Topalov 2 v Kramnik 3
Posted by Nicholas Gruen on Friday, September 29, 2006
Chess players are nothing if not temperamental. The story so far – at least as I could be bothered learning about it is that:
- Topalov’s camp protested about the frequency with which Kramnik was going to the toilet(!)
- The officials seem to have required Kramnik and Topalov to use the same toilet.
- They locked Kramnik’s private dunny.
- Kramnik wasn’t happy about that and refused to play until they’d unlocked it.
- After his clock had run down by an hour he forfeited the game. With the white pieces too! So there you go.
Who knows what will happen when the next game is scheduled tomorrow.
I wouldn’t fancy any of the players in the Australian weekend finals chances if they refused to play until their private toilet was unlocked.
This entry was posted on Friday, September 29th, 2006 at 11:10 PM and filed under Uncategorised.
Follow comments here with the RSS 2.0 feed.
Apologies. Comments and trackbacks are both currently closed.
according to this
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2006/09/department_of_u.html#comments
“After each move Mr. Kramnik immediately heads to the rest room and from it directly to the bathroom. During every game he visited the relaxation room 25 times at the average and the bathroom more than 50 times
Posted on 30-Sep-06 at 8:29 am | PermalinkAustralia”
Posted on 01-Oct-06 at 4:18 am | PermalinkNicholas, are you prepared to do the chess column on a new all sports blog that Shaun is setting up?
Posted on 03-Oct-06 at 8:17 am | PermalinkWell I’ll make a fool of myself. But happy to oblige on big events. (One can crib enough from good sites to cover one’s tracks these days. Perhaps I’ll pose as someone who can really play.)
Posted on 04-Oct-06 at 12:34 am | PermalinkActually Rafe (and anyong else who’s interested), let me tell you a family story. My paternal great grandfather Villi was on a night train (Probably in Austria or Hungary). He was in a cabin with another man who was sleeping and trying to pass the time asked the man if he played chess to which the man replied ‘yes’. He asked the man if he’d like a game to which he replied. “Yes – on three conditions”.
1. We play for money
2. I don’t come out from under this blanket but you tell me the moves you make and I’ll tell you my replies
3. You tell me on which square you want me to mate you and with what piece.
A game transpired in which Villi was beaten on the square with the peice he had nominated and the man had not come out from under the blanket.
The man was Ksawery Tartakower. who is remembered for various opening variations that bear his name.
Posted on 04-Oct-06 at 12:10 pm | PermalinkGood story! How much money did Villi lose!
Posted on 05-Oct-06 at 10:22 pm | PermalinkNo idea.
Posted on 05-Oct-06 at 11:56 pm | Permalink