Neverland

12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov confirmed to TASS that the decision whether or not to allow spectators in the second act of the Candidates Tournament will be made just a few days before the start together with Rospotrebnadzor (Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing). “Maybe a limited number of people will be allowed”, Karpov speculated. He also expressed satisfaction that, in spite of all odds, Yekaterinburg retained the right to host the second half of the Tournament, thanks particularly to the firm attitude of FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich, who resisted the sirens of surrender. But, since the 2021 World Chess Championship match will eventually take place in Dubai, that’s ample proof Dvorkovich is not Ulysses. Thus, it is hard to say whether a geographical continuity may return dignity and reliability to an unrehearsed drama which has lasted two academic semesters without a break in between. In the end, much, if not everything, will depend upon who will be the dearest to the Goddess.