N.Z. beaten in chess

Press, 27 November 1986, Page 38

N.Z. beaten in chess

NZPA-Reuter Dubai New Zealand lost to Tunisia, I'/j-Z in the ninth round of the Chess Olympiad at Dubai. England, the competition leader, was heavily beaten by the fourteenth-ranked Spain in a contest marred by bitterness and accusations of unfairness. The English were first disturbed by suggestions that the Soviet Union, lying fifth in spite of being the unanimous favourite, supplied information to help the Spanish prepare their games. England’s top player, the grandmaster, Tony Miles, said he asked the world champion, Gary Kasparov, if this was true’ and that he received an “embarrassed

nod.” "It’s not illegal but it borders on the immoral,” an angry Miles said. Murray Chandler, a grandmaster who lost on the third board, said: “Ail the Russians were around our boards having big conversations. I protested but the arbiters did nothing. Discussing the games is bad enough, let alone telling players moves. It is disgraceful.”

Results.—Men: Hungary lost to the United States, 1-2, plus one adjourned; Rumania beat Canada, Iceland drew with Poland, plus one adjourned; Portugal beat Pakistan, 3-1: New Zealand lost to Tunisia, 1.5-2.5.