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A race against the tide. (12.08.06) |
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Written by John Knightly
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Wednesday, 20 September 2006 |
So what to do in order to make chess a bit more dangerous and exciting? Horst Unger's answer is to have people play not only against each other but also against the incoming tide. How to do that? Read more below.
Play the games on the North Sea mud flats on the shores of the island of Baltrum. The island, situated near the coast of East Frisia, Germany, is about 5 km long and 1.5 km wide and is home to around 600 people.
Mud flats are formed by silt, deposited by the tides or by rivers in sheltered areas along the coast. The result is a coastal wetland which in Germany, along the North Sea coast, consists of iodine rich clay and supports diverse marine life. The area is truly flat so that the receding and incoming tides cover a great distance, sometimes miles. The change happens very quickly, making it very dangerous to be on the flats when the tide comes in.
The first such mud flat tournament was held in 2002. The games are set close to one of the major tidal streams and start when the tide is at its lowest. The rate of play is five minutes per side per game and the goal is to end the tournament before the tide comes in.
This year's tournament was plagued by heavy rain. Following weeks of tropical heat, the temperatures dropped and the rain began on the very day of the event. Undeterred, the participants donned weather-proof attire, set out for the venue and took on the challenge. |
