Axiom

SUPPLEMENTARY Interview Questions
We rarely acknowledge even the existence of the Novosibirsk chess scene. We hear the term 'Novosibirsk boys' banded about with such reverence, it makes me sick. They were an extremely over rated bunch, strictly state controlled, and heavily infiltrated by the 'chess-control' wing of the KGB.

I, like all SCT have little time for them.

However one instance stands out in my memory.........

In early 1958 I played in a team called 'The Omegans' (SCT connected,in fact i was one of the last of the omegans!) against The Novosibirsk Knights (or the Novos Boys, as we called them).

It was an 'away' game, so we travelled by train,with our team coach Sal Ibikinov, well supplied with vodka and smoked deer meat. He sternly warned us that the novos boys can become extremely violent, if the games did not exactly go there way. I thought he was making silly joke, he did have a very strange sense of humour, and besides we were all martial art trained anyway.

I played on board 3 against one of their young stars, I played line XX9 (known now as the possum opening ie. 1.e4 2.f3). This nearly drove the young kid insane, I remember him frothing at the mouth and making odd jerking motions. As his position was finally being dismantled he grabbed his Queen and suddenly from its base out popped a steel blade! He made incoherent threatening noises, and I just kicked it from his hand, and told him in no uncertain terms that his behaviour was totally unacceptable. The game continued, he resigned 4 moves later.

I was to learn that this was not an uncommon practice in Novosibirsk,and was informed that there were many flick knives hidden in chess pieces there, and occasionaly a small explosive device placed in a rook !(known as the original siberian chess trap,the term later used by boris shipov to describe the sicilian trap you refer to. We were told to never play anyone wearing a motorcycle helmet in Novosibirsk)

I heard at the time, and cannot confirm this, but an old novos training technique for players moving too quickly was to have sharp blades that would randomly emerge from all the pieces, cutting the hand of the holder. The players would be forced to play lightning chess. You can imagine the bloodied board,and cries of pain.

Although the standard of play was poor, the theory was that it made you more cautious at the board. As I said, I have little time for the maniacs of Novosibirsk.

Thank you and you're most very welcome and I would like to leave you all with this,

"The sun doesnt come up in the morning, we turn to face it" - Axiom (c) (9/6/07)

Just a note to clarify that Bresislan Gorkiananov and Zev Gorkiananov are indeed the same person (please excuse any confusion that may have been caused). Bresislan was his real name , but he earned the nickname Zev , from being likened to Zev Zukulov the man who accidently set off an early prototype atomic bomb(= 1000 hiroshimas!) over Tunguska Siberia in June 1908.(Known as the 'Tunguska Event' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/380060.stm ,which has been historically, falsely attributed to a disintegrating meteorite !). He acquired this nickname as his philosophy on chess was as powerfully explosive as Zukulov's bomb, and he was also very prone to accidents!

I feel compelled to respond to the great outpouring of interest from the chess public with regards to the SCT. Everyday im responding to messages from well wishers,fans,the simply curious,and some totally crazy individuals!

It has been a very humbling experience for me, and I thank you all for your interest and support. It certainly warms the heart that the spirit of the SCT lives on. It is within this context, that it pains me to have to make the following announcement, to the chess playing youth of Australia:-

It has been brought to my attention , that some of the enthusiasm for the SCT has gone a little too far. It is wonderful that you take on the passion and hard work of the SCT, but please be careful not to overdo things. Increasingly I am recieving reports that certain young chessplayers are 'acting out' some of the SCT history during chess lessons,friendly games and tournaments. Imitating gang warfare, chanting slogans, and general rebellious behaviour towards adults, coaches etc

I have recieved complaints from parents that their children want to get SCT tattoos on their hand,that they want to join a chess gang,and hang around the streets.Vodka and imported smoked deer meat has been found stashed in bedrooms.

Kids are even setting up their own makeshift 'burn rooms' !!

NOW, THIS HAS JUST GOT TO STOP!

To the chess playing youth of Australia :- let the spirit of the SCT burn deeply within you, but please do not make life difficult for your parents coaches or administrators, until you are 18. Thank you.

And if you think im exagerating the problem here, I had a report today that blades were found buried in several chess pieces at a chessclub at an elite private school in Sydney.

*DISCLAIMER"

The SCT take no responsibility for any action that occurs as a result of reading any of the SCT material.

Axiom