After all the drama yesterday, the Short-Cheparinov game actually took place, after the appeals committee reversed the arbiters decision to award the point to Short. As part of the decision, Cheparinov was required to submit a written apology to both Short and the organisers. Even then there was some doubt about whether Short would play the re-arranged game.
However Short did turn up, the players did shake hands, and Short won convincingly. While Short was in control from the start, the ending was particularly instructive. From the diagrammed position Short played the forcing 70.Bxf6 Kxf6 71.g5+ Kf7 72.Rxe7+ 1-0 as 72. ... Kxe7 73.Ke5 Kf7 74.Kd6 wins the g pawn and the game.
So what do we make of all this? Was it an attempt by Danilov and Topoalov test the waters before the Kramnik-Topalov game in the GM A tournament (Maybe). Was Short just looking for an easy point? (I think not). Or did Short cleverly blacken the eye of two groups who don't like him, by making FIDE look stupid for having such a rule in the first place, and Danilov et al looking like bad sports (and weak to boot)? (This seems the most plausible).
So ultimately Short scored two victories (3 if you count yesterdays game!). One over the board, and one off the board.
No comments:
Post a Comment