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.

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South Asian Amateur Chess (u2000) in Kathmandu Feb 1-6

The latest chess news via FIDE is that the South Asian Amateur Chess Championship 2014 will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal from February 1-6.

(FIDE Rating under 2000)

2014 Feb. 1-6, Kathmandu.
Venue:Covered Hall, National Sports Council, Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Tournament Rules
* System of Play: As per FIDE Laws of chess & Swiss System 9 rounds game will be played. Swiss Manager Software will be use for pairings.
* Time Control: 90 min. + 30 sec. /per move from move 1.
* Tie- break: The latest FIDE Rules shall apply. The cash prizes won't be share.
* Special Rule: The tournament is only for players under FIDE rating 2000 or without rating. Feb. 2014 FRL will be used for the ranking list.
* Players with FIDE titles except CM are not allowed to participate in this event.

For more details download the brochure from the FIDE website.

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Meet World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen in conversation with Peter Thiel

Open Forum: Meet the “Mozart of Chess”: World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, in conversation with Peter Thiel

Yes, it's going to be the World Chess Champion visiting Silicon Valley!

 

 

Event Date:
Thursday, January 16, 2014 Speakers:
Magnus Carlsen, World Chess Champion

Moderator:
Peter Thiel, Technology entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist; President, Clarium Capital

Magnus Carlsen took the world by storm as a child prodigy, becoming an international Grand Master at 13. At 19, he was the youngest chess player to be ranked number one in the world, and at 22, in November 2013, he defeated five-time former world champion Viswanathan Anand. Now, at age 23, Magnus holds a record rating of 2872.

Don’t miss this chance of a lifetime to meet and be inspired by Magnus. He will be interviewed by entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel, former US-rated Chess Master with a lifelong passion for chess. Topics covered will include Magnus’ views on the game, his experience winning the championship, and the role he believes chess can play in advancing young people’s critical thinking, social skills, and ability to achieve academically.

Prior to the onstage program, Magnus will play—blindfolded—in a six-board simultaneous chess demonstration. Participate in a drawing benefiting First Move, a dynamic non-profit organization that brings chess to second and third graders across the country—and possibly become one of the six brave players if you dare!

ATTENTION CORPORATE MEMBERS!Corporate passes will be accepted for this event. We ask that if you register using corporate passes, please do so 72 business hours in advance. We thank you for your cooperation!

- Registration: 5:00 PM

- Buffet: 6:15 PM 
- Program: 7:15 PM

Sponsored by Silicon Valley Bank (Gold Sponsor), Innovation Norway (Silver Sponsor)

Location:
Computer History Museum, Mountain View
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd
Mountain View, CA 94043

Number of Individual Tickets to Purchase
(On Site tickets are $60.00 / $75.00)
$40.00 / $55.00
*Membership price discounts will be applied based upon membership status of registrants.

For purchasing tickets and more details visit the website of Churchill Club.

* The Churchill Club
Igniting Conversations to Encourage Innovation and Economic GrowthThis is our focus: to cultivate a one-stop-shop of world-class people—people like yourself—that ignites the kinds of conversations that lead to new ideas, enlivened dreams and personal motivation. A tall order, for sure, but one we’ve been successful at for 25 years.

Over the past two-and-a-half decades, the Churchill Club has hosted industry and government leaders and luminaries such as Marc Andreessen, Steve Ballmer, Craig Barrett, Ursula Burns, John Chambers, Jim Clark, Bill Clinton, Larry Ellison, Bill Gates, Andy Grove, William Hewlett, Arianna Huffington, Bill Joy, Dean Kamen, John McCain, Scott McNealy, Lew Platt, Eric Schmidt, and many more.

It’s an impressive list, but it would be no more than a roster if we weren’t committed to the idea of an independent forum that facilitates the open and timely exchange of ideas, opinions and viewpoints among business leaders and innovators. At the Churchill Club, collaborators and competitors meet on stage to share and discuss their newest thinking. They commit to have unscripted conversations that go beyond the hype. Attendees have the opportunity to ask questions directly of speakers, uncensored by the moderator.

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