An investigation has been launched at the World Chess Championship after noise interrupted the soundproofed players’ area.
Game Eight between Norway’s chess star Magnus Carlsen and US challenger Fabiano Caruana was interrupted despite the players being seated in a double-layered, glass-enclosed “fish tank”.
The contest had been on a knife-edge with Caruana, 26, considering a key move. But while he was in the middle of a 20-minute think, radio feedback and words believed to be in Russian were heard.
Caruana, who is battling to become the first US-born champion since Bobby Fischer, then made an error which lost him a clear game-winning advantage.
World champion Carlsen, 27, who hung on for a draw after the blunder by his opponent, later branded the distraction “unacceptable”. “There were the noises of people talking, but it was not very clear,” he said. “The organisers, they will fix it I’m sure because it was not okay.”
The setting at The College in Holborn resembles a large museum display case with one-way glass so spectators can see in but the players cannot see out.
Chief arbiter Nana Alexandria apologised and said the words were not chess-related and so gave no advantage to either player.
Asked if the contenders were disturbed, she said: “There wasn’t time trouble at that point, but it’s not nice when you are in your thoughts … sometimes if you hear even one word then it’s not good, not good of course.”
She said she had never experienced anything like it in her career and that an investigation would take place to find out what happened.
Last night’s draw — the eighth in a row — left the 12-round match all-square at 4-4. The players will enjoy a rest day today before round nine kicks off at 3pm tomorrow.
