Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: It’s the Watch!

Look at the following opening: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3. According to the chess opening classification, it has the unpronounceable name “Przepiorka Variation”.
But the subject of today’s post is not that name. Conducting Black pieces is the top Indian player GM Baskaran Adhiban (ELO 2654) while IM Krishna C R G (ELO 2443) has White pieces.

Notice that after only 9 moves (!!) Black loses the game. Why?

Well, it is not because the position is lost for Black. The reason is because of Adhiban’s wristwatch. Yes, you have read it well!

The game corresponds to the third round of the National Team Open in India held in Ahmedabad, the largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Baskaran Adhiban forfeited the game because of wearing an analogue wristwatch!!
FIDE regulations rule out electronic devices only but in national events in India, all types of watches are forbidden.

Unaware of the stricter rules in India, Adhiban was wearing his watch. After nine moves, Krishna noticed the watch and informed the arbiter, who declared the game lost for Adhiban.

Adhiban is not the first victim of this Indian rule. In May 2018, at the KIIT Open in Orissa (India) GM Martyn Kravtsiv lost to WIM V Varshini, who claimed a win based on that regulation.

Dear reader, do you think this Indian regulation is exaggerated? Please let me know your opinion.

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