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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Korchnoi's wit and French team's sportsmanship - that's what chess is all about!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011


Hi everyone,


Here are two incidents from the European Team Chess Championship 2011 currently on in Greece. One is about sportsmanship and the other is about legendary Korchnoi wit.


The first is the Viktor Korchnoi incident. We found it on www.chess-news.ru (Russian). The legendary grandmaster is playing on board two for Switzerland. In round four, he reached the above position, as Black, against the Welsh player Tim Kett. White, who is to play, is obviously dead lost. Kett, however, sat staring at the position or glancing at the board next to him, for some time.









Eventually, Viktor could contain himself no longer, and pointed out to his opponent that it was his move. Kett continued to ponder some more, and then resigned. Korchnoi’s reaction was “That is the correct move!”




France's offer of draw


Vugar Gashimov of Azerbaijan fell ill during the Round 4 match, after which France’s team offered to tie the games on all boards. Gashimov is better now but there, we have another incident of sportsmanship. That is what chess is all about never mind the occasional stupid incident of cheating etc.

Round 4: Azerbaijan-France Before the match!










From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
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5 comments:

  1. Alexis Cochran, New ZealandNovember 8, 2011 at 11:37 AM

    Korchnoi is just amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Frenchmen - give it to them for gallantry

    ReplyDelete
  3. Korchnoi is Korchnoi. I like the French gesture.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I look at Korrchinoi as most great chess grandmaster. Swiss Delight.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amrit Puri Knights Chess Club New DelhiNovember 9, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    Most inspirational grandmaster - hats off to Viktor Korchnoi

    ReplyDelete

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