At the end of the scheduled 9 rounds of play Irina Krush and Anna Zatonskih are tied for first place with 7.5 points each.
The logical thing would be to declare them both co-champions. But no, the USCF can do anything logical. The rule states that they must play two rapid playoff games. In case of a tie, they will continue with two blitz playoff games. And if the tie continues, they will face each other in an Armageddon game for the title.
Krush last regular game went 100 moves, the last round started at 2:00 pm and finished at 11:00 pm. She now has to play up to 5 playoff games.
After the two rapid and two blitz they are still tied, so it comes down to the Armageddon game. Krush is White and Zatonskih is Black but has the odds of a draw.
Below is the Youtube video of the final Armageddon game. There are several things to notice. First this has nothing to do with chess, it becomes a contest of who can move the fastest and not time out. Second, Krush knocks over a piece and does not reset it before punching her clock. Third, a move is not complete until you punch your clock, but Zatonskih is illegally making her moves before Krush hits her clock which means that Zatonskih is making her moves while Krush‘s clock is running. And finally, Krush (who rarely loses emotional control) is so disgusted with the whole thing that’s slaps a piece of the table at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNQjXHjRkNQ
The logical thing would be to declare them both co-champions. But no, the USCF can do anything logical. The rule states that they must play two rapid playoff games. In case of a tie, they will continue with two blitz playoff games. And if the tie continues, they will face each other in an Armageddon game for the title.
Krush last regular game went 100 moves, the last round started at 2:00 pm and finished at 11:00 pm. She now has to play up to 5 playoff games.
After the two rapid and two blitz they are still tied, so it comes down to the Armageddon game. Krush is White and Zatonskih is Black but has the odds of a draw.
Below is the Youtube video of the final Armageddon game. There are several things to notice. First this has nothing to do with chess, it becomes a contest of who can move the fastest and not time out. Second, Krush knocks over a piece and does not reset it before punching her clock. Third, a move is not complete until you punch your clock, but Zatonskih is illegally making her moves before Krush hits her clock which means that Zatonskih is making her moves while Krush‘s clock is running. And finally, Krush (who rarely loses emotional control) is so disgusted with the whole thing that’s slaps a piece of the table at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNQjXHjRkNQ
