The Wari Empire ruled the South American highlands for centuries with help from hallucinogenic parties, new evidence suggests. By George Dvorsky
A depiction of the Wari Staff God, with tree branches and seed pods sprouting from the head, as depicted in a Wari vessel. Image: J. Ochatoma Paravicino/M. E. Biwer et al., 2022/Antiquity
Archaeological evidence from Peru suggests elite members of the Wari Empire mixed a hallucinogenic drug with a beer-like beverage in order to cultivate and preserve political control.
During feasts, Wari elites added vilca, a powerful hallucinogen, to chicha, a beer-like beverage made from fruit. Together, the concoction made for a potent party drug, which the researchers say helped those in power bond with their guests and consolidate relationships. And because vilca could only be produced by the elites, these psychedelic feasts served to boost their social and political importance. Such are the findings of a new study published today in Antiquity. (https://gizmodo.com/how-beer-and-drugs-empowered-an-ancient-andean-empire-1848339767)
of the Netherlands tied for first with GM Gawain Jones,
from England, at the recently completed, record breaking 25th anniversary of the Bunratty Masters.
There is a reason the Bunratty Masters, commonly known as “best weekender in the world.”
Where else does one see Chess players sitting at the board with a pint?
When the beer flows freely so does the Chess!
There was yet another ridiculous speed “playoff” after the event ended between the two players who tied for first, which was won by Sergey, who was declared the “winner.”
Gawain held a pawn down ending versus GM Nigel Short in the final round, while Sergey could have taken clear first if he had won his pawn up game against GM Mark Hebden.
Tiviakov, Sergey vs Hebden, Mark
Bunratty Masters 2018 last round
There is only one move to retain the advantage. Tiviakov did not find it…
39. Rxc5 Rxc5 40. b4 axb4 41. Rxb4 Rxe5 ½-½
Tiviakov, having played this variation an astounding 71 times according to 365Chess.com, must be the world’s leading exponent of the Wormald attack (for information on Wormald see 3974. The Steinitz-Wormald-MacDonnell controversy, at Edward Winter’s excellent Chess Notes – http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter15.html). Having played the variation ‘only’ 27 times, Bukhuti Gurgenidze is lags behind in second place.
who played at the Atlanta Chess Center while visiting his sister, and I were standing outside the House of Pain and he said, “You are very lucky to have this place.”
Chess : Black destroys white in 15 moves in Ruy Lopez | Brilliant attack by Black (Wormald attack)