Game6Conley
Well-Known Member
Battle of East vs West: 'Putin-backed prodigy' on brink of upset victory for Russia at World Chess Championships
23 NOVEMBER 2016 • 7:26AM
The parallels between chess and politics are striking and many.
From the many battles between British and French grand masters in the early 19th century dovetailing with the Napoleonic Wars to Bobby Fischer taking on - and beating - the Soviets during the Cold War, chess has mirrored global diplomatic crises throughout history.
The current World Chess Championships in New York is one of the most politically-charged in decades, and tensions boiled over earlier this week when Russia's Sergey Karjakin took a huge step towards claiming the title from Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian champion.
After seven draws in a row, Karjakin, the underdog, defeated Carlsen late on Monday night to take a 4.5 to 3.5 lead with four games remaining.
image
As the "Battle of East vs West" took a potentially decisive turn, Carlsen apparently stormed away from the table and then also walked out of the press conference without taking questions - and now faces a fine.
https://twitter.com/firusvg/status/801016273547235329?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
“So many reporters wanted to talk to Sergey that Magnus had to wait for him to arrive," an unnamed source told the New York Post. "After a couple of minutes, Magnus threw his hands up, walked out of the press conference and left the building.
“His manager ran after him, because the press conference is obligatory. He’ll be fined some of his earnings for walking out. He’s not used to losing.” Karjakin, who was born in Ukraine and supported the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea, pounced after Carlsen had pressed too hard for the breakthrough win.
The defeat was even harder to take for the Norwegian, 25, as he had been playing white. “It’s much better to play well than to play white,” the Russian, 26, explained afterwards.
https://twitter.com/FiveThirtyEight/status/801256457249296384?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
Karjakin, who is known for his ability to hold on for draws, is now the favourite. Carlsen, who also works as a model and counts Hollywood stars such as Liv Tyler among his friends, will now have to take risks to make the ground up in the remaining games. The next game takes place on Wednesday evening.
If Karjakin pulls off the win, he will become the first Russian world chess champion since Vladimir Kramnik in 2007.
Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has been dispatched to New York for moral support and the Kremlin is said to be keeping a close eye on events. A Russian victory would be seen as a “massive p.r. coup” for the Kremlin.
"Back then it was the USSR versus the US," said Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the Russian head of the World Chess Federation. "And now it's the European Union and the US and their sanctions against Russia."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...est-putin-backed-prodigy-brink-upset-victory/
23 NOVEMBER 2016 • 7:26AM
The parallels between chess and politics are striking and many.
From the many battles between British and French grand masters in the early 19th century dovetailing with the Napoleonic Wars to Bobby Fischer taking on - and beating - the Soviets during the Cold War, chess has mirrored global diplomatic crises throughout history.
The current World Chess Championships in New York is one of the most politically-charged in decades, and tensions boiled over earlier this week when Russia's Sergey Karjakin took a huge step towards claiming the title from Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian champion.
After seven draws in a row, Karjakin, the underdog, defeated Carlsen late on Monday night to take a 4.5 to 3.5 lead with four games remaining.
image
As the "Battle of East vs West" took a potentially decisive turn, Carlsen apparently stormed away from the table and then also walked out of the press conference without taking questions - and now faces a fine.
https://twitter.com/firusvg/status/801016273547235329?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
“So many reporters wanted to talk to Sergey that Magnus had to wait for him to arrive," an unnamed source told the New York Post. "After a couple of minutes, Magnus threw his hands up, walked out of the press conference and left the building.
“His manager ran after him, because the press conference is obligatory. He’ll be fined some of his earnings for walking out. He’s not used to losing.” Karjakin, who was born in Ukraine and supported the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea, pounced after Carlsen had pressed too hard for the breakthrough win.
The defeat was even harder to take for the Norwegian, 25, as he had been playing white. “It’s much better to play well than to play white,” the Russian, 26, explained afterwards.
https://twitter.com/FiveThirtyEight/status/801256457249296384?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
Karjakin, who is known for his ability to hold on for draws, is now the favourite. Carlsen, who also works as a model and counts Hollywood stars such as Liv Tyler among his friends, will now have to take risks to make the ground up in the remaining games. The next game takes place on Wednesday evening.
If Karjakin pulls off the win, he will become the first Russian world chess champion since Vladimir Kramnik in 2007.
Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has been dispatched to New York for moral support and the Kremlin is said to be keeping a close eye on events. A Russian victory would be seen as a “massive p.r. coup” for the Kremlin.
"Back then it was the USSR versus the US," said Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the Russian head of the World Chess Federation. "And now it's the European Union and the US and their sanctions against Russia."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...est-putin-backed-prodigy-brink-upset-victory/
