Knockout format will suit most players

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 26. Gilberto Milos may not have played Abhijit Kunte but has nothing but admiration for the young Grandmaster from Pune.

The Brazilian, with a rating of 2633 and seeded 34th here, has studied the Kunte games of the last couple of years and found him ``a different player than what he was four years ago. He has so many openings and it is difficult to prepare against a player like him.''

Milos, a semifinalist of the World Cup this September, feels the knockout format is for the benefit of more players. ``The earlier format was more suited to the top players and only a handful of people could play. Now at least, more players have better chances against the top ranked players,'' said Milos who has won two rounds in the past two World Championship played on the knockout format.

``The pressure is on the stronger players to win because a draw in this format is equal to not playing at all,'' says Milos, who has been given a 70 per cent chance of winning against Kunte.

While most players favour the knockout format, former Asian champion Bhagyashree Thipsay has a different point of view. ``Perhaps, it is the best format, but I feel that it is not best suited for the World Championship. A World champion should emerge after a sterner and longer test,'' feels Bhagyashree, who is India's third entry in the fray, after S. Vijayalakshmi and S. Meenakshi.

Since a wide cross-section of players are happy playing on the knockout format, instead of the long-drawn Candidates cycle, FIDE seems to have the majority on its side. But still, in all likelihood, the format will change next year. A series of Grand Prix circuit tournaments are being planned to determine the field for the World championship.

Also, for the first time in any World championship, Fischer's system of time control will be applied. Unlike the previous system where each player was required to play 40 moves in two hours on his clock, the Fischer-system gives 100 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 seconds for each move made. On the face of it, the two systems may appear similar, but in practical situation, the latest one seems far more appropriate.

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Section  : Sport
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