Kasparov Receives First Interactive Digital Chess Magazine - New in Chess

New in Chess Digital - Amsterdam, Jan 30: Former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov received the first copy of New In Chess magazine 2014#1 when he visited the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. "I am delighted that you can replay all games without the need of a chess set," says editor-in-chief Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, when he presented Kasparov with the iPad and the magazine. "This digital edition travels well. It is great that our readers can now choose between a paper and a digital edition. Or enjoy both!" 

In the first digital chess magazine with a gameviewer the reader can play through all games which are annotated by top GM's. Issue 2014#1 has annotations by Nakamura, Karjakin, Giri, Vachier-Lagrave, Nepomniatchi and many others.

• Hikaru Nakamura: I’m the biggest threat to Carlsen
• Jonathan Speelman on the trickiest player on the planet
• Yuri Dochoian explains why coaching the Russian team to victory in the World Team Championship was a hell of a job
• The 30,000 chess books of Lothar Schmid
• Willy Hendriks on Turing, Alzheimer and chess
• Mihail Marin: why was Lajos Portisch so good?
• Nigel Short: how the Brits invented rapid chess
• Jan Timman: what really happened in my match with Karpov
• Daniel King on playing the bass-guitar

Other regular contributers are Magnus Carlsen, Levon Aronian, Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Svidler, Nigel Short, Anish Giri, Jan Timman and many more.

New In Chess 2013#8 is still available as a FREE download for iPad. This issue features the World Championship match between Magnus Carlsen and Vishy Anand. Top-GM Anish Giri analyses the crucial games of the match. Vishy Anand explains why he lost and Russian GM Sergey Shipov points out why Carlsen won.

To download the app and the free issue, please click here

The apps for Kindle Fire and Android tablets will be available soon.

Read more »

Kasparov Muscat Chess Simul Puzzle!

Former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov has just wrapped off a cool chess visit to Muscat, Oman. The Times of Oman reports, in an interview, 50-year-old Russian chess great said winning the world chess title was the best moment in his life!

Garry Kasparov making a move against one of the 20 hand-picked players of Oman during an exhibition battle. Kasparov moved around to play against the 20 players at the same time. Photo – JUN ESTRADA / Times of Oman

Here are some quotes that Garry Kasparov gave to Oman journalists, plus a video.

- "I think luck played only a minor role. It was pure hard work and patience that helped me win the championship. I think I played a better game than my opponent and when you play a good match, you deserve to win, don't you?"
"Winning the world championship was the best moment in my life. I don't think there was any world champion who won because he was lucky. The world championship title had been in contest since 124 years and we have only six world champions. So that makes the game extra special.
- On the simul he played in Muscat with 20 selected players: "They have great skills but they need to have more knowledge about the game. A proper League will benefit these players to attain international rating and for that, they need to have a federation. I am sure they will soon have one.
- Tips to young chess players: Practice makes you perfect. You need to regularly practice the game to hone your skills. The rest will fall in place automatically.  

The simul was hosted by International Chess Academy of Oman. IM Karim Ismael of the Academy said, Kasparov normally completes such exhibition matches in not more than two hours but I think this was one with the longest duration.

Garry Kasparov's official website has this very interesting chess update from Oman

Garry went 19-0 in his simultaneous exhibition in Oman on January 3, 2014. A beautiful line from one game caught his mind’s eye, but unfortunately his young opponent chose to lose in a relatively uneventful way!

In the diagram, White to play and win...

For a full analysis of the actual game and the beautiful move that chess great Garry Kasparov hoped he would get to play, read the post at the the former World Chess Champion's official website.

Read more »

Russian Chess Fed Supports Kirsan FIDE Presidency Candidature

On December the 17th 2013 an absentee vote of the Supervisory Board of the Russian Chess Federation on the nomination to the post of FIDE President took place. By a majority vote it was decided to support the candidacy of the incumbent FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. -- FIDE

Related Chess Posts

* Breaking Chess News: Kasparov Committed to Ousting Fide Chief Ilyumzhinov
* Kasparov for a Powerful New Image to Chess Minus Kirsan
* Ilyumzhinov on Kasparov Move to Contest FIDE Elections 2014
* FIDE Elections: Kasparov's Team

Read more »

FIDE Elections: Kasparov's Team

Former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov of Russia held an event in Tallinn, Estonia, to announce his candidacy for the presidency of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and to introduce the other members of his ticket. Here is the press release announcing Kasparov's team.

Tallinn, Estonia – Monday, October 07, 2013
Garry Kasparov today announced his candidacy for the presidency of the International Chess Federation, known by its French acronym FIDE. He plans to unseat 18-year incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, also of Russia, in the election that takes place in August 2014. Kasparov became the youngest world champion in the sport’s history in 1985 at the age of 22 and went on to hold the number one ranking for twenty years before his retirement from professional chess in 2005.

Since that time Kasparov has become one of the most prominent opposition voices in Russia and he is the current chairman of the NY-based Human Rights Foundation. His Kasparov Chess Foundation promotes chess in education, a mission that is a centerpiece of Kasparov’s FIDE campaign.

Tonight’s spectacular launch event, hosted in the ballroom of the Swissôtel in the center of Tallinn, coincided with this year’s FIDE Congress, which brings together delegates representing the national federations that make up FIDE’s 178 voting members. The event was hosted by renown Estonian entertainers Hanna-Liina Võsa and Mart Mikk, who were joined on stage by a jazz quartet. Kasparov spoke briefly to the several hundred attendees on his vision “to elevate the game of chess from the grassroots level, to spread the game in education and as a cultural touchstone as well as a successful commercial sport.”

Kasparov then introduced the rest of his ticket, which represents every continent and a mix of business and investment expertise, organizational backgrounds, and chess experience.

 

Jan Callewaert is a Belgian businessman and entrepreneur with extensive management experience. His passion for chess and its many educational benefits led him to join forces with Kasparov to co-found the Kasparov Chess Foundation Europe, of which he is president.

Ignatius Leong of Singapore is practically synonymous with chess in Asia. The current FIDE General Secretary, he is a renown international arbiter, organizer, and trainer with tremendous knowledge and relationships throughout the chess world.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Hamed of the United Arab Emirates moved from a long military education and career to becoming a prominent businessman in trade and transport, among other sectors. He owns several five-star hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. He has a long-standing passion for chess as a player and patron. His educational foundation promotes chess in education in Abu Dhabi schools.

Afrika Msimang of South Africa is the president of the Kasparov Chess Foundation Africa and has a remarkable career record of policy, social activism, and teaching. She has been involved in the successful Moves for Life program, a chess education organization that enjoys the patronage of South African president Jacob Zuma.

Rex Sinquefield of the United States has turned his home city of Saint Louis into a global chess capital. An investor whose Dimension Fund Advisors oversees more than $300 billion, his Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis has hosted the US Championship and other elite events while developing programs for scholastic chess.

Each team member addressed the attendees, with Sheikh Mohammed and Sinquefield sending video greetings. Estonia then continued its warm embrace of Kasparov with Defense Minister Urmas Reinsalu coming to the stage to wish him luck and talking about the shared appreciation of the value of chess for kids, including his own.

A full report with video and photos of the event is available at the campaign’s official website, kasparov2014.com. There you can also find more information about the Kasparov campaign’s team and ideas. More detailed policy papers will be published there as the team reaches out to collaborate with the national federations and the chess world. Expect more frequent updates on Kasparov’s personal Twitter and Facebook.

Read more »

Ilyumzhinov on Kasparov Move to Contest FIDE Elections 2014

It's just the beginning and this topic is going to be getting hotter by the day. Stay tuned for selective updates from our side. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has commented on former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov declaring his candidacy for 2014 FIDE presidential elections. Here are the comments:  via www.chess-news.ru.

"I have been getting the majority of votes since 1995," ITAR-TASS quotes Ilyumzhinov. "If talking of 2010 elections in which my rival was Anatoly Karpov, who was actually actively supported by Garry Kasparov, I had even double advantage. The same happened in 2006. There are no doubts that the very same thing will happen next year too. Well, maybe someone else will present his candidature today... Isn't it nice that sooner or earlier all world champions are trying themselves as presidential candidatures? Let's suggest them to get together - 12th, 13th, 14th champion - and run for the post together."

"I had several tasks when I was nominated in 1995: to save FIDE from bankruptcy, to unite chess world, to popularize chess as a sport, to make chess recognized by the IOC. Those tasks were accomplished. Now we only need to have chess at the winter Olympics. Chess in Schools project is also developing. So, there's still a lot of work to do, that's why I agreed to nominate myself for one more term. This is also my decision.

As regards to Kasparov's nomination - he is always much into PR. Once he wants to be Russia president, then he tries to be the leader of opposition. It's clear that now he needs FIDE president post for solving his own political tasks. It's doubtful that chess players will support him. We have a different motto - "Gens una sumus" - "We are one people." Well, in general it's pleasant for me to see the return of the prodigal son, it seems like my work for chess development for 18 years wasn't done in vain."

Read more »

Kasparov Explains Why his "Algorithm Will Work for Change in FIDE"

Former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov announced his candidacy for the FIDE election 2014 in Tallinn, Estonia yesterday. You can keep track of Kasparov's team and campaign at the official website: http://kasparov2014.com/. Here's an exclusive Chess.com video interview (must-watch at that) right after the Kasparov candidacy announcement.  

Read more »

Breaking: Kasparov to Contest FIDE Presidency Election 2014

Former World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov had, in June this year, said in an interview to Swiss newspaper 'Nasha Gazeta' that he thought Garry Kasparov would run for FIDE presidency in 2014. 

A few minutes back, Kasparov formally made the announcement at the 84th 84th FIDE Congress in Tallinn. The news is already all over the Internet and we first picked it up via the Chess-News.ru twitter. The current President of FIDE Kirsan Ilymzhinov had already announced his candidature earlier in the morning session of the Congress. Ilyumzhinov also announced that he would be further putting in one million euros for the Chess In School program. 

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has been President of FIDE since 1995. He won a second time in 2010 after defeating Anatoly Karpov with 95 votes to 55. Later, Karpov and Ilyumzhinov had supposedly buried their "differences".  

Garry Kasparov became the World Chess Champion in 1985 after beating Anatoly Karpov. Kasparov announced his ticket on Monday and his team as including Rex Sinquefield, Ignatius Leong, Afrika Msimang, Jan Callewaert and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al Hamed.

Karpov had, in June, said: "I... (hesitates). You know, I am so fed up with Ilyumzhinov's team that... I have a good relationship personally with Ilyumzhinov, but his team is totally corrupt, absolutely useless in managing chess. They, however, set up a system that struck on the image of the International Olympic Committee in Salt Lake City, as well as on the image of different federations. I think exactly this system has reached its peak in chess. Unfortunately, this isn't actively discussed and covered, but something has to be done with the current situation - apart from making useless decisions, they also intervene with chess rules, which is intolerable."

In another question by 'Nasha Gazeta' on whether Kasparov could count on support in Russia, Karpov had said, "No, he can't. Moreover, the Russian Chess Federation will work against him, this is obvious. When I was running for FIDE presidency, against Ilyumzhinov, the federation first voted for me. Russia supported me and then "changed" the position of federation under wild pressure."

The FIDE Chess game begins and we thought all the excitement would end with the Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 in Chennai.  

Read more »

Kasparov Secrets: Intuition, Discipline

Garry Kasparov : 'A game designed for me'
The chess grandmaster tells Al Jazeera the key to his success has not only been his talent but his discipline and intuition.

Acknowledged by many as the greatest chess player of all time, Garry Kasparov has been marching to his own algorithm his whole life.

Born in Baku in 1963, Kasparov has taken on the greatest champions and won. And since retiring from the game, he has been involved in a political battle with one of the most powerful and controversial men alive - Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia.

Sir David Frost travels to Abu Dhabi to join Kasparov on his mission to promote chess in the Gulf. Kasparov shares his secrets of the game, discusses milestones in his life and expands on why chess should be compulsory in school curriculum. He even offers a few tips to some of the young chess players.

 

Kasparov impressed his parents at a very young age, when he finished a chess game they were struggling to solve. "I knew it was a game designed for me," he tells Sir David.

After losing his father when he was only seven, Kasparov's mother dedicated her life to nurturing her son's talent.

For a young boy, there was no better place to be a gifted chess player than the former Soviet Union. The game which is 1,500 years old, was actively promoted by Soviet leaders as to them, chess was a way of demonstrating not only sporting but intellectual superiority.

By 1976, Kasparov had won all the Soviet junior titles, and by the age of 14, he knew he would be a real contender. "I knew I was good, even special," he says.

Kasparov tells Sir David the key to his success has not only been his talent but his discipline and intuition: "if you don't trust your intuition you will never become a good decision maker".

Strategising is a crucial element of the game and Kasparov can visualise up to 15 moves ahead. And demonstrating his exceptional memory, he recalls games and moves as far back as 30 years ago. Some of those games include headline-making matches against his arch-rival, Anatoly Karpov.

"Karpov is a very solid player, positional, quiet…. I'm totally the opposite… Any match of that calibre is a personal rivalry, period," he tells Sir David.

For five months in 1984, the two players battled it out but the International Chess Federation eventually intervened to call it a draw. Kasparov was furious and remains so to this day. He tells Sir David how he broke away from the federation, forming his own alternative, the International Chess Association. The institution did not last and it coincided with the demise of the Soviet Union.

But, the crumbling of the Soviet Union triggered a personal tragedy for Kasparov.

In 1990, Kasparov and his family, who are of Armenian descent, were caught up in the vicious programmes against Armenians in Azerbaijan, forcing thousands of ethnic Armenians to flee. And that is when Kasparov escaped to Moscow.

"The psychological trauma was awful - this thought is still painful" he says.

Following his move to Moscow, Kasparov engaged against a new partner - IBM's super computer, Deep Blue, which created huge interest worldwide.

But most recently, having retired from the game of chess, Kasparov has embarked on a new mission - to bring democracy and justice to Russia and to see Putin ousted from power. He tells Sir David of his treatment at the hands of Russian police, of being arrested and his time in a Russian prison, and why he was keen to stand up for the members of the rebel pop group Pussy Riot, who were jailed after an anti-Putin video.

Kasparov finishes his conversation with Sir David by telling him why he is now too old to play competitive chess and the show ends with an extraordinary twist on Garry Kasparov's future - he will no longer be returning to Russia.

The Frost Interview can be seen each 

week at the following times 

GMT: Friday: 2000; Saturday: 1200; 

Sunday: 0100; Monday: 0600.

Read more »

Kasparov, Thiel on Chess, etc: Video

This special video features World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov and billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel discussing technology, chess, Russian and American politics as well as human rights and prospects for the world economy. 

Garry KasparovThe youngest world chess champion in history at 22 in 1985, Kasparov remained the top-rated player in the world for 20 years, until his retirement in 2005. He then became a leader of the Russian pro-democracy movement against Vladimir Putin and is currently the chairman of the NY-based Human Rights Foundation. The Kasparov Chess Foundation promotes chess in education around the world with centers in the US, Europe, and Africa with more soon to come. Kasparov speaks and writes frequently on technology, decision-making, and risk. His book, "How Life Imitates Chess," has been published in more than 20 languages.

Peter ThielPeter Andreas Thiel is a German-born American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and hedge fund manager. Thiel co-founded PayPal with Max Levchin and served as its CEO. (Wikipedia)

Read more »

Kasparov on Cori Forfeit at World Cup

Start of play and Jorge Cori is not in the playing hall as Teimour Radjabov waits at the board.

  

Jorge Cori rushing to the playing hall, but two minutes is too late. (Photos: Anastasiya Karlovich)

Former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov has commented via twitter on the forfeit of 17-Year-old Peruvian Jorge Cori from 

Round 1 at the World Chess Cup 2013 due to a mistake in hearing the time of start of play. Cori mistook 15 for 50 and reached the venue two minutes late. By that time, Azerbaijani GM Teimour Radjabov had already signed the scoresheet and left. As a result Cori got a forfeit in his first tiebreak game. Kasparov tweeted the following on Tuesday:

"I have zero tolerance for FIDE's zero tolerance policy! Forfeiting a kid at the most important event of his life for being a minute late? Young Peruvian star Jorge Cori misunderstood 6:15 for 6:50 & wasn't at board at World Cup event. Forfeited, and in round 1! He's appealing.

"I have always promoted professionalism and treating chess as a serious sport, not a casual game.But rules like this destroy common sense.

"Struggling federations like Peru's cannot send a big staff of coaches & aides. Difficult just to send players! But FIDE taxes them anyway.

Kasparov retweeted World Cup Norway participant Jon Ludvig Hammer's tweet: "There really should be at least 33% players in the Appeals Committee!" [Three FIDE Officials are the members of the board]

Kasparov: "Players?! Ilyumzhinov's FIDE give players a real voice? Too dangerous!

Nothing to do with Cori's opponent. Obviously not Radjabov's fault. The foolish rule is the problem and I have said it before. "

*the chess world is abuzz with shocked opinions on the incident

Read more »

World Chess 2013: Is it Chennai 100%?

by Zainab Raza Undulusi

As a chess fan, I am totally confused. Is the World Chess Championship 2013 Match between reigning champion Viswanathan Anand and challenger Magnus Carlsen really going to be held in Chennai this November? Should I book tickets and hotel room?

In the popular 1988 Movie 'Young Guns', actor Emilio Estevez playing 'Billy the Kid' tells his band of outlaws in response to their concern of potential hanging, that if they are caught that they will most certainly get hanged, and then utters the phrase but "There's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip".

In 2012, Fide told All India Chess Federation (AICF), after the latter lost to Moscow as host for World Chess Championship 2012 (between reigning World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand) that AICF would get the first chance to host the World Chess Championship Match 2013, supposedly without any regular bidding procedure...! But... "There's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip".

April 19, 2013: Fide site reads: Today, FIDE Vice President, Israel Gelfer signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the All India Chess Federation in Chennai regarding the World Championship Match 2013. Next are photos:

Photo: (From left) AICF secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan, Fide vice-presidents Israel Gelfer and DV Sundar.

The document states that the organiser is responsible for the conduct of world championship match in Chennai from 6 to 26 November 2013. The AICF will send a working version of the contract and will sign the contract within seven days of its receipt; organiser shall provide the sum of $3,367,250 - 50% percent of which must be transferred to the Fide account by May 20 and the remaining amount by 31 August 2013.

Magnus Carlsen has already called for a "neutral venue" and he has not confirmed the venue yet!

But, what does all this mean? Is Chennai the venue, or is it not yet decided? Is the Indian media and chess fanbase going euphoric for something that might not be? 

Frankly, no one seems to know the answer. Detailed reports are posted at chess news sites like Chessbase, ChessVibes, Chessblog, Chess-News.ru and the AICF and, of course, Fide websites. But, really, what does it all mean? Is Chennai really 100% the venue? We have to wait, at least until May 20.

• What happens if some other bids come in for the World Chess Championship 2013? Will Fide not accept them? 
• What exactly does this MoU mean? Is it a final declaration?
• If Fide does not intend to accept any other bids, then why not immediately announce that there would be no bidding procedure and indeed Chennai is the venue of the World Chess Championship 2013?
• Is it legal to have no bidding procedure for an event like the World Chess Championship?
• Chennai is in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the Tamil Nadu Government that is offering the bid amount. So, the match cannot be shifted to any other city in India. Except Chennai, parts of Delhi and Kolkatta, the rest of India is at present watching cricket - the IPL T-20. They might not find other sponsors in India.
• There is no direct word via Fide about Challenger Magnus Carlsen's acceptance of the venue and match conditions.

The most detailed analysis is at Chessvibes which goes: "It could also mean that FIDE is keeping its options open. In general a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) expresses a convergence of will between two parties, indicating an intended common line of action. A MoU is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in situations where the parties cannot create a legally enforceable agreement.It's well possible that the match will eventually be held somewhere else. At the moment all parties involved have reasons to be not too happy about Chennai: Anand because there might be too much home crowd pressure, Carlsen because the different climate might involve risks, AGON because a different city might be more interesting for sponsors and FIDE because a higher bid also means a higher income for them."

Legendary 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov has reacted strongly: It is a scandal. I've never heard of anything like this. I really hope that this is not the final decision, because it would be illegal.

To Chennai, or not to Chennai is the Big Question.

Read more »

MC on 'TIME 100' Influential Icons List

US based news magazine -TIME's annual survey of the 100 most influential people in the world for the year 2013 is out and guess who has made it to the list: World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Indian star Aamir Khan! TIME selects 100 most influential people in the world and gets them profiled by equally influential celebrities for their worldwide list. The full list with features will appear in the April 29 / May 6 issue of TIME that would go on the newsstands on April 19. 

None other than 13th World Chess Champion 

Garry Kasparov has written the feature on Magnus Carlsen for the 'Time 100' list 2013 of the world's most influential people.

The TIME 100 features often-surprising pairings of the influentials and the guest contributors TIME selects to write about them. The tenth-annual list includes, among others, President Barack Obama on Tom Coburn, Justin Timberlake on Jimmy Fallon, Oprah Winfrey on Shonda Rhimes, Michael Bloombergon Jay Z, Hillary Clinton on Barack Obama, Chelsea Clinton on Malala Yousafzai and more. 

Magnus Carlsen
Chess wunderkind, 22
By Garry Kasparov April 18, 2013

Chess history is best viewed through the game’s evolution: the Romantic Era of the 19th century, the Hypermodernism of the early 20th, the post–World War II dominance of the Soviet School. The elite chess players of today are of no school. They hail from all over the world, as illustrated by current world champion Viswanathan Anand of India and young Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, who is due to challenge Anand for the championship this year. I had the opportunity to train Carlsen in 2009, and his intuitive style conserves the mystique of chess at a time when every CPU-enhanced fan thinks the game is easy. Carlsen is as charismatic and independent as he is talented. If he can rekindle the world’s fascination with the royal game, we will soon be living in the Carlsen Era.

Indian movie star Aamir Khan is on the list as well. Billed as a film star and activist by the magazine, the Bollywood actor and host of the television show 'Satyamev Jayate' has been profiled by world celebrated music composer A.R Rahman.

Read more »

Happy 50th Birthday Garry Kasparov!

Chess Magazine Black & White staff, readers and fans wish 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov a fantastic 50th birthday on April 13. Birthday wishes are pouring in on his FB page and flooding the Internet. We hope to bring you a summary soon. Meanwhile, you can take part in this Garry Kasparov trivia quiz featured on his official Facebook page!

Kasparov Facebook Page contest reads as follows: Quick Kasparov birthday question #1: What game position do you think will be on his chess birthday cake? Try to guess the game and move number! The answer will be revealed with a photo of his cake at his New York City birthday party on April 19. We'll give a shout-out to anyone who gets it right! (And don't worry, his cake has the white square on the right.) -editor

This very nice chess graphic on Garry Kasparov is up at www.chessbase.com with a beautiful article. Also read 'Kasparov as an open project' by Russian journalist Igor Yakovenko.

Read more »

'Reviving the Spirit of Innovation' Lecture at Oxford by Garry Kasparov Today

Speaker: Garry Kasparov, world chess champion, writer and political activist
Summary: The world we live in now is very different from the one that was imagined 50 years ago. Past decades foresaw a future of flying cars and supersonic jets, but commercial air travel is slower in 2013 than it was in 1976. For years we were assured that we would have abundant clean and cheap energy; instead we have record fossil fuel prices, oil spills, and nuclear meltdowns. From poverty rates to superbugs, one thing is certain: this is not the future we were promised.

How did we get so far off course from the era of radical tech innovation and ambitious exploration? Why did our culture retreat toward risk-aversion and security? And how can we revive the spirit of innovation, and help bring about its promise of positive transformational change and far-reaching societal benefits? 

Read more »

Kasparov's Computer Programme for Kids Launched in Georgia Schools

A pilot computer program on chess games designed by Garry Kasparov was launched on Monday in Georgia to assist the country's youth to learn about the game. It was announced on Monday by Georgia's deputy minister in charge of sports and youth affairs.

Zurab Azmaiparashvili told the local press that the Kasparov chess program is to be used in schools in such Georgian towns as Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi and Poti which have been producing some of the world's most famous chess players.

Read more »

Kasparov Chess Exhibition, Lecture in Macau Today

Mr João Riquito poses beside the chess table conceived by Konstantin Bessmertny

Considered the “greatest chess master of all time”, Garry Kasparov is coming to Macau play a match against Xiong Junyang, a female Chinese chess master and two-time winner of the Chinese National Chess Championship in the junior category who resides in Macau.
The match is being organized by the “Riquito Advogados” solicitors’ office and is scheduled for December 2, at 2:30 pm in the STDM Auditorium, at the University Library of the University of Macau. The event is part of a series of activities as Mr João Riquito, who himself is a passionate chess player, believes “there are more interesting things to do than to deal with the law.” 

Thus the former World Chess Champion will not only come to play but also deliver a seminar on “The theory of decisions” the day before, on December 1st. This talk will take place at 11 am at the lawyers’ office; however, is only for members of the office and “a few selected guests.” 

Read more »

Carlsen beats McShane, cracks all time high rating

World number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway cracked all-time high ratings, defeating Luke McShane of England in the first round of the London Chess Classic at the Olympia here.

The rating for Carlsen stood at 2851.2 points in the unofficial live rating portals which means that the Norwegian has cracked the all-time high rating record of 2851 held by former world champion and his former trainer Gary Kasparov of Russia.

On what turned out to be a perfect opener, all the four games in the nine-players round robin tournament ended decisively and the biggest upset was recorded by Hikaru Nakamura of United States who defeated World number two Levon Aronian with black pieces.

With Nakamura calling the shots, Vladimir Kramnik turned out to be another winner of the day at the expense of world's top woman player Judit Polgar of Hungary. The all-decisive-games record was kept intact by a late-benefitting Michael Adams of England against compatriot Gawain Jones. World champion Vishwanathan Anand had a rest day in the opener as he drew number one in the official drawing of lots.

Read more »

Give Garry Kasparov Your Best Answer for His Lecture in S. Africa @ The Discovery Invest Leadership Summit

Legendary world chess champion Garry Kasparov will be speaking at The Discovery Invest Leadership Summit event on August 30. The Discovery Invest Leadership Summit showcases brilliant minds, giving the South African business community access to leading-edge leadership thinking."

Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Gauteng, South Africa
Bookings: Telephone +27 (0)86 100-0749

Your comment could be part of Garry Kasparov's speech at the event! On his Facebook page, Kasparov has sought comments: "Speaking here on the 30th. Glad I am able to travel! A question for you: Would you rather work at an established company whose business will be obsolete in 20 years, or in a startup whose business might change the world 20 years (but that might fail)? Be honest! I'll share the best answers with my audience in South Africa." 

Go on, post your answers there.

Read more »

Breaking: GARRY KASPAROV ARRESTED IN MOSCOW FOR NOTHING

 

From the official Garry Kasparov Facebook Page : Garry Kasparov has just been arrested outside the Moscow courthouse where the Pussy Riot trial is taking place. He was not there to protest, simply to attend, and the police cornered him and dragged him into the police van. This photo shows the police assaulting him inside the van. We hope he is all right and we will provide updates when we have them. (Photo by Olaf Koens).

FB Update (An hour ago): We just spoke to Garry on the phone. He is at the police station. He was beaten but says he is okay. He isn't sure what will happen next. It seems the police are waiting for orders from above. He says he was standing calmly speaking with journalists when police pushed through and grabbed him. Also Read: Kasparov.ru

Read more »

Chess legend Kasparov to play Croatian President in Split

Russian chess grandmaster and former world chess champion Garry Kasparov will challenge Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, the Mayor of Split Zeljko Kerum and Croatian popstar Severina, in an exhibition game of chess in the city of Split on July 21, reports daly newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija. The project titled 'Chess together with School' is aimed at getting kids into the game of chess. One of the organisers of the social - sport event is photographer Fedja Klaric, and he says that the game of chess is great for the brain and helps with kids development.

"The manifesto 'Chess together with School' is aimed at motivating kids to play the game of chess. According to the latest research, playing chess actively uses both sides of the brain, unlike most other activities, contributing to a child's maximum development. Kasparov is a great promoter of the idea," said Klaric.

Read more »