Is the history of chess a lie?

Welcome, everyone! I've recently become interested in the history of chess because I believe that learning about it can help you to better understand certain ideas about the game. You can learn the classic concepts of older players and see how openings have evolved. In short, it can improve your understanding of chess and raise your overall level of play.

After studying for just a few weeks, I can now consider myself a beginner expert in the history of chess(perhaps I still have a few more historical moments to learn)and I want you to prove to me that you are one too!

That's why I'm going to recount some of the most significant moments in the history of chess (or at least, my personal favourites) in a slightly different way. Each story will contain a false fact that you'll need to identify. Will you be able to identify all the errors, or will I succeed in convincing you of some of the false stories? I hope you're ready, because here's the first story!

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it

George Santayana

Table of Contents

1. Fischer vs. Spassky: World Championship

2. Mikhail Tal

3. Ivanchuk

4. Karpov vs. Korchnoi

5. Nuremberg Tournament, 1906

Conclusion

Fischer vs Spassky

We will start with a well-known story that marked the point at which Russian chess dominance ceased to be so superior to that of the rest of the world. I won't go into too much detail, as I assume many of you are familiar with Bobby Fischer's story. However, it could be said that the 1972 World Championship was one of the most unusual in history.

Considering that it took place during the Cold War, the rivalry between the two players was evident, generating considerable media interest. Both players were under considerable pressure from their respective nations, and the tournament was dubbed "the match of the century" due to its political and chess significance.

Throughout the tournament, both players encountered problems: Fischer arrived late on the first day, when the draw for the colours for the games was due; Spassky thought that Fischer might have hidden some kind of device to help him during the games. Additionally, both players made constant requests and complaints throughout the tournament. One of the strangest requests was Fischer's regarding his chair. Usually, different types of chair are offered to players, but Fischer tried them all and didn't like any of them, so he demanded the same Charles Eames chair that he had used before.

Spassky didn't like the fact that Fischer had the privilege of choosing any chair he wanted, but he didn't have any of his own choice, so he requested different chess pieces. Staunton-style pieces were going to be used during the tournament, but he requested that his own be from the Jewel Royale chess set (one of the most expensive in the world).

But the problem with the chairs didn't end there. A few games later, Spassky began complaining that his chair was experiencing strange sensations, such as heat or vibrations, and he accused Fischer of trying to distract him. Because of this, the chair was dismantled and X-rays were performed, looking for anything that could be affecting it, but nothing was found.

After all these disputes, the match ended in victory for Fischer, and it will always be remembered as one of the most important World Championships in history.

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Now that you know the whole story, let's see if you can spot the mistake:

Mikhail Tal

Mikhail Tal is one of the most famous players in history thanks to his risky playing style, his ability to devise tactical attacks, and his capacity for surprising combinations. Some even consider him to be the greatest attacker ever.

While his talent as a chess player is beyond doubt, he was not such an excellent person in his everyday life. He married and divorced several times, drank and smoked heavily, and covered his body in tattoos(all of which led to his many health problems over the years).

These bad habits also extended to tournaments. Between the 1950s and 1990s, it was permitted to smoke and bring any type of drink to games (this was banned by FIDE in 1989). Some players, including Tal and Korchnoi, took advantage of this rule to smoke and drink as much as they wanted.

In one game, Mikhail was up against an opponent who disliked smoking. Tal lit a cigarette, as he often did during games, but didn't take a single drag during the entire match. The other player became so distracted and irritated by the smoke that they quit before the cigarette had even finished. As Nimzovich would say:

The threat is stronger than the execution

Aron Nimzowitsch

Following the incident, the opponent complained, claiming that their opponent had not played in a respectful or sporting manner, and requested that the game be replayed. The referee found this too extreme and decided to fine Tal, although he never paid it as he claimed he hadn't broken any rules.

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That's a brief anecdote about Tal so far. Which part do you think isn't true?

Ivanchuk

Ivanchuk was widely regarded as one of the best players in the world. Many people thought he deserved to become World Champion. However, unlike other elite players, Ivanchuk is emotionally unstable. He doesn't hide his feelings when he wins or loses a match, and his results were inconsistent in long tournaments.

Ivanchuk has participated in many elite tournaments throughout his career. One of these is the Tata Steel tournament held in Wijk aan Zee, in which he has competed several times and achieved good results.

In one of the later rounds of one of the years he played, Ivanchuk was fighting to win the tournament. He was in a close endgame and a draw would have put him in a strong position to win. However, he made a serious mistake that cost him the game and complicated his position in the tournament. Very angry with himself, Ivanchuk left the board without analysing the game and ran out into the street. Much to the surprise of passers-by, he then started jumping around and doing press-ups to vent his frustration.

Adrian Mikhalchishin, one of his first coaches, once said:

He's a genius on the board, but off it, he's a helpless child.

Adrian Mikhalchishin

This wouldn't be the last time he displayed his emotions in such an unexpected manner. At the 2024 World Blitz Championship in New York, he was playing against Daniel Naroditsky in the eleventh round of the tournament. He was playing spectacularly and had the advantage until he made a mistake due to time pressure. Naroditsky is one of the greatest specialists in these situations. After losing, he cried inconsolably over the board for several minutes, showing the spectators just how difficult it can be to lose a chess game.

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Now you know a little more about the great Ivanchuk's story. Which part of the story do you think isn't true?

Karpov vs Korchnoi

We now turn to another of the most controversial World Championships in history: the 1978 tournament between Karpov and Korchnoi. The atmosphere was once again fraught with tension, as the Russians were determined not to lose the title again after what had happened with Fischer and Spassky.

The first dispute arose before the tournament began. Korchnoi wanted to use the Swiss flag, but the Soviets protested, claiming that he was not old enough to have that citizenship and that he could only use a white flag bearing the words 'Stateless'. Korchnoi agreed to use a white flag bearing the words 'I escaped'. The arbiter then intervened, declaring that no flag would be placed on the table.

After the first four games ended in a draw, a second dispute arose. Korchnoi complained that his opponent kept staring at him when it was his turn to move. The arbiter decided not to intervene as he could not prohibit one player from looking at the other. Therefore, Korchnoi decided to wear mirrored glasses, so that Karpov would see his own reflection every time he looked at him, as well as the reflection of the spotlights. Karpov complained, but once again, the arbiter took no action as there was no prohibition against wearing glasses during the match.

By the eighth game, Karpov was so frustrated with Korchnoi's behaviour throughout the tournament that he refused to shake hands at the start. Korchnoi called the arbiter to complain about this behaviour. However, there was no rule at that time requiring players to shake hands before the game, so the arbiter simply asked them to behave respectfully. Korchnoi became angry and decided that, if Karpov didn't shake his hand, he wouldn't be able to offer a draw or resign, he would have to ask the arbiter through an interpreter. Korchnoi was so distracted by this situation that he ended up losing the game.

One day, Karpov was given a soft drink during the game. This act was repeated for several games in a row, with a new soft drink being brought to him each day. Korchnoi protested against this again, saying that it could have some significance in chess, as the flavour of the soda could indicate whether he should sacrifice a piece or offer a draw. Fearing that Korchnoi's paranoia would continue to escalate, the arbiter decided that Karpov could only be given a soda of a certain flavour at the same time each day.

Having heard about all the disputes between Karpov and Korchnoi, which do you think is false?

Nuremberg tournament, 1906

Finally, let's talk about the 1906 Nuremberg Tournament. This tournament was one of the most prestigious events after the World Championships. Many strong players participated, including Frank Marshall, Siegbert Tarrasch, Carl Schlechter, Richard Teichmann, Rudolf Spielmann and Mikhail Chigorin.

The highlight of the tournament was the time control experiment. Rather than playing a game in which each player had a set number of minutes to consider their next move, players had six hours to make their initial moves at the start of the tournament. After that, they had to make a total of 15 moves per hour. If time ran out, rather than losing the game, the player would have to pay a shilling for each extra minute they used.

In the subsequent game between Leonhardt and Przepiorka, the players agreed to make a series of pointless moves to save time and avoid the fine. Other players copied this procedure in their own games.

However, there were other players willing to pay extra for more time on their clocks. For example, Tarrasch paid extra for more time in his game against Salwe. Tarrasch found himself in a very difficult position and spent a considerable amount of time trying to avoid disaster. In the current standings, this would have cost him 27 euros. Nevertheless, Tarrasch managed to save the game and win.

Marshall took first place in the tournament, with Tarrasch in second and Schlechter in third. Marshall delivered an impeccable performance, playing with a tactical and aggressive style that established him as one of the best American players of the time.

After the tournament, it became clear that the time system used was unpopular and was never used again. Tarrasch and Teichmann protested, believing that the new rule disrupted the competitive spirit and created inequality among the players.

That's all for today. Can you spot the mistake?

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Conclusion

As you may have noticed, even the greatest players in history have their own quirks and funny behaviours. It has been an honour to share some of my favourite anecdotes about these players, and I hope you have learned something new during your visit. I hope you enjoyed reading them and had a good time. See you in the next blog!