Anybody who has ever been mugged can testify PTSD follows. If the victim is playing a tournament, loss of form would be understandable. Mr and Mrs Vassily Ivanchuk were mugged as they left their Sao Paulo hotel to board a cab for the airport. Mrs Ivanchuk’s passport was taken, as well as money and personal effects.
The Ukrainian GM was so shaken that he contemplated withdrawing, although he was leading after the first leg of the double round robin. Finally, he played on. His form seems intact since he registered an emphatic win in round six, demolishing Nakamura.
Ivanchuk (+4,=1,-1) is now far ahead with a 2969 performance and 13 points. Carlsen, Anand, Aronyan and Nakamura are all on 7 while Vallejo trails on 4. Soccer-scoring makes it mathematically possible for somebody in that gang of four to catch Ivanchuk. But the leader would have to suffer disaster, or that somebody would have to log at least three wins from four.
Everybody has lost at least once, and won at least once and all the draws have been fought. It’s difficult to say if this is purely due to Sofia Rules, and soccer scoring, or because the field consists of combative players.
Kasparov recently remarked that draw reduction is best accomplished by inviting players with the “right attitude” rather than creating formats that discourage draws. With due respect, the mindset is driven by the rewards of the format. Draws are not the irritant — it is short, agreed draws. Sofia Rules eliminates that and by and large, leads to more fights, regardless of scoring systems.
The diagram, WHITE TO PLAY (Aronyan Vs Ivanchuk Grand Slam 2011) features both guys going for a knockout. Play went 17.f5 cxd4 18.fxe6 dxc3. Critically 19.exf7+ Kg7 20.Bxg6? (20.0-0 Ne4! is unclear) 20 - cxb2! 21.Rb1 Rc8 22.Qf5 Rc1+ 23.Ke2 Ne4! 24.Qh5 Rc2+ wins for black.
19.0-0 d4! 20.Nxf7? This loses while 20.exf7+ Kg7 may keep balance. 20...Qd5! Now the only reasonable looking defence is 21. e4 Qxe6 22. Ng5 Qd6 when black's attack wins according to the engines.
Aronyan went for broke with 21.Bxf6 Qh1+ 22.Kf2 Qxh3! 23.Ke1 cxb2 24.Qxb2 Bb4+ 25.Kd1 Bf3+ 26.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 27.Be2 Qxf6 28.g5 Qg7! 29.Qxd4 Rxf7 ? Both were in extreme time trouble. Black missed 29. --Bc3! 30. Qxg7+ Kxg7 31. Rc1 Rfc8 32. Bxb5 Bb4 when the extra material counts.
30.exf7+ Qxf7 31.Rc1 Rb8 32.a4?? Qb3+! Obviously, any other move (32. e4) would be better. White is struggling but not definitively lost. Play concluded 33.Rc2 Qb1+ 34.Rc1 Qb3+ 35.Rc2 Rc8 36.Bc4+ bxc4 37.Qd5+ Kf8. There is no perpetual after 38. Qf3+ Ke8 39. Qe4+ Be7 38.Qd7 Re8 (0-1).
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player
