World Chess Championship Match-Experience is bit Over-Rated as Factor: Magnus Carlsen
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hello everyone, World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen was cornered for a series of interviews right after beating Viswanathan Anand in Chennai this November. Here are the questions asked to the new World Chess Champion in an article from The Sports Star (We skipped the portrait and went straight to the questions in the interview. Some questions have already been asked and answered several times before by Magnus Carlsen, but a nice evening reading.): Excerpts from interview with World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen
Question: In the days following the World Championship, usually, the winner spends time talking about the triumphs. Why did you stay away from the media?
Answer: A little bit tired, a little bit exhausted from all the events of the last few days. If you found me uncooperative, that’s probably the reason.
Coming to your triumph, was it easier than you expected?
It was certainly easier than what I had expected at the start. I thought, if I manage to play at my highest level, Anand would not manage to win a game. And I thought that usually I should be able to press him in a number of games and in one or two of them, he should crack. And he did.
How did you take it when many thought that Anand’s experience could negate your energy in the match?
I think, perhaps, at the start, it could have mattered since the first two-three games, I was nervous. Perhaps, not ready for the big occasion. And I think, after three games, I had already matured (laughs). I had the ‘feel’ for the championship. I think, match-experience is also a bit over-rated as a factor, because every match has a life of its own. Anand might have played many matches like this before. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be anything similar to this one.
Did you plan to target Anand in any specific area of his game?
Nothing special apart from playing 40 to 50 good moves in every game. That was my main goal. I had to keep playing because I think you’ve worked so hard before the match. You’ve worked so hard to get there. So, I think you need to work very hard on the board. If the position is not a draw, you should not agree for a draw. You should play it out. If you want to win a World Championship match, you need to play well not only for one or two hours, but four or five or six…
Do you first play with the computer and then check the position over the board or the other way round?
Ideally, during training sessions, that is what I do. I look at the board before I can solve the computer.
Talking of your pre-match preparations, it was said that you used a super computer. Is it true?
Well, it’s not only about me who has been working on a super computer. It’s been my ‘seconds’. As for me, it’s been more important to check the lines, to guide them, to sometimes play on the board what they have been doing.
Is your approach any different from Anand’s?
I think my approach is a little bit different from Anand’s. I think, as for now, I’m the better player. So he needs to find an advantage with the help of the computer while I just need to equalise his advantage there and not fall too far behind.
How much time did you spend ahead of each game during the championship?
I would spend anything from two hours to 10-15 minutes before any game each day. Looking through some lines and just double-checking the stuff. Apart from that, I would spend time in the evening sometime if it was unclear what I was going to play the next day. Basically, I did not do too much during the match apart from playing the games.
What was the thought behind not revealing the identity of your ‘seconds’ even after the match? Was it your decision or a collective one?
It’s mainly my decision. That’s the way I’ve understood it. It’s nice that I am going to play another World Championship match (in 2014). It doesn’t mean that I’m not very grateful for their hard work. They have done a wonderful job. I think it is nice for the future matches not to reveal too much.
You once said the format that allows a champion to play only against the challenger was not a fair one. What would you say now?
I thought about it. I’ll need some time to enjoy the title and then think what I am going to do next.
Garry Kasparov stayed at the top for over a decade and a half, showing motivation in abundance despite marriage and other family responsibilities. What do you think can keep you going?
I don’t know what will happen. I think, as long as I stay motivated, I will continue to do very well. I don’t know what it will take for me to stay motivated — whether I will have to forego other things. Leading up to the World Championship, I haven’t done much else than chess. So, I am looking forward to relaxing now and having a more balanced life.
Considering your style of play, which is very different from your great predecessors, do you see yourself as a ‘revolutionary’ in this era?
Yes, may be a little bit. But I think, it’s also been the trend in recent times that people are trying to gain some playable positions from the opening (phase) rather than (looking for) too much of an advantage. Obviously, I play the middle-game and the endgame better than most people, so I can afford to take such an approach.
Knowing the respect and admiration you share with Anand, what would you be telling him, if asked, in this hour of disappointment?
I don’t know what I would be telling him. Difficult to give people advice. My only advice to Anand will be to have some rest. Take some time to figure things out and then decide what he wants. If he decides to come back, it’s wonderful. If he doesn’t, he has every reason to be very happy with what he’s got.
Do you realise that the world crown comes with certain responsibilities, like promoting the sport as its best-known ambassador?
Yes. Already for sometime now, I’m involved with chess in schools. I think, it’s wonderful to develop children as good chess players but most of all, for all the benefits that chess has in school and in life for kids. I think it is a wonderful game.
Disney Plans Film on Kasparov ‘Deep Blue’ Chess Battle
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
US entertainment giant Disney has acquired the screen rights to a play about Russian chess legend Garry Kasparov’s 1997 match against the IBM computer Deep Blue, a milestone battle between the human brain and artificial intelligence, the show business website Deadline.com reported Friday. British playwright Matthew Charman will adapt his play about the match, “The Machine,” for Disney-based Mandeville Films and Television, Deadline.com reported. The play, which was staged in New York City this month, centers around the clash between Kasparov and the Deep Blue team led by Taiwanese-born computer scientist Feng-Hsiung Hsu.
He defeated Deep Blue in 1996 but lost a rematch the following year in a watershed moment for the development of powerful chess computers that have revolutionized the game, as well as symbolic turning point for the development of artificial intelligence.
After the loss, Kasparov accused Deep Blue’s programmers of intervening during the games, which was not allowed under the rules of the match. Deep Blue was subsequently dismantled despite Kasparov’s demand for a rematch. (RIA Novosti)
New Chess Play by Matt Charman: Premieres Sept with Hadley Fraser as Kasparov
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
Casting has been announced for Matt Charman's new play. The Machine, which will have its U.S. premiere at Park Avenue Armory September 4-18 and its world premiere at Manchester International Festival July 10-21. Hadley Fraser will star as chess Grandmaster Garry Kasparov. Fraser has recently starred as Sid in The Pajama Game at Chichester Festival Theatre and is known, amongst other roles, for his portrayal of Javert in Les Miserables in the West End.
Francesca Annis will play Garry's mother, Clara. Recently seen on television in Cranford, Annis' film credits include Revolver, The Libertine, and Milk. The wunderkind engineer behind Deep Blue, Doctor Hsu will be played by Kenneth Lee, who starred in US comedy drama Delocated.
The cast also includes: Lorenzo Allchurch, Antonia Bernath, Cornelius Booth, Nicholas Croucher, Daniel Harries, Rob Lines, David Mumeni, Phil Nichol, John Ramm, Lucille Sharp, Brian Sills, and Trevor White. Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse, Josie Rourke, directs this new play based on Kasparov's headline-grabbing 1997 New York chess tournament against Deep Blue, a super-computer developed by technology giant IBM.
The Armory's presentation will use the unique scale and epic beauty of the Wade Thompson Drill Hall to explore this clash of breathtaking human genius with matchless computer power. Staged in the center of the 55,000-square-foot space, the audience will encircle the action, surrounded by the vast darkness of the soaring Drill Hall.
In 1997, Garry Kasparov, the world's greatest chess player, arrived in New York City for the biggest match of his life. His opponent wasn't a fellow Grandmaster, but a faceless super-computer, Deep Blue, built by tech-giant IBM. The man versus machine match was IBM's bid to raise its profile and its stock price. An international celebrity and the undisputed master of his art, Kasparov came to America for freedom and glory. What he didn't expect to confront was the lifelong dedication of another man, Deep Blue's wunderkind inventor Doctor Hsu. Both geniuses, they staked their reputations on the tournament. What followed was one of the most compelling stories of our time.
The Machine is part of the Armory's 2013 season, which launched in March with OKTOPHONIE, Karlheinz Stockhausen's epic electronic masterpiece ritualized in a lunar environment created by visual artist Rirkrit Tiravanija. The season will also include WS, a monumental installation by Paul McCarthy; Massive Attack V Adam Curtis, a new kind of imaginative experience conceived by Adam Curtis and Robert Del Naja, mixing music, film, politics, and moments of illusion, performed by Massive Attack and special guests; and Robert Wilson's powerful new staging of The Life and Death of Marina Abramovi?
More information on Park Avenue Armory's 2013 artistic season may be found at www.armoryonpark.org.
Candidate Chess Master Phiona Mutesi to Play Kasparov, Meet Oprah
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
Chess Candidate Master Phiona Mutesi, is in the United States of America as a participant at the 2013 Women in the World Summit 'Stories and Solutions' that is running from April 4-6 in New York City. Besides her participation at the Summit, Mutesi is also scheduled to play a chess game with former World Chess champion, Garry Kasparov of Russia later today at 4 pm. She will also have an interaction with Oprah Winfrey.
Mutesi's invitation to the Summit at which she is expected to speak alongside her guardian Robert Katende follows revelation of her moving life story from the streets and slums in Katwe to becoming a Chess Candidate Master and representing the country at two consecutive World Chess Olympiads in Russia and Turkey. (Read all other Chess Blog posts on Phiona Mutesi here.)
Nakamura's Chess Chat with Jen Shahade About US Chess Title, Girls, and Kasparov
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
US Chess Champion 2012 Hikaru Nakamura
Minutes after recent win at the US Chess Championship, Hikaru Nakamura spoke to CLO editor Jennifer Shahade at the Saint Louis Chess Club about his victory, the travel lifestyle and the influence of Garry Kasparov.
Nakamura played defending champion Gata Kamsky in the penultimate round. Check out the very nice chess game at Chess King.
Gary Kasparov Press Conference Video at Anand Gelfand 2012 World Chess Championship
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Here is a video of the press conference addressed by legendary 13th world chess champion Gary Kasparov in Moscow on Friday at the Anand Gelfand 2012 World Chess Championship Game 6. The video is by Indian chess journalist Vijay Kumar.
Kasparov, Chess to Figure in Meet to Honor Father of Modern Computing Alan Turing
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Alan Turing
How can the mention of computers and artificial intelligence not have a mention of chess? Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, along with Google Senior Vice-President Dr Vint Cerf, are going to be the leading figures who will celebrate the legacy of Alan Turing in Manchester.
The computer conference to honour the father of the modern computer, hailed as the biggest ever, will be hosted by the University of Manchester from June 22 to June 25.
The event will feature three days of lectures and panel discussions touching upon a wide array of topics – from Turing's legacy in the digital age, to computer science, the nature of human mind and the possibilities and limits of artificial intelligence. The discussions will be accompanied by a computer chess event, a poster session, and a competition of computer programmes proving theorems.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Legendary chess champion Gary Kasparov is on a trip to Estonia this week to introduce the EU-endorsed Chess in School program, which aims to promote the game among children aged eight to 16. The long-term goal of the project is to make chess a part of grade school curriculum in all 27 EU member states.
During his stay, the 49-year-old chess legend and political activist will meet with Minister of Education Jaak Aaviksoo and Minister of Culture Rein Lang. On Wednesday, Kasparov will be holding a tournament for 20 young Estonian players at Tallinn's Nordic Hotel Forum. A speed chess tournament for both professionals and amateurs will take place at the city's Wabaduse cafe on Friday.
The same day, Kasparov, along with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, will be taking part in an innovation-themed debate at the Pärnu Finance Conference.
Fischer 1972 Chess Rating More Significant Than Carlsen's Current Chess Rating, Says Kasparov
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Here is an interesting observation by the legendary World Chess Champion Gary Kasparov that Bobby Fischer’s 1972 rating was 'much more significant' than Carlsen’s current rating. The 13th World Champion said this yesterday to Viktoria Korpan for Estonian newspaper Postimees.
Kasparov, who turns 49 today, is going to appear with the Estonian President at the Pärnu Finance Conference on April 19th. They will talk about "the role of innovation in the modern world".
On this occasion, Postimees spoke with Kasparov yesterday and published a lengthy interview about Russian politics, Chess in Schools and his new book. The following part was probably of most interest to chess fans. Asked 'who stands out among the young chess players', Kasparov answered:
"The most talented is Carlsen, who is of course a star of the first order. In contrast to the situation in athletics, chess records depend on “inflation”. When I was climbing to the top you’d count one or two people with a 2700 rating and that was that, while now it’s at least 45 people.
In fact, due to the increase in those playing chess the base of the pyramid has grown, and that adds points at every level. Fischer’s rating was 2785 in 1972, but that’s of course much more significant than Carlsen’s higher rating now. It can be compared to my 2851 in 1999. The evolutionary factor is having an impact, so despite the mathematical basis of ratings I nevertheless wouldn’t attribute such historical importance to them.
When Fischer was climbing to the top he’d score +6, I’d score +6-7, while Carlsen scores +3-4. That's simply enough, as the pyramid really has grown, and today’s super-tournaments are now rated above 2750. The only tournament with a similar rating was in 1996. At the tournament in Las Palmas, which featured myself, Karpov, Kramnik, Anand, Ivanchuk and Topalov, the top six were all playing. That tournament was unique, although by current standards the ratings of the top players weren’t the highest. So you have to take that into account if you want to carry out a historical analysis." Story and Translation by Colin McGourty as appearing on ChessVibes.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Here is a weekend chess quiz with a prize. Have a great weekend coming up tomorrow all filled with chess and more chess. (What else is there in the world apart from chess any way! - Ah, well just kidding, or are we?)
The first five all-correct entries win a free copy of chess magazine Black & White with a complete tutorial on Chess King. Post your answers here or just email them to editor@blackandwhiteindia.com. Last Date: April 8, 2012.
Sorry folks, Mr Google won't be able to help you much tonight.
Question 1 Which is the Queen of Chess Openings?
Question 2 If the legendary chess champion Gary Kasparov was not called Gary Kasparov, what would he be called?
Question 3 Can you name the Black African person who took up chess to make himself ineligible for an appointment as a judge? He later went on to become a super blindfold chess player!
Question 4 Alekhine remarked about this person that he would become a future world chess champion, but he quit chess as it was unprofitable and became an insurance salesman. Who was this person?
Question 5 What does Chess King have that no other professional chess learning software on the planet have?
Super Fun Chess Video with Gary Kasparov - Don't Miss
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Wonder what it feels like to sit right across Gary Kasparov, look at the chessboard over his shoulder, cheer his opponent? Watch these lucky kids. A must-watch chess video with the legendary world chess champion that is sure to make your week! You can read the accompanying article here and another story here.
Legendary chess champion Gary Kasparov in Clockwork Edition of Informant 113! Informa
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Yes, this chess news is true. It's going to be wonderful to have none other than legendary world chess champion Gary Kasparov writing an exclusive column on his 'choice of best game' beginning Clockwork Edition Informant 113.
The edition is going to featuring:
“Garry’s Choice” – exclusive column by Garry Kasparov! The 13th World champion dissects top games of modern chess/ in English, 6 pages
“Top Five” – exclusive annotations by five world’s top players, Morozevich, Tomashevsky, Vitiugov, Moiseenko and Inarkiev/ in English, 23 pages
“CI Labs 113” – 10 theoretical surveys with original analyses by grandmasters: Ivan Cheparinov - Queen’s gambit D35 Ivan Ivanisevic - King’s Indian Defence E97 Alexander Delchev - English opening A20 Kidambi Sundararajan - Ruy Lopez C67, Berlin Defence Viktor Erdos - Ruy Lopez C67, Rio de Janeiro variation Misa Pap - French Defence C02 Stelios Halkias - English opening A30 Tornike Sanikidze - Queen’s gambit D35 Robert Markus - Volga-Benko gambit A57 Milos Perunovic - Sicilian Defence B42
in English, 47 pages
“Rising stars” column is presenting young Greek champion Antonis Pavlidis with two of his recent annotated games/ in English, 5 pages
Portrait of Alexander Morozevich – The best from his career so far/ in Informant non-language style, 31 pages
Games – traditional section/ in Informant non-language style, 171 pages
Usual Informant content: Contest for the best game and novelty, Combinations, Endings, Excellent moves, Problems by M.Velimirovic, Studies by Y.Afek, Tournaments
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
A media blitz is normal if a legendary chess player and the president of a country talk about something! So, we were quite happy to find a lot of chess stories coming of of Africa these last few days. Today, most of the headlines were about the positive impact of chess on children and their schooling - thanks of course to Gary Kasparov and President Zuma.
Chess an educational tool - Zuma
Pretoria - Chess programmes should be encouraged among young people as the game could help them in their schoolwork, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday. He was speaking after a brief meeting with former world chess champion and Russian chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov at the president's official residence in Pretoria. Read the full story here.
Kasparov Foundation with a base in Johannesburg
"It is so important for young people, particularly at schools, as an educational tool," said Zuma. He said Kasparov had briefed him on a few chess programmes to be started in the country and told him he was pleased with the progress made. Of course I also love this game... it's very nice," he said. Kasparov said he would have a base in Johannesburg for his Kasparov Chess Foundation. Read the full story here.
Kasparov yields draw in simul, plays atop Table Mountain Kasparov was in Cape Town to promote a joint venture between his foundation and a local NGO providing local chess-based mathematics and science programmes aimed at under-privileged children. Yesterday the Russian played simultaneous chess matches against 25 young people in Khayelitsha. After going toe-to-toe with Daniel Barrish for three hours, the international chess grandmaster settled for a draw with the Grade 6 SACS pupil. Read the full story here.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
For those familiar with South Africa, here's some chess news from Table Mountain. We are talking about the beautiful city of Cape Town. The great Gary Kasparov is heading for more chess simuls in the African country.
YOUR MOVE: One of the the greatest chess players of all time, Garry Kasparov, meets up with Western Cape president of Chess SA, Eldo Smart.
Cape Town yesterday welcomed former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, who will be playing simultaneous chess matches on his visit to the city which includes a game on Table Mountain.
The chess grandmaster, writer and political activist are scheduled to play simultaneous chess matches against 25 opponents, aged 12 to 39. The city’s mayoral committee member for community services, Councillor Tandeka Gqada, yesterday said: “It is indeed a pleasure to have one of the great chess legends visiting our shores and this event will surely promote the game of chess in our communities and raise playing standards.
“Kasparov’s visit once again proves that Cape Town is highly regarded by international icons and as a caring city. We wish him well in his game at OR Tambo Indoor Sports Centre as well as an enjoyable stay in our city,” she said.
Kasparov is widely regarded as one of the greatest chess player of all time. He became the youngest ever undisputed world chess champion in 1985 at the age of 22 and held the official World Chess Federation world title until 1993.
The Western Cape president of Chess South Africa, Eldo Smart, yesterday said: “I met with the grandmaster in Gauteng in November last year and it was a great experience and honour because I had the opportunity to play against him, even though I lost. “We are excited about having him here; it’s an honour for everyone to meet him.”
Chess South Africa also invites the public to attend the game between Kasparov and Moves for Life ambassador, the U16 South African champion, Marcel Roberts, on Table Mountain today at 6 pm. Read the detailed story here.
Carlsen could be 2900 if we continued chess together: Kasparov
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
We have quotes from the legendary Gary Kasparov just given in an exhaustive interview to Leadership magazine. You're not going to believe what he says about Carlsen. There's a whole lot more in the interview - about Karpov's influence, about leadership, about innovation and more. We are not very sure about the date this interview was taken (We had to tweak a sentence or two). Nevertheless, we could not miss carrying the golden words of a chess legend on www.chessblog.com. Enjoy!
Children and chess
Chess helps to shape the way children think. More affluent schools have other sorts of disciplines or tools to enhance thinking, but in underprivileged districts, kids have no opportunities to actually get help with elementary skills such as concentration and the ability to actually identify the problem and to see the different elements of the big picture.
Chess is the only game that doesn’t have the traditional poverty constraints, so it goes beyond race, social status, physical capabilities.
Computers have solved chess? The number of possible positions in the game of chess is in the region of 10 to the power of 120, which is considerably more than the number of atoms in the universe. Obviously, what machines can do with any engine that you run on your PC or your laptop now is phenomenal compared to what we saw 20 or even 10 years ago, and it’s almost impossible for the strongest players to beat the leading chess engines now, but the game is still very, very far from being solved. It’s mathematically impossible because the numbers are simply too big.
Human-computer combination
But the most powerful combination is man plus machine: that brings together the brute force of calculation and creativity. We saw this several years ago in so-called freestyle competition where you could actually cheat on the Internet, play with an engine, team up or do whatever you want. The winner was not a strong grandmaster with a strong engine: the winner of the competition was a team of two very average players from the United States with three average computers!
So I would probably add that a powerful engine will beat the human player; the human with an engine will beat the engine; but human or a group of humans that are relatively weak with average engines, but have a superior process will prevail, so the process actually is where we can make the most difference. This is what chess can bring to the table because this is a unique field where you can actually experiment with human abilities and the machine’s brute force of calculation. I’m looking for methods to maximise the effect of this co-operation by improving the process of decision-making.
How did chess and character-building combine in Kasparov’s case?
“Undoubtedly Karpov. I spent so many hours at the chess board, hundreds of hours and years of my life struggling against Karpov. The matches with Karpov played a role not only for my chess biography and chess career, but also for my character because I grew up by playing Karpov and surviving the first match when I was down 5 to nil, and Karpov failed to win one more game to complete the match, and then beating Karpov and taking over the world title: that’s very much what built up or polished my character.
I’ve always said Anatoly Karpov was my best teacher because I learnt the most valuable lessons in the most alien environment.
Kasparov on Magnus Carlsen
I’m not working now with Magnus Carlsen, and regarding talent, I could say that Magnus is actually unique. It’s just a talent of the highest calibre, so of Anatoly Kasparov’s class. He definitely has his weak spot as well, and I wish we could have continued, then I’m sure he could cross not only 2850, but maybe even 2900 so he’s really number one. Also, I think he slowed down, but it’s not only about talent, it’s about your ability to concentrate on the game, but also to work really hard.
Could the lessons of chess be applied to leadership?
“Absolutely. It’s the topic of The Blueprint, a book that I’ve been working on with my friends Peter Thiel and Max Levchin, the founders of PayPal. Peter was also the angel investor of Facebook. To cut a long story short: we believe that the last 30 years were the worst years in the history of technology. Contrary to popular belief, we’re approaching some sort of technological slowdown because every day, every week we see some new gadget without recognising that it’s not any kind of breakthrough or innovation. It’s what we call incremental progress at a horizontal level.
Kasparov on innovation
“For example, we still fly the same planes as 40 years ago. All these new planes – Boeing, Dreamliner, 787, Airbus V80 – it’s the same family as Boeing 747, and the first flight of Boeing 747 was in 1969 – so it’s all about fuel efficiency, comfortable seats, better services, but at the same speed. Actually, it’s not the same speed: we are going down because there is no Concorde – so it’s the first time in human history that we are travelling from A to B slower than before. When you start looking at all the so-called innovations that people are getting really excited about, you’ll find the roots in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s. The first Internet was developed by the Advanced and Research Project Agencies Arthur Group in ‘60 to ‘63. Professor Leonard Kleinrock – I had the privilege to meet him, and he’s interviewed for the book – wrote the work on packet switching in 1962. The conclusion is that we’re not innovating the way we did before: we are substituting innovations by financial instruments; so instead of space engineers, we have financial engineers. Today, every business plan starts with risk production concern.
Too much management, not enough leadership?
Absolutely. Leadership means that you are willing to go beyond conventional wisdom and to take risks. Today, risk production is not only for business, it’s also in politics. In 1969, when Americans landed on the moon, the entire computing power of NASA was the size of one iPhone. What these people did, creating the software to bring the crew to the moon and then back to earth, was phenomenal. Now we think that if NASA had the same computing powers then as they have today, maybe they wouldn’t have done it because computer simulation can show probably a 20% chance of failure, and no US president could authorize a mission with such a high chance of failure. So it seems that we are so complacent and so risk-averse now, precisely because of too much management. We have to tell our kids that the iPad is a tool, not a solution.
Thank god Kasparov has retired, but he is tops in chess: Nigel Short
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The ever-witty, maverick grandmaster Nigel Short was in Pakistan the other day as honourary guest at the Pakistan National Championships. (Read the report on www.chessblog.com.) We picked up some nice quotes given by the British chess player to Pakistan press.
I had a couple of celebratory drinks before reaching here
I love to travel and the game has taken me to many countries. Pakistan is the 98th country that I have visited so far.
Chess has a 1,500-year history in the subcontinent. India today is a big chess powerhouse with strong players and Viswanathan Anand as the world champion, but I was wondering about what was going on with chess in Pakistan.
Players like Shahzad and Lodhi have given the game recognition here. Now Pakistan should look towards the younger generation to take this game to higher levels. All you need is a bit of money and a few willing people to see the talent flourish here
(On if there was money in chess as compared to cricket or tennis) Well, I just won 25,000 pounds at the Gibraltar Masters. Chess won’t make you rich, but it’s not so bad either. Plus world championships are worth over a million dollars.
(On most interesting opponent) Gary Kasparov - That man has tortured me more than anyone. Thank God he has retired now. But he is tops! You can’t go up and challenge a chess champion just like that. There is a meritocracy that has you going through a process in Britain. I kept playing and winning at the zonal level to come up and finally be able to face the champion.
(On most difficult match) Against Anatoli Karpov in 1992 in Spain. “He was the champion for 10 long years from 1975 to 1985 and I defeated him.
Photo: Kasparov awarding Kramnik the London Chess Classic 2011 trophy plus BONUS CHESS TRIVIA QUESTION
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Here is the final photo from the prize-giving ceremony at the London Chess Classic 2011. The super photos are by Ray Morris-Hill. Apart from the photos here, you can check the full album at this link. We would also like to thank John Saunders for all the great press reports and chess stuff sent for our readers. You can read all the peppy, creative fully-annotated reports by him at the official tournament website.
For our trivia question, just look at the second photo and tell us: WHO IS SHAKING HANDS WITH WHOM? Don't cheat. :) The photo is from the London Chess Classic 2011 that just concluded yesterday. You can read our post on Kramnik winning the title here.
Chess great Kasparov to lecture at World Festival of Ideas in Moscow
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Chess great Gary Kasparov is going to lecture on 'The Right move: the quest for a winning strategy and the individual characteristics of the human intellect' at the World Festival of Ideas. The former world chess champion is among several celebrities invited to speak at the Central House of Artists in Moscow at the festival from November 30 to December 4. The festival is celebrating 150th anniversary of the oldest scientific and educational journal of Russia 'Around the World'. You can access the official website for more info: http://150.vokrugsveta.ru/
Cool human chess video of Gary Kasparov playing with African television personality
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Here is a nice human chess video of chess great Gary Kasparov's recent visit to Africa as part of a Moves for Life campaign. The 13th world chess champion played the game with radio and television personality Wackhead Simpson. Enjoy.
Don't be shy about contacting me
to share women's chess news
or to propose collaboration
Best chess wishes to you! Alexandra Kosteniuk
12th Women's World Chess Champion
Facebook, Twitter, Youtube
