Mind Games

The 2nd IMSA Élite Mind Games is taking place in 淮安 (Huái’ān), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China from 10 to 15 December 2017, featuring contests in bridge, chess, draughts, go, and 象棋 (Xiàngqí) (idem to say Chinese chess). As for chess, twelve players compete in distinct and separate unisex and women’s sections in Rapid, Blitz and Basque chess. A very interesting format show which, however, should distinguish itself as neatly as possible from the money-oriented aims of a “sports federation”, especially given that neither chess nor all other noble “mind games” are a sport at all. If nothing else because, as Siegbert Tarrasch said, “Chess, like love, like music, has the power to make men happy”. In the meanwhile, two Champions have been crowned already. In women’s Rapid contest, Antoaneta Stefanova from Bulgaria won gold, while the Muzychuk sisters from Ukraine took silver (Anna Muzychuk) and bronze (Mariya Muzychuk). In the unisex Rapid section, instead, Andrey Deviatkin from Russia won gold, while Shakhriyar Mamedyarov from Azerbaijan and Lê Quang Liêm from Vietnam respectively took silver and bronze.

Here is the podium of the 2nd IMSA Élite Mind Games women’s Rapid contest; from left: Anna Muzychuk (silver), Antoaneta Stefanova (gold), and Mariya Muzychuk (bronze). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

And here is the podium of the 2nd IMSA Élite Mind Games unisex Rapid contest; from left: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (silver), Andrey Deviatkin (gold), and Lê Quang Liêm (bronze). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.