. A five-person medical committee is debating this. Ivanchuk and the Ukrainian Federation can present a defence.
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If the results are expunged, Hungary wins bronze. A close Hungary-Ukraine match was decided by Ivanchuk’s win against Leko. If Fide lets results stand, it violates IOC norms.
A possible solution could come from creative interpretation of 6.1 (a) of the FIDE Anti-Doping Regulations: “If the Player establishes that he or she bears No Fault or Negligence for the violation, the Player’s individual results shall not be disqualified.”
Ideally Fide would apply common-sense and chuck out the gender-split and re-examine the list of officially banned substances, if not eliminate drug tests altogether. Chess is a sport. But like bridge or poker, it shouldn’t be trying for Olympic status and testing for steroid abuse.
What makes this incident even more absurd is that Ivanchuk lost the game in question! The diagram, WHITE TO PLAY. (Kamsky Vs Ivanchuk, US Vs Ukraine, Olympiad 2008) is the setting for a sharp sacrifice 21. a5! Bxa5 22. Qa4 Rg6 23. Rxa5 Rc7 24. Rab5 Qc8 25. Bf4 Kh8 26. Kh2 Kg8 27. Kh1 Kh8. Black is reduced to passively waiting and white secures his king before taking direct action.
Play went 28. Rc5 Kg8 29. d4 Qd7 30. Qb5 Qc8 31. Ra1 Kh7 32. Ra6 Nce7 33. Ng5+ Rxg5. This is forced because of — Kh8 34. Rxc7 Qxc7 35. Qe8+. After 34. Bxg5 Rxc5 35. dxc5 it was 1-0 in 40 moves.
