Eight out of 10 rounds are over in the 4th Mangalore FIDE rated chess tourney and I am lagging behind with just 4.5 points. The just concluded 8th round against Mr.Rajat Kumar of Tamil Nadu produced some fire works off the board. He had white pieces and offered draw soon after 22 moves. I declined the offer and said "let us play". He offered the draw again after few moves. I assertively told him "you cannot offer the draw successively". He nodded and the game continued. On the 35th move, I made a King move and he objected. The transcripts are as follows:
Rajat: "You touched the pawn at a5 sqaure. So you have to move that".
Me : " I have n't touched any pawn. You are mistaken"
R : "No sir. You touched the pawn. I wrote in my score sheet" (He pointed to his score sheet)
M : "You may write whatever in your score sheet"
R :" No. You had touched the pawn"
M : " I have not touched any pawn. If you are not satisfied, call the arbiter"
{Players from adjacent board got curious and other onlookers surrounded us. Assistant arbiter comes and enquires. Rajat claimed that I had touched the pawn but moved the King. I asserted to the contrary. The asst arbiter looked for witnesses and obviously there was no one.The asst arbiter told that the game would continue and he intends to give a warning to me. I firmly told the arbiter that warning is to be given to the person who made a false claim and not to me. The asst arbiter vacates the scene and main arbiter stepped in. He turned down the claim of my opponent and asked the game to continue.}
The game finally ended in draw after 46 moves with repetition of position.
Well, in chess, there is no point for winning an argument.
Did we left the playing table on a bitter note? No way. Much to the surprise of onlookers, we analysed the game for while and discussed the possible alternatives and then walked out of the hall.
Do you need tips as to how to win arguments? Well, the 17th century poet Neelakata Deekshith stated thus:
न भेतव्यं न बोद्धव्यं न श्राव्यम वादिनो वचा : |
झटिति प्रतिवक्ताव्यम सभासु विजिगीशुभि: ||
[The one who desirous of winning arguments need not fear. Need not understand nor hear what the other person says. Retort quickly. That's sufficient.]
Well, the poet has given few more very useful tips, which I will reveal at appropriate time. (after all, I am a chess player!)
