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Dark Knight / Le Chevalier Noir
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Note that Ivanchuk id playing 10x10 "international" checkers...not the 8x8 version we have all played on the kitchen table. There is also 12x12 "Canadian" checkers. I don't think computers have yet mastered the larger-board versions.
At the Tromso Olympiad 2014, there were 177 teams in the Open Section and 136 in the Woman’s. That gives the possibility of 156 matches at any one time.
How many arbiters would have been needed? How would they keep track of everything?
Fortunately, the rules for the arbiters for Baku have been issued and they have answered many of the questions I had. Here are some excerpts:
Particularly in an Olympiad, where every Arbiter will have only one match, i.e. just four (4) games, to control, we can consider the following general instructions as important for the Match Arbiters:
1. To show proper behavior to the players, captains and spectators and to be respectful and dignified. They shall avoid any dispute during the games and take care of the good image of the tournament.
2. To observe all four games of their match during every round of the competition.
They have to take care of the match that they are responsible, to observe and to check the games’ progress (especially when there is time trouble). It is not acceptable for the Arbiters to leave the playing area every 10 or 15 minutes for smoking or for any discussions with other Arbiters, spectators, officials, or other persons, or to leave their match unattended in order to go and watch other games in another part of the playing hall. It is not acceptable for the Arbiters to stay seated in their chairs reading newspapers or books (even chess books!), leaving their games without observation. It is also not acceptable for the Arbiters to speak on their mobiles in the playing hall during the games. The Law of Chess regarding the mobile phones is valid not only for the players, captains and spectators, but for the Arbiters as well. The use of a mobile phone is strictly forbidden in the playing hall during the round.
It is sure that the biggest problems during the games are caused because of the absence or the lack of attention of the Arbiters and thus the ignorance of what actually happened in case of an incident. How an absent Arbiter will take a fair decision in a dispute between two players caused because of a touched piece (i.e. the opponents do not agree that the player said “j’adoube” in advance)? Without knowing what actually happened, the Arbiter has 50% possibilities to take a correct decision and 50% to take a wrong one, losing by this way his credibility and the trust of the players.
Of course the Arbiters are human beings and they may make mistakes, but they have to try as much as they can to avoid such problems.
________
The following general duties are referred to the Baku Olympiad Match Arbiters:
A. Before the start of the games
a. The Match Arbiters should arrive at the playing hall at least one (1) hour before the start of every round. For the first round of the tournament they have to arrive at least two (2) hours before the start of the round.
As the accommodation of the Match Arbiters will be (according to the Organizers) in a Hotel 7.7 km far from the playing hall and it will take about fifteen (15) minutes to reach the playing hall by the buses provided by the Organizers, the Match Arbiters have to be very careful not to miss the bus.
b. The whole playing venue (playing hall, toilets, smoking area, analysis room, bar, etc.) and the technical conditions (light, ventilation, air-condition, enough space for the players, etc.) has to be checked carefully before arrival of players or spectators.
c. Receive from the Sector Arbiters the results sheet, the Match Protocols sheet and score sheets for the match. Put the Match Protocol sheet on the announcement board of the match. Be very careful when putting the “mirror” Match Protocol on the other side of the announcement board, in order to be relevant with the positions in the tables for the players of the teams.
d. Check of the equipment (chessboards, pieces, score sheets, pens).
e. Arrange the tables, chairs, ropes for the playing area, name plates for the players and flags of federations, if needed, or table numbers.
f. Check of the electronic clocks, the correct setting of the time control, check of batteries and the correct placement of the clocks.
g. The Arbiters will have their own table with a chair. They have to seat not very close to the tables of the players, in order to avoid disturbing them. The Captains’ chairs will be in the right and left of the Arbiter, in the same side and in a distance from their teams.
h. Everything must be ready before the arrival of the players, at least half an hour before the start of the round.
i. Check if the players have been seated according to the match protocol and have the correct colors.
j. Check if all players of both teams are present. Zero Tolerance Rule will not be in effect and the default time will be fifteen (15) minutes. Immediately inform the Sector Arbiter if any player is not present after the 15 minutes from the start of the round passed. It should be done every effort to avoid any forfeit of any player.
k. Have in mind where you can find spare clocks (usually they will be spare clocks on the tables of the Sector Arbiters), in case one or more clocks of the match are not working properly.
B. During the games
a. Immediately after the start of the round check if the four (4) clocks are working properly.
b. Check the electronic clocks regularly by using the time control sheets (every thirty minutes) and of the score sheets and the number of moves written by the players.
c. Check the players discretely, if they are leaving the playing area for an unusual number of times, for their contact with other players, captains, spectators and other persons. The players are not allowed to leave the playing venue without informing the Arbiter. Inform the Sector Arbiter accordingly.
d. Observe and control all four (4) games of the match, especially when there is time trouble, with the help of an assistant, if needed. Inform the Sector Arbiter accordingly.
e. Carefully check draw claims by the players (in the provided area), together with the Sector Arbiter, if needed, before taking any decision. While checking such claims, inform the neighbor Arbiters so that they will attend the rest of your games until your return.
f. As in the regulations exist a draw restriction rule for 30 moves (No draw offer or agreement between the players is allowed before the player with black pieces have completed 30 moves), when receiving score sheets with a result as a draw, check immediately the number of moves written in both score sheets and if they are less than 30, ask players about the way of the draw the game was decided.
If the draw was after agreement (draw offer), the players must be informed that they must continue the game until they both complete 30 moves, in order to avoid to be forfeited for violation of the rule of the draw restriction before 30 moves.
If the draw is according to the rule of the three fold repetition, the Arbiter must check the claim that should have been submitted by the players before signing the score sheets and explain to them the correct procedure (first make a claim to the Arbiter and if after checking it would be found to be correct, then sign the score sheets as a draw).
The Match Arbiter must do every effort to avoid any forfeit of the players.
f. At the end of the game check the recorded result by both players, before they leave their table and check the score sheets to be signed by both players. The result must have been written by the players and not by the Arbiter.
g. After the end of each game put the Kings in the middle squares of the chess board, indicating the result of the game. Kings in the central white squares (e4, d5) mean 1-0. Kings in the central black squares (e5, d4) mean 0-1. Kings in the central white and black squares (e4, e5) mean draw. Be very careful, in order to indicate the correct result.
h. Update the results sheet and the Match Protocol on the board by recording the result of every finished game.
The Director of the Baku Chess Olympiad Operating Committee and Vice-President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, Mahir Mammedov, has been interviewed by the tournament’s press-service.
- With less than a month left for the start of the 42nd World Chess Olympiad in Baku, what is the status of preparations for this prestigious event?
- There is an Operating Committee functioning within the Organizing Committee established by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The Operating Committee is working hard. We are interacting with international chess organizations, participating countries and agencies within the country. The preparations are now entering the final stage. Within the Operating Committee, there are 18 subcommittees. We are mainly based at two locations. The head office of the Operating Committee is the same as that of the Baku European Games Operating Committee. The other office is at Crystal Hall, the venue of the Olympiad. The team responsible for organizational matters is based there.
- How many countries are expected to take part in the Baku Chess Olympiad?
- FIDE always tries to increase the number of countries participating in Olympiads. Our Olympiad will break the existing record. The previous competition held in Norway was joined by 172 countries, while the Baku Chess Olympiad will involve 180 countries. The registration is still under way, so the number could increase further. FIDE has 189 members, so we have almost reached the maximum number. Again, the Baku Olympiad will set a new record for the number of participating countries.
- Could you please say a few words about the opening of the Olympiad? What is in store for spectators?
- Preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies are currently under way. The closing ceremony is usually technical in nature. The opening ceremony will focus on the host country’s history, its attachment to sports and the Olympiad proper. We are still working on the script. The ceremony will be held at the National Gymnastics Arena and attended by 2,500-2,600 people. I would not like to go too much into detail because there will be a live broadcast of the opening ceremony. Let’s leave it somewhat hidden for the time being. It will be an interesting opening ceremony. We will touch upon Azerbaijan’s history of chess, the country’s ancient history and other aspects.
- A great number of foreign visitors, including chess players, will come to Baku for the Olympiad. Can they face problems with visas?
- The most important issue at the present is to speed up the visa process. Following a decree signed by the head of state, a procedure has been put in place to obtain visas for the Olympiad. The names of participants from each country are being verified, so that we could accelerate the provision of visas to all chess players and visitors. With the aid of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Migration Service, we are trying to provide visas to all chess players on the spot. The teams participating in the Olympiad will come to Baku at about the same time. If the visas are to be provided at the airport, this will be slow down the process of customs clearance. This is why we started preparing for this process in good time. Visas should be obtained in advance and chess players should pass airport examination quickly.
- What is the status of transportation and security matters?
- Transport problems are being addressed. We are conducting transport dry-runs. A company has been selected to take care of security matters. It is currently dealing with the training of its personnel. Olympiad-related banners will be posted at different locations of the city. As you know, we will cooperate with a total of 14 hotels. About 2,500 chess players and arbiters will be based at these hotels. There will be a hot-line during the competition, where visitors can ask their questions or raise concerns.
- Armenian media have circulated reports that Armenian players will not participate in the Olympiad. Has an official report been sent to the Operating Committee to confirm that?
- We provided the Armenian team with security guarantees. We are already experienced in organizing competitions involving Armenian players in Baku. If they do not want to participate in the Baku Chess Olympiad, this is their own responsibility. To be frank, we did not expect this decision because Armenian players did take part in the World Cup held in Baku last year. Armenian players, including Levon Aronian, did not experience any problems in Baku. Armenia was supposed to be represented by two teams in the Olympiad. Their men’s team is quite strong.
When FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov visited Baku, he said in a meeting with Azad Rahimov that Armenia was discussing this issue. They eventually decided not to come, but do not have an official document to that effect. We are still ready for their arrival. If they do come, we will receive them.
- Azerbaijan will field six teams in the Olympiad. What are the goals set before our chess players?
- There will be three training sessions. Two of these are already over. The next will start on 9 August. I do hope that all our players will be ready at the end of August. We always expect good results from the first team. The objective for every competition is to win. Of course, it would be naïve to expect second and third teams to do equally well. Our women’s team does not stand a good chance. Our men’s team has always been among the strongest in the world. In the last Olympiad in Norway, we shared the second and fifth places. In the last eight years, Azerbaijan has been European champion twice. Our team is quite experienced and we can legitimately expect it to do well. This is sport. We will certainly do our best to win.
This was the deadline date for colour passport scans to be sent to Baku for visas.
I thought they would then issue the team lists, which they have, today. They got as far as the Netherlands alphabetically and then there is no more data. I shall supply the rest of the list as soon as available.
Australia
Captain Weeks, Manuel 2181
Zhao Zong-Yuan 2550
Smerdon, David 2531
Ly, Moulthun 2501
Smirnov, Anton 2486
Illingworth, Max 2458
Austria
Captain Ribli, Zoltan
Ragger, Markus 2686
Shengelia, David 2572
Kreisl, Robert 2448
Diermair, Andreas 2478
Dragnev, Valentin 2430
Azerbaijan
No Captain Given
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 2764
Radjabov, Teimour 2722
Mamedov, Rauf 2666
Safarli, Eltaj 2678
Naiditsch, Arkadij 2696
Russia
Captain Filatov, Andrey
Kramnik, Vladimir 2808
Karjakin, Sergey 2769
Grischuk, Alexander 2754
Tomashevsky, Evgeny 2731
Nepomniachtchi, Ian 2740
Serbia
Captain Marjanovic, Slavoljub 2462
Ivanisevic, Ivan 2650
Markus, Robert 2662
Sedlak, Nikola 2537
Indjic, Aleksandar 2562
Markovic, Miroslav 2459
Slovakia
Captain Jablonicky, Frantisek 2112
Ftacnik, Lubomir 2541
Petrik, Tomas 2464
Hjurcik, Jarian 2484
Pacher, Milan 2502
Repka, Christopher 2485
Slovenia
Captain Mikac, Matjaz 2393
Lenic, Luka 2622
Beliavsky, Alexander 2602
Borisek, Jure 2558
Sebenik, Matej 2526
Skoberne, Jure 2562
Spain
Captain Magem, Badals Jordi 2543
Vallejo Pons, Francisco 2713
Salgado Lopez, Ivan 2651
Anton, Guijarro David 2627
Vazquez Igarza, Renier 2589
Ibarra Jerez, Jose Carlos 2563
Ukraine
Captain Sulypa, Oleksandr 2482
Eljanov, Pavel 2737
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2709
Kryvoruchko, Yuriy 2691
Korobov, Anton 2656
Volokitin, Andrei 2647
U.S.A.
Captain Lenderman, Aleksandr 2600
Caruana, Fabiano 2807
Nakamura, Hikaru 2791
So, Wesley 2771
Robson, Ray 2674
Shankland, Samuel 2661
On average rating, Canada ranks 29th of the teams registered to play
China
Captain Yu Shaoteng 2479
Hou Yifan 2658
Zhao Xue 2518
Ju Wenjun 2575
Tan Zhongyi 2475
Guo Qi 2417
Russia
Captain Rublevsky, Sergei 2689
Kosteniuk, Alexandra 2538
Gunina, Valentina 2520
Goryachkina, Aleksandra 2475
Pogonina, Natalija 2484
Girya, Olga 2452
Ukraine
Captain Brodsky, Michail 2524
Muzychuk, Anna 2544
Muzychuk, Mariya 2539
Ushenina, Anna 2452
Zhukova, Natalia 2475
Gaponenko, Inna 2416
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