Fixed draw scandal rocks chess world

(Chronicle Chess 5th January 2023)

When is a draw not a draw? In chess, as in warfare and sports, the ‘honourable draw’ has a chequered history: Both sides fought bravely, but in the end no one could win and a peace treaty was signed.

Many games played by World Champion Magnus Carlsen go on to the bitter end with just king versus king: it’s a draw because neither player has enough pieces to deliver checkmate. Less honourably, some games in professional tournaments are agreed drawn in just a few moves because players want to split prize money or conserve their energy.

Players can have different ideas of what a draw looks like. Some juniors follow the example of John Cleese’s Black Knight in ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail,’ who suggests ‘Let’s call it a draw!’ after all his limbs have been hacked off.

Last week, a scandal erupted after a pre-arranged draw at the World Blitz Championships in Uzbekistan. Two Russians, Daniel Dubov and Ian Nepomniachtchi (Nepo for short), were caught on camera agreeing to a draw before the game and then performing a ‘Dance of the Knights’ – where they swapped the positions of their knights from g1 to b1 and b8 to g8, and then shook hands.
The referees penalised both players, awarding them zero. Dubov missed gold by half a point and Nepo finished just out of the medals.

The scandal has split the chess world, with Carlsen saying that no draws should ever be agreed, except when the same position occurs three times or when players run out of pieces.

Meanwhile, Chess.com has banned draws agreed under 30 moves in its prize tournaments. Some grandmasters have objected, claiming that ‘professional draws’ are necessary for them to earn a living.

A few people have even suggested going back to the pre-16th century rules, where the player delivering stalemate was awarded a win.

The World Chess Federation (headed by Russian politician Arkady Dvorkovich) has been accused of double standards, as other players agreed short draws in Uzbekistan without being forfeited. Dubov and Nepo, unlike some Russian grandmasters, are both vocal critics of Russia’s war with Ukraine, prompting suggestions that the referees were leaned on.

In North East club chess, there are few short draws, as players simply play for enjoyment. But sometimes a draw is agreed once a league match is decided or players simply want to catch the last bus home.

This week’s puzzles show spectacular ways to force a draw by perpetual check and stalemate.

Puzzle A: Siebrecht (White) to play & draw.

Puzzle B: Bernstein (White) to play & draw.

Puzzle C: Christiansen (Black) to play & draw.

Puzzle D: Boerkoel (Black) to play & draw.

Answers:
A: 1 Rh3! Qxf7 2 Bg6+! Draw by perpetual check.
B: 1 Rxb2! Rh2+ 3 Kf3 Rxb2 stalemate.
C: 1…Qxf6! 2 Qxf6 Rh2+! Draw. If 3 Kxh2 Rg2+! 3 Kh3 Rg3+! 4 Kh2 Rg2+! 5 Kh1 Rg1+! 6 Rxg1 stalemate.
D: 1…Rxf2! 2 Kxf2 (if 2 gxh4 Rg2+ 3 Kh1 Rh2+) 2…Bxg3+! 3 Nxg3 Qf4+ 4 Ke2 Qg4+ 5 Kxe3 Qg3+ 6 Ke4 Qg4+ draw by perpetual check.