EGC 3rd Round - More Exciting Happenings

In an electrifying match, Kim Youngsam ('Korondo' 9d on KGS) scored a win over Jeon Sang Youn 7d (they are both from Seoul, Korea). It was a very complicated game from beginning to end, where Kim showed great fighting skill. You can see their game here: please pay attention to B105 and the continuation; the result was impressive - Black killed the White dragons in the center! Kim's power must make his opponents tremble!

Catalin Taranu defeated Csaba Mero on board 1 by 15,5 points, and the young talent Thomas Debarre also pulled off another win (he beat Cornel Burzo today). But then, the game between Ondrej Silt and Alexander Dinerchtein stirred controversy...

Even though White (Alexander) made the game closer in yose, Ondrej was still a few points ahead. They were playing the final ko (nothing fancy, Black was leading regardless of its result) when Ondrej made a mistake (probably because of the pressure?): he recaptured the ko without making a threat!

Black had made an illegal move. We can't blame him, such mistakes can happen. Now the outcome of the game will ultimately have to be decided by the rules (Simplified Ing Rules).

If a player makes an illegal move, and if this is noticed within three moves, then the game should be unwound to the move just before the illegal move, and continued. The referee may allow an adjustment of the time.

[source:http://www.eurogofed.org/egf/tourrules.htm]

     The referees decided that the players should continue the game, so Alexander resigned and wrote a letter to the appeal committee (which will meet tomorrow).

Ondrej Silt played a good game, so playing an illegal move was unfortunate... We can say that, if the appeal committee decides that he should lose the game, it may be "unfair", but it is important to keep in mind that that would not be the fault of the players, but rather of the rules.