The Longest Game under Modern Time Controls?

[Hans Jung]

https://en.chessbase.com/post/a-game...lasted-the-day Drama but only just over six hours. I remember back in the day several more than 12 hour games - real tournament disrupters.

[Hans Jung]

A reader raised a very good question. Shouldn't the game have been drawn under the 50 move rule at move 204?

[Brian Hartman]

Two of the longest games I was involved in were during a 1980s Toronto event that Stephen Boyd directed, myself vs Dave Macleod, where I had 3 pieces vs the Queen with no pawns and was slowly encroaching on his King...the game went into the last round past 4pm, it ended in a draw via a stalemate...based on that game Stephen introduced sudden death controls.

The other game was Ilias Kourkounakis vs Roger Paterson during the 1980 South Western Ontario Open, where I was organizer, and billeted several players, including Victor Dzera. This game went to about 3am with Rook vs Knight (I believe), I recall everyone being so tired when we finally got back to my place, but when I awoke, I saw Victor examinng a chess composition, looking quite spry, and always wondered how he didn't look a bit tired - he asked, Hartman, what would you play here?

Brian

[Hugh Brodie]

If I'm not mistaken - a Kevin Spraggett game (draw vs Pierre Lemyre?) in an early 1980s Quebec Open started at 6 pm, and ended around 6 am. I was TDing, but I had an agreement that I wouldn't stay past the time of the last Metro (around 1 am), so I didn't see the finish.

My longest was a 9-hour loss (my Q+2P vs his 2R+N) against Alex Kuznecov in the 1982 Canadian Open in Vancouver. I had to get back to my accommodation in Richmond - I can't remember whether it was a taxi ride or a long walk at 3 am across the Oak St. bridge. (I did get a lift from the tournament site to the bridge).

[Hans Jung]

Two of the longest games I was involved in were during a 1980s Toronto event that Stephen Boyd directed, myself vs Dave Macleod, where I had 3 pieces vs the Queen with no pawns and was slowly encroaching on his King...the game went into the last round past 4pm, it ended in a draw via a stalemate...based on that game Stephen introduced sudden death controls.

The other game was Ilias Kourkounakis vs Roger Paterson during the 1980 South Western Ontario Open, where I was organizer, and billeted several players, including Victor Dzera. This game went to about 3am with Rook vs Knight (I believe), I recall everyone being so tired when we finally got back to my place, but when I awoke, I saw Victor examinng a chess composition, looking quite spry, and always wondered how he didn't look a bit tired - he asked, Hartman, what would you play here?

Brian

Yes Victor Dzera had quite a passion for chess. When I lived in Toronto in the late 90's I ended up in his neck of the woods and when he found out I was close by he wanted to play countless speed matches. Victor played in the World Open under 2200 section for like twenty years in a row. Maybe he still does. Does anyone know?

[John Coleman]

A reader raised a very good question. Shouldn't the game have been drawn under the 50 move rule at move 204?

Without checking, I believe the 50-move rule is no longer in use. Someone who has more energy than I could check the FIDE regulations.

[Hans Jung]

Thanks John - that may explain.