In a dramatic encounter, uBu wins 5.5:2.5 against Slavija.
Board 8 remains unoccupied for the opponent, we start with +1 on the scorecard.
For Slavija Chrisitan Nadj, Aleksander Drakulic, Stephen Falk, Ranko Ivanisevic, Gerhard Gerlach, Dr. Lukas Fritz and Slobodan Drakulic play.
IM Igor Solomunovic is on the club ranking list, but not on the line-up sheet.
We start with Marcus Krug, Markus Rotzinger, Dr. Sven Hermann, Andrej Sokerin, Wolfgang Henn, Carsten Dege and myself.
On 7, Michael Maurer quickly gains an advantage against Slobodan Drakulic, a veteran of the club. By the way, a long time ago even the Karlsruhe chess legend Hajo Vatter played for Slavija, a real big name in those times.
Michael’s variation is a winner. Such games still have to be won. How quickly one slips on the wet autumn leaves during a Sunday walk, for example, and gets a bump. A nice point for us.
After his one-year chess sabbatical, Wolfgang Henn is in good form against Gerhard Gerlach, playing with enthusiasm and calmness. His opponent misses a nice combination and has to give up. Things are going well for us.
Nadj vs. Krug at 1 draws.
Carsten Dege is stable against Dr. Lukas Fritz. But the reverse is also true. A draw.
At 2, Aleksandar Drakulic and Markus Rotzinger are on terra incognita in terms of opening. One would rather not undertake risky research trips there. Draw.
Ranko Ivanisevic and Andrej Sokerin also agree on a draw. At first glance the position seems advantageous for Ivanisevic. However, after a rook manoeuvre to the baseline, the draw cannot be avoided on this board either.
“I need to practise more,” is Andrej’s original comment.
The controversial clash between Stephen Falk against Dr. Sven Hermann on board 3, gets special attention in the coverage, unfortunately there is no way around it.
To clarify the situation, let’s first take a look at the relevant set of FIDE rules, which also apply to the German Chess Federation and thus to the federations.
4.2 Provided that he first expresses his intention (for example by saying „j’adoube“ or “I
adjust”), the player having the move may adjust one or more pieces on their squares.
This is unambiguous and conversely indicates: If it is not your move, keep your hands off the pieces and the board!
Stephen Falk does not follow this rule and repeatedly moves pieces during the opponent’s thinking time, which distracts our player.
There is also a FIDE rule on this:
12.6 It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever. This includes
unreasonable claims, unreasonable offers of a draw or the introduction of a source of
noise into the playing area.
Sven reports the incident to the referee, who decides in favour of a goodwill solution, which is not what our player wants.
A verbal dispute ensues, Falk becomes insulting. I will spare the reader the vocabulary.
In the end, the game ends in a draw.
Another note on possible sanctions, again from the FIDE regulations:
13.4 The arbiter can apply one or more of the following penalties:
a. warning
b. increasing the remaining time of the opponent
c. reducing the remaining time of the offending player
d. declaring the game to be lost
e. reducing the points scored in the game by the offending party
f. increasing the points scored in the game by the opponent to the maximum available
for that game
g. expulsion from the event.
This is the first time in my chess career that I have experienced this. Regrettable. An apology would have been appropriate and would have defused the conflict.
uBu 1 now 2nd in the table. Many draws on the match day. We will continue with concentration.
