Comments on: Ivanchuk’s mouth cap

By: sergio

sergio — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:10:04 +0000

Could it be that Ivanchuck isn’t feeling to well himself, since he also had the cap on the next game he played.

By: Guillaume

Guillaume — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:47:39 +0000

Well, I’ve actually just moved to Japan. I’d say that about 5-10% of the people are wearing masks here. It really is an amazing sight. And it’s everywhere: downtown, in the suburbs, in the streets, in the buildings, in their cars. I doubt they’re all sick. Now I feel ashamed when I sneeze.

By: patj

patj — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:17:48 +0000

visit japan. people there are actually courteous enough to wear the face masks when they get sick so as to not infect everyone else. it is a very common sight to see… why is everyone so amazed by this?

By: sergio

sergio — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:35:42 +0000

Haha Peter i was just about to ask, did they shake hands. Seems a bit strange shaking hands but wearing mouth mask, or did he wear gloves also?

Can you get a 0 for not shaking your opponents hand out of fear for swine flu?

By: Peter Doggers

Peter Doggers — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:46:11 +0000

Hm. The first thing Ivanchuk did was shaking Carlsen’s hand.

By: Everzwijn

Everzwijn — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:41:49 +0000

Very funny that you all find this very funny. The photo of Ivanchuck and the starting picture of the video actually show why in chess it is very sensible to wear a face mask: it prevents hand to mouth contact.

While face masks do not offer full protection against aerosol bacteria and viruses, in chess they are very useful as chess players touch the pieces and their faces all the time.

By: Peter Doggers

Peter Doggers — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:51:55 +0000

Thx Amos!

By: Amos

Amos — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:34:38 +0000

This clip is from the “Chess Review” program that runs on the NTV-Sport TV channel.

First Vassily is asked about the solid opening variation he used in the game and says that he wanted to place the emphasis of the battle on the middlegame, but the game quickly transposed to the endgame and a draw is a logical result.

Them he is asked about his mask – if he was afraid to catch the virus from Magnus. Ivanchuk answers that “Well, yeah… I was kinda told that Aronian got ill after the game against him… So I decided… In any case.”

At last he is asked about his play in the tournament and he answers that there are still four round to go and a lot can happen.

By: Guillaume

Guillaume — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:56:12 +0000

I thought the video was pretty funny, but I’m not sure it would make people laugh in Ukraine. There seems to be some kind of swine-flu hysteria there:

“Swine-Flu Panic in Ukraine: Crisis or Political Ploy?” (Time)
http://tinyurl.com/yaz5dfm

By: CMoB

CMoB — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:28:47 +0000

Sluit ook lekker af, die mondkap. En denkt hij dat hij een paar meter verderop wel veilig is voor ronddwalende virussen?