I'd assumed – possibly incorrectly – that the reason for the strange format of this event is not to use it as an experiment, as you state, but rather to keep the two Ukrainian and three Russian players apart from each other for as long as possible (and perhaps altogether). The only basis for my assumption is that this is what's actually happened, but it could be a coincidence, of course.
The reason 7...Nc6 is to be avoided is 8.Nf3 Nf6 9 Qb3, while 7...Nf6 8.Qb3 can be met with Na6.
The old lines with ...O-O-O don't look good because ...g4 can be answered with Nh4. This knight blocks Black's attack, as shown in several corr. games.
I'd assumed – possibly incorrectly – that the reason for the strange format of this event is not to use it as an experiment, as you state, but rather to keep the two Ukrainian and three Russian players apart from each other for as long as possible (and perhaps altogether). The only basis for my assumption is that this is what's actually happened, but it could be a coincidence, of course.
The reason 7...Nc6 is to be avoided is 8.Nf3 Nf6 9 Qb3, while 7...Nf6 8.Qb3 can be met with Na6.
The old lines with ...O-O-O don't look good because ...g4 can be answered with Nh4. This knight blocks Black's attack, as shown in several corr. games.