CHESS #596

The super GM at Dortmund is mid-way. The European Journal of Social Psychology has just published a very thought-provoking study. Indian GM G N Gopal is celebrating the rescinding of a ban by his federation. The San Sebastian Open has just started.

But none of the above is really grabbing eyeballs. The greatest rivalry in sporting history is due for (token) renewal. Between September 21-24, Valencia will host a 12-game (4 rapid, 8 blitz) match starring Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. This is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their first title match. That began Sep 21, 1984 in Moscow.

Between 1984 and 1990, the Super Ks played 144 games in five consecutive title matches. The score was 21-19 in favour of Kasparov and 104 games were drawn, mostly through exhaustion after long violent battles. This dwarfs Ali Vs Frazier and Sampras Vs Agassi or Federer Vs Nadal.

Both remain strong players. The 46-year-old Kasparov retired in 2005 in order to enter politics. The 58-year-old Karpov is a dangerous floater though he rarely plays seriously. It’s anybody’s guess how well they will play but that is really not what this is about.

From former champions to future, chess is perhaps unique in that players across 3 generations are simultaneously active. The 18-year-old Magnus Carlsen is likely to hold the title soon. The World #3 is leading Dortmund with +2,=5, in what has been a very pacific tournament. Leko and Kramnik are both +1.

Among other news, Gopal was banned for a year from playing for the Indian team as punishment for missing the 46th Nationals in December 2008. The Chess Players Association of India made a strong appeal on behalf of the 20-year-old GM who stood to miss key events like the World Junior and the Asian Chps. The AICF has lifted the ban.

The intriguing study was authored by Dr Anne Maass, Claudio D’Ettole, Mara Cadinu of the University of Padua. “Checkmate? The role of gender stereotypes in the ultimate intellectual sport” investigates the under-representation and under-performance of women in chess. It has several surprising new findings.

Updates about San Sebastian, Dortmund and the aforementioned psychiatric study will follow in the next column. There’s just enough space left for a game fragment.

The Diagram, WHITE TO PLAY, (Carlsen Vs Topalov, Sofia MTel 2009) was Carlsen’s first win against the world #1. White continued with the only move, 33. Qd3! and a shocked Topalov responded 33. — Qxe7. The alternative 33. — Qxc7 is blitzed by 34. Ng5+ hxg5 35. Qxg6+ Kh8 36. Qh5+.

Play continued with 34. Rxd7 Qh4+ 35. Kf3 Qh5+ 36. Kg3 (1-0). The resignation is because Nf6 wins the house. White could also knock out with the even more convincing 34. Nf6+.