Chess makes its opening gambit to be Olympic sport

By Marie Woolf, Political Editor

Published: 10 December 2006

It took a few shrewd moves but, at last, it is official: chess is a sport. The change in the UK game's status has delighted chess clubs, which as sporting bodies now qualify for charitable status and state funding for the first time.

It also opens the door for chess and other games of skill, including bridge, poker and Scrabble, to be recognised as sports. In theory, they could even become Olympic events.

The change in the law, which follows decades of campaigning by fans supported by MPs and peers, was slipped through the Commons by cabinet office minister Ed Miliband, himself a devotee.

Chess is played by more than four million people in Britain and is second only to football in popularity. The game's image has become edgier recently after lurid allegations surrounding the suicide of junior chess champion Jessie Gilbert. There were also ugly scenes at the Turin Chess Olympiad last June when the Armenian grand master Levon Aronian was allegedly punched and shoved by British grand master Danny Gormally. The dispute centred around Australian grand master Arianne Caoili, who is described as the Anna Kournikova of chess.

Worldwide, 124 governments recognise chess as a sport but, until now, the UK has stubbornly resisted giving the game official recognition. But Mr Miliband, who made the change in the Charities Bill, which became law last month, said legal distinctions between physical and mental sporting activities were outdated. "The new definition extends to sports or games that involve mental as well as physical aspects," he said.

The change marks the end of a long battle. Tony Blair has been lobbied by scores of advocates, including Russian grand master Gary Kasparov, and a Parliamentary motion was put down demanding British chess players in international tournaments be given government funding.The UK's chess fraternity is now planning to apply for lottery money and other charity funding to support chess clubs around the country. The English Chess Federation says it will push for chess to be recognised as an Olympic sport.

"For years and years the chess world has been trying to get chess recognised a sport," said the federation's president Gerry Walsh. "Hitherto, a degree of physical exertion has been required for something to be recognised as a sport. But this change in the law means that every club in the county can apply for charitable status."

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport said it was up to Sport England to decide if chess clubs would be eligible for lottery cash.

"This is about helping sports clubs getting charitable status; we support this," a spokesman for the department said.

Apologies

I haven't been updating lately. Been busy with HCI speed-chess tourney and mostly sch work. Training very hard for the tourney. Next up is 8th ASEAN+ Age-group. Thanks timwee for linking me. I need to fix the sidebars too.




Too busy...

Draw methods

Haha. Kelvin edited my post. Also he provided the book definitions of the various draws.

Rule 5.2 of the FIDE Laws of Chess detail the ways a game may end in a draw:

Stalemate - if the player on turn has no legal move but is not in check, this is stalemate and the game is a draw.

Mutual agreement - a player may offer a draw to his opponent at any stage of a game. If the opponent accepts, the game is a draw.

Threefold repetition - if an identical position has occurred three times, or will occur after the player on turn makes his move, the player on move may claim a draw (note that in this case the draw is not automatic - a player must claim it). Article 9.2 states that a position is considered identical to another if the same player is on move, the same pieces of the same color occupy the same squares and the same moves are available to each player (that is, each player has the same castling and en passant pawn capturing rights).

Fifty move rule - if fifty moves (by each side) have passed with no pawn being moved and no capture being made, a draw may be claimed. (Again, the draw is not automatic.)

Impossibility of checkmate - if a position arises in which neither player could possibly give checkmate by a series of legal moves, the game is a draw. This is usually because there is insufficient material left, but it is possible in other positions too (see the diagram). Combinations with insufficient material to checkmate are:
K v K
KB v K
KN v K
KB v KB with B on same colour

Some draw puzzles to solve.

Funny Chess Video

Featuring GM Magnus Carlsen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N003wIDsiCc

Hmmm, Kelvin Wee and I have initiated this international chess lessons for IGC (Intellectual Games Club) members. I'm supposed to source for basic chess puzzles. Haha!

Hmm. Next lesson we're going to teach them the different kinds of reasons for draw (50-move rule, perpetual check, 3-fold repetition, stalemate, agreement etc.)

Now I'm thinking, hey, why not let's post that on this blog.


Draw Circumstances

A position is drawn if one of the following occurs:

a) Draw by agreement - Both of the players agree to a draw. Each player will get half a point each.

b) 50-move rule - If the game progresses for 50 moves without any pawn move OR piece capture, either player can claim a draw.

c) Insufficient material to mate - A bishop and a King cannot mate a lone king.

d)3-fold repetition - When the exact same position is repeated 3 times, with the same player on the move, either players can claim a draw.

e) Perpetual check - There are continuous checks that cannot be stopped. (As the game does not make progress, the game is drawn)

f) Stalemate - When it is a person's turn to move and he has no legal moves left, the game is automatically drawn.

Why draw?
1.In a tournament, if you are facing against strong opponents, a win is best, but a draw is good too.

2. In a desperate, hopeless position, some tactics can force a draw.

3. At the last round of the tournament, a draw offer can be used to secure first place and also help improve both player's rankings without hurting each other.


Haha. Got some other stuff in my mind for the lesson plan, but I'm lazy to add.


P.S.: Thanks timwee for the video link.

P.P.S.: Hey, I can't get my tagboard up, someone help me?

Tactics Puzzle 1 solution

4.Rxg7 Kh8 5.Rg8+! Kxg8 6.Rg1+ and mate the next move.



Sorry for the lack of updates. Been busy with sch work. Plus I don't really know what to post about.


Lol, Gerald Chan's answer to national junior squad (chess) qns:

1.What are heavy pieces?

They are pieces that weigh more than 1kg.

2.What is a pin? Why should we avoid it?

It is a small needle used for sowing. We avoid it because it will prick your finger.

Hmm, I bought a new chess CD, it's called "Theory and Practice of Chess Endings". Quite nice.

Tactics puzzle 1

Tactical combinations are the weapons of chess by which we "kill" our opponent. Tactical preparation is the most important training you can obtain to improve your game. Until you are a rated master, you should study tactics more than any other part of the game. Tactical ability is the most significant difference between the beginner and the advanced player.

- Logicalchess.com

When I started out as a beginner at chess, I did train tactics and I found it quite useful to my game of chess.


Here is a puzzle from logicalchess.com

Hartlaub-Anon, Berlin 1913

Black plays: 1... Bxb2 2. Bxb2 Nf4+ 3. Kh2 Nxd3. How does white refute this grievous loss of material?

Scroll down for a hint.
















Hint: Practically speaking, only a decisive attack can refute an otherwise unanswered loss of a queen.





I think I will post the solution next blog.

Hmm, I will probably post some more puzzles, from different sources. Stay tuned. Btw, endgames are still crucial to know as they are the basics of chess. (with only few pieces remaining on the board, nothing can be simpler, right? lol.)

Philidor's Position

Philidor's position can refer to two positions: One with Q + K vs. R + K and R + P + K vs. R + K. We will be looking at the rook endgame.

Black to move

A possible position of Philidor's position. This is a draw for white.
The strategy that white undertakes to draw works with flank pawns too.

Why is this a draw? Let us take a look. The black king is totally cut-off by the white rook, and an exchange of rooks leads to a draw due to white having the opposition.

The only chance is to push the pawn. Let us look at this.

1...e3

2.Ra8! Without the pawn on e3, Ra8 loses because 2...Ke3 threatens mate and forces the king to move. The lucena position will then be reached and it is a win for black.

2...Kf3

3.Rf8+ The continuous checks from the back forces a draw.

1/2 - 1/2