The column expresses its optimism for chess in 2021. The production of a vaccine to temper the spread of COVID-19 is music to our ears as we anticipate a healthier year and a rosier future for local and international chess. An epidemic occurred in 1918 and chess was played subsequently, so we do not have an exaggerated view of the future for over-the-board-contact.
A world championship title match between the reigning champion Emanuel Lasker and Cuban challenger Jose Raul Capablanca was set to take place in 1920, but Lasker bowed out. The match was eventually played in 1921. Capablanca won.
Closer to home, the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) was active in 2020 participating in online tournaments and experimenting with a sprinkling of over-the-board contact in the final moments of the year. However, the National Championship for 2020 is still to be held. Ten persons have qualified to participate.
There is the case of elections of office bearers for the GCF to be held this year. Some other nations committed to having elections virtually during 2020. I guess the GCF would do the same albeit in 2021. The current executive was elected for a one-year term and that time has since expired.
No formal announcement has been made by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) about whether there will be a Chess Olympiad in 2021. The Olympiad is held biennially and 2020 was its designated year. My view is that the GCF should begin preparing players for this exclusive extravaganza where at least 160 countries would usually signal their intention to participate. The Olympiad gives each nation a taste of international competition and it is an easier way to obtain international titles and to improve one’s rating points. It is the Olympiad that would qualify an international master and grandmaster for Guyana.
Games
Below are two short games from 1475 and 1620. Experts are contending the game from 1475 may be the oldest recorded chess game in history. In the 1620 game, Black mates with a single knight – the famous smothered mate.