Chess borders

In the 1800s, several chess matches were conducted by telegraph. Modern technology ought to make long-distance matches easier than ever, but in fact competitive international chess is almost always played in person these days. That is partly because it is impossible to police computer-assisted cheating if the players play at home. But equally, the practical barriers to travel are (usually) much fewer in the modern age.

But prominent chess players (especially in the days of the USSR) have often had to negotiate political obstacles. Shohreh Bayat, from Iran, was in Shanghai in January for the first leg of the Women’s World Championship, where she was the chief arbiter — one of very few women in the world qualified to perform that role. When a photograph circulated on Iranian media purportedly showing her not wearing a headscarf, she decided that she could not return home, and came to England. In a compelling interview with Emily Maitlis on Newsnight, Shohreh explained the punishments that might await her in Iran (including lashing, prison, and revocation of her passport), and pointed out that she had been wearing a loose headscarf, but it had been obscured by the angle of the photograph. Her husband and home are in Iran, but she is unsure if she will ever return.

Shohreh was guest of honour at this year’s 138th Varsity match between Oxford and Cambridge, and received a stirring tribute from David Sedgwick, England’s most distinguished arbiter. I have played and visited many times, and nowhere is more hospitable than the Royal Automobile Club in London, whose Chess Circle hosts the event in great style each year.

This year, Cambridge were strong favourites. After four hours of play, Ryan-Rhys Griffiths opened the scoring with a win for them.