Back on subject...
It was all in the timing....
Irina Krush in Good Spirits After an Armageddon Match
Irina graduated from NYU with a degree in International Relations
http://monroi.com/the-2008-fkb-us-chess-championship-news/114-the-2008-fkb-us-chess-championship-news/565-round-9-summary-report-by-tom-braunlich.html?ev=36Anna and Irina then entered into a playoff for the title (prize money was split). With dozens of players watching on the projection screen in the Commentary Room, and kibitzing fervently, the players split two Game/15 (+3 sec increment) games, which Gregory Kaidanov called well played. Then followed two Game/5 (+2) games. Anna was winning the first when she nervously put her queen en prise. She then had to win with black; and did so, sending the game into an “Armageddon” final match. Irina had white and 6 minutes, while Anna had black with 4 ˝ minutes and draw odds. No time increment. This game too went down to the wire. At one point Anna had 2 seconds left to Irina’s 20. But Anna’s draw odds gave her an edge. She could make quick moves while Irina had to do something with her moves, which drains time. In the end Irina lost on time with 0:01 left on Anna’s clock! It is impossible to have a closer match than this!
Congratulations to Anna for her championship, and Irina too, for such an exciting match.
