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India and Russia were declared the joint winners of a major international chess tournament in unprecedented circumstances on Sunday after a global internet outage marred the final of 2020 Fide Online Chess Olympiad.

Teams from more than 160 countries have participated in this years event, which began in July, and the final was delicately poised until two Indian players Nihal Sarin and Divya Deshmukh were disconnected due to a server outage.

The players could only watch in horror as their time ran out, causing their team to lose the match 4.5-1.5, after the first round had ended in a 3-3 tie.

However India were granted an unlikely reprieve after formally appealing, citing the server malfunction. It led to Fide, the governing body of chess, investigating the problem for over an hour, its president, Arkady Dvorkovich, deciding that naming two winners would be the fairest result.

The Online Chess Olympiad has been impacted by a global internet outage that severely affected several countries, including India, said Dvorkovich, who hails from Russia. Two of the Indian players have been affected and lost connection, when the outcome of the match was still unclear.

The appeals committee has examined all the evidence provided by Chess.com, as well as information gathered from other sources about this internet outage, he added. After being informed of their considerations and in absence of a unanimous decision, and taken into account these unprecedented circumstances, as Fide president I made the decision to award gold medals to both teams.

It was the first time that Russia had won the Chess Olympiad since 2002, while this was Indias maiden title. It was the first time it has been held online, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But the former womens world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, playing for Russia, quickly expressed her displeasure. Lets clarify one thing: India didnt win the Olympiad, but was rather named by Fide a co-champion, she tweeted. Imho, there is a huge difference between actually winning the gold or just being awarded one without winning a single game in the final.

Her team-mate Yan Nepomniachtchi offered a sarcastic response. Smart decision to please Indian chess community, he wrote. Meanwhile forgetting about other fans and players. Selective nobleness.

But Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, praised his teams result. Congratulations to our chess players for winning the Fide Online #ChessOlympiad. Their hard work and dedication are admirable. Their success will surely motivate other chess players. I would like to congratulate the Russian team as well.

The final is not the first time the tournament has come under scrutiny. On Friday Armenia said one of their players was disconnected from the server during the quarter-final match against India, and lost on time. But the appeal was rejected and they withdrew from the competition in protest.

Armenias top-ranked grandmaster, Levon Aronian, raised an eyebrow at Sundays decision. I guess like always some of are less disconnected that the others #1984, he wrote on Twitter.

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India awarded chess gold with Russia after server outage leads to reprieve - The Guardian

Written by Shashank Nair | Updated: September 2, 2020 7:17:25 amThe issue of power cuts had earlier affected Indias group-stage tie with Mongolia. Vishy Anand in the image. (FILE)

A scheduled maintenance power cut from 9AM to 5PM in Viswanathan Anands locality in Chennai almost derailed Indias hopes of progressing past their quarter-final tie against Armenia in the first-ever Online Chess Olympiad.

At the end of the tournament, the Indian chess team was basking in the glory of their joint victory with Russia at the Olympiad, but it was the absence of electricity at a crucial juncture that was one of their biggest worries in a format that was supposed to be the future of chess in Covid times.

On Monday, Anand revealed that Indias non-playing captain Srinath Narayanan arranged for the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) to provide electricity to his building despite scheduled maintenance in the Kottupuram locality in the Adyar zone. The power cut was scheduled to end around an hour into Indias tie with Armenia.

I was worried because this tournament was already giving some difficulties to Vishy, Srinath told The Indian Express.

He had to do all this screen-sharing and had to be on the camera all new and unfamiliar things for a few of our players. On top of this, he had to worry about his internet (connection). I didnt want these kinds of distractions for him and felt that a few seconds could be lost. Losing that time is not a big deal, but the loss in concentration is, felt Srinanth.

I spoke to Dr Darez Ahamed, an IAS officer who is currently in London and asked him for help. He used to work in Tamil Nadu. He immediately got in touch with people in Chennai and I got a call from the executive engineer in Anands area. I gave him the match timings and requested him to ensure that no work would be going on during that time and in the next two days. They were more than happy to stop the renovation work and within an hour, power was restored.

IAS officer, a fan, helps

Dr Ahamed, whose WhatsApp display picture is of Anand himself, refused to take any credit for helping out and told The Indian Express, What Anand has done for chess in India is revolutionary. He made kids dream. I have always been a fan of his and even if I hadnt made that phone call, this would have been done. But it was easier this way because I was the sub-collector of Pankaj Kumar Bansal (Chairman of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board) earlier and have known Srinath for a long time now because of our mutual love of chess.

Technical difficulties

The issue of power cuts had earlier affected Indias group-stage tie with Mongolia. Cuts in their respective localities had hindered Grandmasters Koneru Humpy and team captain Vidit Gujrathi. This incident was one of many that players from different countries had to face in Chesss premier international tournament contested over the internet.

Be it poor connections, server outages or electricity issues, chess suffered and the Indian team was forced to find ways to deal with a host of problems thrown in their direction. After the initial struggles in the Mongolia match where India went from 3-1 up to 3-3 after dropping two points due to power problems, they had a window of 3-4 days when the problems could be fixed.

Koneru Humpys house was having power fluctuation problems in the league stages itself. That is why in the last two days of the league, she chose to take two quick draws against Georgia and China because we didnt want the game to keep going for too long as we didnt know when she could lose connection to the Chess.com website, said Srinath.

In the later stages of the tournament, the fluctuation issue was taken care of, with Humpy herself admitting in Mondays press conference that line workers were present under her house during her matches.

Besides, the Indian chess team started to keep multiple backups. All of their homes were already equipped with power generators but the problem came down to the 10-15 second delays when power sources were switched that led to them getting logged out of the host website.

Read |Vishwanathan Anand wants Olympiad win to bring in long due national honours for chess players

I think when the incident happened with Mongolia, thats when we realised that we have to be extra careful about this. I think that moment of caution probably happened for our own good. After the match, we got a gap of 3-4 days and everyone started taking extra precautions and Srinath had the idea for us to download the Speedify app and get multiple connections, confirmed GM Harika Dronavalli.

Thinking out of the box

Speedify is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) app that allows channel-bonding. With no guarantees against power outages, Srinath came up with the idea to avoid the 10-15 second delays that Indian players would face if they lost power in their homes, by using the app and multiple internet connections.

Srinath explained the need for the VPN to The Indian Express. Lets say I have a wired Airtel connection and I use Jio on Wi-Fi and set my wire connection as a primary (source). Now for whatever reason if my primary connection fails, the app ensures that I connect to my backup internet connection within a second. If your router fails, or there is a problem with one network provider, then you can immediately connect to your alternative within a second and not the usual 10-15 second delay.

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How Vishwanathan Anand stayed on chess grid despite scheduled power cut in Chennai - The Indian Express

Few up-and-coming actors can pull off an intense, unnerving stare like Anya Taylor-Joy, and so naturally shes found herself playing a chess prodigy. Taylor-Joy stars in Netflixs new limited series The Queens Gambit, based on Walter Teviss 1983 novel, which follows an orphan in late-1950s Kentucky named Beth Harmon who discovers that she has an incredible talent for chess. She also develops an addiction to tranquilizers, which were then used as sedatives for children. Haunted by her personal demons and fueled by a cocktail of narcotics and obsession, according to a Netflix synopsis, Beth transforms into an impressively skilled and glamorous outcast while determined to conquer the traditional boundaries established in the male-dominated world of competitive chess.

Scott Frank, of Logan and Godless, co-created, executive produced, directed, and wrote the series, with Allan Scott, who also co-created and executive produced it, and William Horberg, who executive produced. The rest of the cast includes the director Marielle Heller as a housewife who takes in Beth as an adopted daughter, Game of Thrones Thomas Brodie-Sangster as a chess competitor of Beths, Moses Ingram as a fellow orphan who befriends Beth, Harry Melling as another chess player, and Bill Camp as a janitor who introduces Beth to the game.

Taylor-Joy, who was recently seen in Regency England in Emma. and appears in New Mutants, which is somehow coming to theaters after an extensive set of delays apparently studied her characters subject in-depth in the process of shooting the series. I learned more about chess than I ever thought I would in my life! Taylor-Joy told Vulture in a statement. I love a challenge and it gave me such a sense of accomplishment. I fell in love with the game. That was my main adjustment because I spend a lot of time in my characters heads and thats where my research comes from for me. Its about understanding them, but obviously, when youre playing chess, you actually need to know the rules of the game and you need to know what youre talking about. So I have lots of really niche knowledge on chess now that Im very proud of. You can watch Taylor-Joy deploy that chess knowledge when The Queens Gambit premieres October 23.

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The Queens Gambit Teaser: Anya Taylor-Joy Dives Into Chess, Drugs, and More Chess - Vulture

Garry Kasparov will make a rare cameo appearance when the legend, now aged 57, takes on the reigning champion, Magnus Carlsen, in the 10-player Champions Showdown invitation organised by St Louis from 11-13 September.

This will be an historic clash, even though it is only online random chess. The two world champions, widely considered the best players of all time, have faced each other in only one previous official event. That was at rapid and blitz chess in 2004 in Reykjavik, when Carlsen was aged 13 and Kasparov 41, a year before his retirement.

Carlsen, understandably nervous, was crushed in the first and second games but was pressing in the drawn third.

There is more history between the two icons of modern chess. In summer 2009 the Russian briefly became the Norwegians coach but owing to a personality clash between Carlsens laid-back attitude and Kasparovs intensity they soon parted ways. They played several informal blitz games then, which were ultra-competitive. As Carlsen put it: Neither of us likes losing, him especially.

Since 2017 the 1985-2000 world champion has taken part only in games using FischerRandom, also known as Chess960 or Chess9LX, where a computer makes a random choice of the back row starting array.

Besides Kasparov and Carlsen, the field includes Americas world No 2, Fabiano Caruana, who defeated Kasparov 5-1 at blitz in 2019, the US champion, Hikaru Nakamura, whose match with Carlsen last week drew record audiences, and the prodigy Alireza Firouzja, 17, who Kasparov has never met.

China, the 2018 Olympiad double gold medallists and tournament favourites for the current 163-nation online version, were knocked out 7-6 by Ukraine on Thursday after a match that will leave their team selectors with some serious questions to answer in Beijing.

The knockout format was a double round six board match where a match points tie would be broken by a single Armageddon game. China were lucky to score 3-3 in the first round where Natalia Zhukova drew by perpetual check in a winning position against the world woman champion, Ju Wenjun.

For the second round China dropped both Ju and the world No 1, Hou Yifan, their replacements scored only half a point, the match went to 6-6 and Ukraine won the Armageddon game. Earlier, Hungary v Germany also went to Armageddon and the German lost on time with the Hungarian having less than a second left. In Armageddon, White has five minutes on the clock to Blacks four but a draw on the board counts as a win for Black in the scores.

Results: Hungary 7-6 Germany. Ukraine 7-6 China, Armenia 8-4 Greece, Poland 7.5-4.5 Bulgaria. Fridays quarter-finals: India 9.5-2.5 Armenia (Armenia lost a game in a drawn position through disconnection and forfeited the second match when their appeal was rejected); Russia 8-4 Hungary; United States 8.5-3.5 Ukraine; Poland 6.5-6.5 Azerbaijan (Poland won the Armageddon game). Saturdays semi-finals: India v Poland; Russia v United States.

England were at full strength and scored a shock win over the strong Armenians, but finished only sixth in their group as they lost 5-1 to Russia, Bulgaria and Croatia while struggling to beat weaker teams. The womens boards did well, though three of the four juniors had minus scores overall while the normally reliable Michael Adams and Luke McShane dropped points in critical matches.

Some of the best Olympiad moments have been where strong grandmasters won elegantly against lesser lights. One such creative performance came from Alexey Shirov, author of the classic Fire on Board, who qualified for a world title match with Kasparov in 1998 but missed out due to lack of financial support. Shirovs attacking play is a pleasure to watch.

Wolfgang Uhlmann, who died on Monday aged 85, was the former East Germanys best player and a world title candidate in 1971. His opening repertoire was strikingly narrow for a top grandmaster. As Black, he almost always used the French 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 and the Kings Indian Nf6 g6 and Bg7.

A vintage Uhlmann performance came in 1958 when the biennial Olympiad was held in Munich, then in West Germany, and Uhlmann led his young GDR team to a 3.5-0.5 victory over the host nation. I was present in the playing hall that day and remember the stunned silence from the large patriotic audience. True to himself, Uhlmann won against Wolfgang Unzicker with a classically styled Kings Indian.

3686 1...Re1+ 2 Kf2 Qh4+ 3 g3 Qxh3 4 Rxe1 Qh2+ 5 Kf1 Qh1+ 6 Qg1 Rxe1+ and wins.

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Chess: Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen to meet for first time in 16 years - The Guardian

Written by Shivani Naik, Edited by Explained Desk | Mumbai | Updated: September 2, 2020 4:57:34 pmKoneru Humpy won in an Armageddon against Poland's Monica Socko to take India into its first possible Top 2 finish and finals of the first-ever online Chess Olympiad. (Representational)

It was an Armageddon that saw Koneru Humpy take India into the final of the first-ever online Chess Olympiad. India play Russia at 4.30 pm on August 30.

Koneru Humpy won in an Armageddon against Polands Monica Socko to take India into its first possible Top 2 finish and finals of the first-ever online Chess Olympiad. India play Russia in the finals at 4.30 pm on Sunday (August 30).

Chesss version of the penalty shootout can get exciting, and Koneru held her nerve in the cliffhanger.

Heres more about Armageddon.

What is an Armageddon in chess that Koneru Humpy won to take India into the finals?

Its similar to a Super Over in cricket or a penalty shootout in hockey or football. At times it sees players nervously slap on the clocks, fumble with their pieces, and generally hurry through their moves. The online version, of course, wouldve simply seen quick clicks.

The Armageddon is the final decisive clincher and at the Online Chess Olympiad, set out the rules as, White gets 5 minutes, Black gets 4, but a draw would suffice for the latter.

Humpy kept her ice-cool composure to snick a sensational win when even a draw wouldve been enough against Polands Monika Sacko in the semifinal. She had lorded over Socko in the two rounds of rapid earlier.

How did it whip up excitement at the online chess Olympiad semis?

Black, considered at a disadvantage, is given a minute less to process the game and the handicap effectively puts the onus of a win on White.

At that moment, in those 4 minutes, whole of Indias expectations hinged on Koneru Humpys shoulders. But the moment I knew she was playing, I was sure India was winning. Her temperament is exceptional, Prof Anantharam, chess arbiter and raconteur, said.

Prior to that, lots were drawn to pick which of the categories would contest the Armageddon among mens, womens, and juniors. Once it was ascertained that the women would contest, Koneru Humpy was asked to fight the shootout for Indias attempt to get into Top 2 contention for the first time ever.

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Why was it a stunning come-from-behind win?

India was trailing after losing the first round 2-4 where Polish GMs Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Radek Wojtaszek nicked a full point each off Viswanathan Anand and Vidit Gujarati despite some aggressive play from Vidit, while Koneru and Harika Dronavalli drew on the third and fourth boards with Nihal Sarin winning on the penultimate board. Divya Deshmukh had good positional advantage, but couldnt capitalise.

In Round 2, India came back fighting, Anand canny in his opening to strike back against Duda and Vidit driving the knife in after an even opening against Gajewski who turned up to sub Wojtaszek. Koneru and Harika both won as India levelled to win Round Two 4 1/2 1 1/2. Then came the Armageddon.

How did Koneru win the Big A?

It has been dubbed as one of the most exciting Armageddon shootouts of recent times. Socko is a similarly experienced player and did not carry her two losses into the shoot-out showing early aggressive intent with a pawn gambit.

Until moves 35 or 36, things were pretty even, but Sockos pawn move to e5 was a visible tripping after which Konerus superior queen manoeuvring and counter attack saw her stomp through to the finish, as she bulldozed out the bishop.

Also read | Not as grand as it seems: Indias historic showing at Chess Olympiad, explained

What are the most recent instances of the Armageddon?

Four top level online tournaments featuring chesss biggest name Magnus Carlsen were held this year, with the first of those triumphs coming from the Armageddon. But the most exciting one saw the world champion on the losing side against the maverick Hiraku Nakamura in the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals which saw a tennis-like set format.

Set 5 had seen four uneventful draws in the rapid. GM Yan Nepomniachthi had quipped watching: Ok, four draws in rapid section, so theres nothing to tweet about. On cue, things began to sizzle as Carlsen won the fifth Game, with Nakamura responding to rally from behind to win in the forced decider after Carlsen had chosen white.

Giving yourself the time edge also means equipping yourself with the best sword while backing into a corner. Nakamura didnt settle for the winning draw that Armageddons offer, but went for the win. Fun was had by all. Until the next A.

On the final day of the final faceoff, Carlsen won his own tour against Nakamura (who played a stunner till the last 10 minutes) by drawing on black in an Armageddon. The brutality and the epic injustice of it all, was lamented by everyone online.

Of late, which have been the most dramatic Armageddons?

At an Aronian-Grischuk game in Norway last season, the terms were set at 10 minutes vs 7, after classical games were capped at 4 hours, followed by the Armageddon. The vanquished was inconsolable, calling it one of the three biggest disappointing results of his life.

Why do classical romantics frown upon the Armageddon?

It has been said that many chess enthusiasts are critical of Armageddon and/or the scoring system, which downgrades classical games. The Aronian-Grischuk meltdown post the cruel shootoff drew a lot of scornful Internet traffic Armageddons way.

It is seen as an unwelcome disruptor corrupting the classical pace and rhythm with its restless impatience. Some would say chess is clucking at the hyper hand activity involved. Carlsen had weighed in favourably; The Guardian quoted him as saying: There has been plenty of fight in the classical games, and having Armageddon just gives it an extra dimension. Its just extra excitement every day. I am sure there are people who like it, people who dont like it, but I think its been very exciting so far and I look forward to the future. The fact that a coin flip decides time odds, drives critics nuts.

What are the oddest things to happen during an Armageddon?

Yan Nepomniachtchi and Nakamura faced off in a World Cup quarters in 2015 where Nakamura won in an Armageddon. But the Russian protested belatedly that Nakamura had used both hands to make a single move on the rook and king allusion to a form of penalty invoking act, while castling the king.

Its a typical error that can happen with the clock breathing down the earlobe menacingly. But the appeal was denied after a microscopic interpretation of sub-clauses of rules. In a blitz/rapid World Mind Games at Birds Nest in 2008, K Sasikiran rightly pointed out that should a piece be knocked out, it should be adjusted on own clock by the opponent. But a rematch was ordered, which India lost. Time control pressures can wreak havoc, and Armageddons typically see pulse rate soaring as the game is spiced up.

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Explained: Armageddon, the penalty shootout of the chess pieces - The Indian Express