World Open: Independence Comes Not for the Pawn
Submitted by
TimMoroney on Fri, 07/04/2008 at 10:23pm.
One might wonder, when encountered with a holiday particularly rich in history, what may transpire if similar events would cross over to another culture. How the world would change! Particularly in today's world, where what might have once taken years to ripple through to other parts of the world, we now have news broadcasts, satellites, and most of all internet, which cast new points of view and world events in a matter of hours. This may sound like a serious reflection to be engaging in on a chess blog, but these thoughts stem from my blog title after thinking, "what would happen if the pawns suddenly revolted?" What if they gathered together their numbers, turned against the kings which have oppressed them, disrespected them, and sacrificed them for unexplained, selfish purposes? Could they turn their shields and slay the pieces they normally stood to protect (they're on the edge of the board with nowhere to run, aside from those cowardly knights) in the name of freedom? Call me strange, but I wonder these things.
I missed the fireworks show, but so goes my hat tip to our Day of Independence. I missed being the final game left in the room by about 90 seconds. Before I finished putting my tournament materials away, the only game to beat mine for the last-of-round prize found its conclusion behind me (with some excitement and displays of less-than wonderful sportsmanship). However, I am happy to say that I retreated back to my room in time to find Bill Nye "The Science Guy" taking up the skeptic side of a UFO debate on Larry King Live. It is all about the simple pleasures in life.
Late as it is (which is 1:00am), I will be closing out this special holiday edition of World Open Blogs. That would actually make an interesting newsletter. Albeit one that would only be released several times in rapid succession during a one week period each year, but nonetheless interesting. I shall, in my departure, leave you with tonight's quite lengthy (both in moves and time) win against US Master Charles Bouzoukis (2199). No annotations to accompany this presentation, but feel free to add your own. Just remember, at some point I would attempt to throw something witty in there, so be sure to remain true to the would-be character of such a game discussion. Thank you.
Happy 4th of July! (which is now the 5th. Passed deadline again. My editor will kill me. Or worse, turn his pawn army on me.)