King’s Audience

Thus Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin decided to withdraw his participation in the 4th Altibox Norway Chess. The announcement was made quite suddenly today, but most likely it’s nothing but a coup de théâtre that must have been previously conceived, to make sense for such fiction. Lately the chess world looks more and more like a grotesque soap opera. Even a coffee house player could foresee a year in advance the moves of such Beautiful Minds. Officially, the reason given for Sergey Alexandrovich’s great refusal is the need to hide his own preparation from Magnus’ eyes. I’ve already heard a story like that, and you saw – I believe – how sad it was. “So any suggestions on who should replace Karjakin in Norway Chess?”, asks Tarjei J. Svensen. Perhaps his question is too easy and hasty for someone like me who had followed the Altibox Norway Chess Qualifier in the hope of another future for chess. Nevertheless, I am sure that Norwegian organizers will be able to show themselves as leaders of a strong ethical community and that they will choose without prejudice the player more compatible with their cultural norms. We as audience, of course, might not share their nomination, but it would not be a drama, because we can always turn off the film and focus on other matters.

Artwork © candymax