Wesley So Forfeited In U.S. Championship Round 9

[kasinp]

I see two stories: one about So, which I don't quite understand. And another one, about Akobian who suddenly looks like a petty opportunist at best.

Care to explain why you're not including the arbiter that took the actual decision?

The arbiter's role is the least interesting to me; I am told he acted in accordance with the rules. That would make his behavior proper, if somewhat mechanical.

Akobian undisputably acted in accordance with the rules as well.

The arbiter had discretion. He could have warned again or issued a time penalty.

Of course he did not have much choice anymore after informing So that next time he would forfeit the game, but that also meant that So knew very well what was going on.

Now, Wesley So's conduct is puzzling. Rational people normally don’t act in self-defeating way.

According to some articles he was under severe stress due to problems within his family. If that is true, that explains his behaviour to some extent. But it is irrelevant for the question whether the arbiter and/or Akobian acted correctly.

No issue with the arbiter. I can't say the same for Akobian. In separate post I give example of a rule that is normally ignored precisely out of respect for one's opponent.

I understand we are of different opinions on this.

PK

[syzygy]

No issue with the arbiter. I can't say the same for Akobian. In separate post I give example of a rule that is normally ignored precisely out of respect for one's opponent.

I understand we are of different opinions on this.

Opinions are one thing, but I simply don't see any logic in blaming Akobian and not the arbiter.

Why do you not have an issue with the arbiter's decision to declare the game a loss for So? Instead of warning him or giving a time penalty? Surely nobody would now be upset with Akobian if the arbiter had merely warned So for a third time?

(If it is because the arbiter was bound by his earlier warning that the third violation would mean default of the game, then why do you not think that that earlier warning was wrong?)

Akobian was distracted, so complained. He has the right to do so.

Maybe Akobian could have asked the arbiter to revoke the forfeiture and to continue the game. One could possibly blame Akobian for not doing this, but I doubt that it is possible to do within the rules of the game.

[fern]

Ronald, it looks like you fail to understand that what is the issue here is not the arbiter, that of course, being such, must follow the rules, neither the issue are the rules, that can be useful or not; the problem is with the guy that make loud complains because of almost nothing and begins the process to make the arbiter to apply a rule.
The fact that he did so, not because someone was making noise or farting or doing anything like that, but just scribbling, make lot of us here and elsewhere to think that this guy was and is an opportunist asshole making use of a rule to get the full point. But you insist in giving too much importance to the rules as if they were born in mount Sinai, but it is not the case. Any rule and even any law must be weighted according the situation and common sense; otherwise instead of judges to apply the law, that is, to use judgement to interpret them, we could have just machine to dictate sentences.
A real man in a situation of competition with another guy does not make use of any chance of opportunity to win, or worst, make use of a minimal thing to do it.. That is cowardly, low and despicable no matter how much he can say that the rule exist.

[supersharp77]

Wesley So is one of the strongest players in the USA so expect him to land on his feet and go play overseas in some strong chess tournaments or in NYC As for me I am wondering how you run a USA championship without the ex USA champions getting a invite....if you ask me the whole "system" needs a ovehaul....As for writing notes on scoresheets who has the time to write on them and where... and who has the time to read what the opponent writes on his own scoresheet?!?! LMAO!!

[syzygy]

Ronald, it looks like you fail to understand that what is the issue here is not the arbiter, that of course, being such, must follow the rules, neither the issue are the rules, that can be useful or not; the problem is with the guy that make loud complains because of almost nothing and begins the process to make the arbiter to apply a rule.

I continue to find that a funny and completely illogical position.

The arbiter could have given a third warning.
If he had done so, you would not have called Akobian an "asshole".
I know this, because you are not calling Shankland an "asshole". (Shankland made the exact same complaint in the second round.)

However, the arbiter declared the game a loss and that is what suddenly makes Akobian an "asshole". There is simply no logic in that.

Any rule and even any law must be weighted according the situation and common sense; otherwise instead of judges to apply the law, that is, to use judgement to interpret them, we could have just machine to dictate sentences.

That is what judges and, in this case, arbiters are for. Do you not understand that the arbiter had discretion? He is not at all obliged to declare the game a loss.

[syzygy]

In the meantime, So has lost his appeal, but beaten Kamsky.

[gbtami]

An interesting post from Dana Mackenzie http://www.danamackenzie.com/blog/?p=3538

[AdminX]

An interesting post from Dana Mackenzie http://www.danamackenzie.com/blog/?p=3538

Incident 2: "In the Aeroflot Open “B” tournament in Moscow, master Pavel Dvalishvili was forfeited (in a winning position against Orkhan Abdulov) for writing his moves down before he played them. Again, it appears that he received several warnings, or at least Abdulov complained to the arbiters several times, before the punishment was meted out."

Seems clear to me.

[Ajedrecista]

Hello:

I have just found this photo in ChessGames:



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On an off-topic matter, in other game that So lost in the same championship:

Wesley So (0-1) Samuel Sevian; US Championship, 2015

[pgn][White "So, W."]
[Black "Akobian, V."]
[Event "U.S. Championship, 2015"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. a3 Rc8 12. Ng5 c5 13. Bxh7+ Kh8 14. f4 g6 15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Nxb5 Qe7 17. Qxg6 Bb8 18. dxc5 Rxc5 19. Nd4 Rg8 20. Qh6+ Nh7 21. e4 Ndf6 22. b4 Rcxg5 23. fxg5 Be5 24. Bb2 Ng4 25. Qh5 Qxg5 26. Qh3 Qe3+ 27. Qxe3 Nxe3 28. Rf2 Ng5 29. Kh1 Nc4 30. Bc3 Nxe4 31. Rf7 Nxc3 32. Rxb7 Bxd4 33. Rf1 Rg7 34. Rb8+ Kh7 35. g3 e5 36. Rff8 Ne3 37. h4 Ne4 38. Rh8+ Kg6 39. h5+ Kg5 40. h6 Rf7 41. h7 Rf1+ 0-1[/pgn]

After 21.- e4, a knight moved to f6 (the only one that could move there):

[d]1b4rk/pb1nq2n/4p2Q/2r3N1/3NPP2/P7/1P4PP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 21

I see 21.- ..., Ndf6 in the PGN and even in a Spanish printed newspaper (where I realized about it). The knight on h7 is pinned so it can not move anywhere. Why is not valid write 21.- ..., Nf6? Thanks in advance for your answers.

Regards from Spain.

Ajedrecista.

[AdminX]

Hello:

[d]1b4rk/pb1nq2n/4p2Q/2r3N1/3NPP2/P7/1P4PP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 21

I see 21.- ..., Ndf6 in the PGN and even in a Spanish printed newspaper (where I realized about it). The knight on h7 is pinned so it can not move anywhere. Why is not valid write 21.- ..., Nf6? Thanks in advance for your answers.

Regards from Spain.

Ajedrecista.

It is valid, however when two different Knights can reach the same square, it is a good habit to clarify which Knight is being moved.