30-10-2013, 08:31 PM
Phil Thomas Wrote:andyburnett Wrote:Phil Thomas Wrote:I saw the end of that game - I was the arbiter hovering nearby in anticipation of a 2 minute draw claim.
The result was a win for Andy Burnett.
One of those endings where finishing the game at 5 seconds per move - one of the FIDE changes happening from summer 2014 I believe - would have been a fair way to resolve the outcome.
I have heard rumour about this rule Phil. Why on earth it would be a fair way to resolve the outcome is beyond me however? We both started with the same amount of time, I used mine more efficiently. Does the rule mean that we are both put on a lightning buzzer-type affair? Would I lose the extra minutes I had over Craig in this instance? Hmmm, I'm not too keen on this idea at all!
Incidentally, is there anything in the rules regarding what players should do when there is a clock 'malfunction'. More specifically in this case, if a player makes an illegal move, and there is a delay of several minutes in re-setting the clocks, should the player/s be allowed to sit at the board analysing while they wait? It didn't affect the outcome this time, but it certainly could have. Food for thought and discussion perhaps?
I had anticipated Craig playing 69 ...Ra7 and claiming a draw under the two minute rule with 5 seconds left on the clock. Almost every arbiter would take the same initial decision = have the players continue the game (this buys some thinking time for the arbiter) until Black's flag fell and then make a decision. At this point the result can becomes a lottery (unless result had become crystal clear by then ) because different arbiters would reach different conclusions. The rules have, I recall, been changed recently to disallow appeals against decisions in draw claims - can someone confirm or deny that point?
As I understand the new rules if Black claims the draw then White gets an extra 2 minutes before the 5 seconds per move shoot out. So the time saved up by White still counts for much and if both players were down to 5 seconds then Black acquires a significant time advantage.
Will arbiters use this optional solution (not compulsory as far as I know) after the rule comes into force next summer?
Interesting question and I really don't know the answer. Any arbiters out there want to comment?