Author: Eugene Nalimov
Date: 19:08:50 01/13/00
Go up one level in this thread
So it looks that Hsu and Kasparov's team disagree on exactly one issue: "is Hsu DB or not". If Hsu is not DB, then most of the letter makes sense. However, if Hsu *is* DB, than Kasparov just takes back his challenge. Hypotetical situation: Amir Ban decided that he doesn't want to distribute the Junior throug Chessbase, and went to the other distributor. After that Kasparov refuses to play Deep Junior in the previously agreed (at least in principle) match, saying that he wants to play with "Chessbase Junior", not just "Junior". Eugene On January 13, 2000 at 20:20:48, Frederic Friedel wrote: >We received the following reaction to the open letter published by F.H. Hsu. It >is by Garry Kasparov’s manager Owen Williams. Garry himself is on a flight to >Holland, on his way to the GM tournament in Wijk aan Zee. The letter is also on >Mark Crowther's site, or will be there soon. > >Feng Hsiung Hsu's open letter is extraordinarily misleading and he demonstrates >a troubling ability to ignore certain responses and to take items out of context >or make them up and put them in his letter as facts. In his Open Letter he says: > >"...Owen never said a straight yes or no to my question of whether Kasparov was >interested in a match. " > >If you read the next paragraph, you will see his inability to read plain >English. On Nov. 30th, I had responded as follows: > >"With regard to a match against a computer, Garry would be happy to consider a >Challenge under the right circumstances with the rules carefully laid out." > >I went on to explain to Mr. Hsu that for Garry to consider a match, the >prizemoney would have to be substantial, that putting his World Title on the >line with an untried and untested opponent did not make any sense at all and >suggested politely but firmly that Mr. Hsu would have to get his program up and >running on his own or with a backer and then play many games including other >computer programs and to establish himself as THE CONTENDER. > >Obviously, Mr. Hsu did not like my answers very much, became belligerent and >made threats and even grandly imposed deadlines. > >On Dec. 3rd, amongst other things, I repeated to him: > >"Your tone is quite hostile and with angry people, I like to keep my responses >simple. Garry remains ready, willing and able to play a serious match against a >computer - under the right conditions." > >So persistent did Mr. Hsu become that on Dec. 21s I wrote to him: > >"He (Kasparov) will not be associated with an open letter like this. It is not >the way he does business and it would run counter to discussions he is having >with others." > >The next day Mr. Hsu sent a draft letter intended to go out openly soliciting >sponsors on his and Garry's behalf! > >On Dec. 23rd, I replied as follows: > > "I think that maybe I am not expressing myself very clearly. Mr. Kasparov does >not authorize you to say anything at all. I hope this is very clear." > >Incredibly, Mr. Hsu wrote once again, wanting Garry's authorization for another >letter. > >My last e-mail (in exasperation) was: > >"You continue making statements which are your words and not Garry's. Please >read what I have sent you very carefully." > >Effectively, Mr. Hsu had many strikes against him: > >* He behaved as if he was Deep Blue and we know he is not. > >* All he had was a computer chip with no organization or sponsor behind him. > >* Garry made it very clear that he was not going to give him time just to go on >a "fishing trip" for a year or two to try and attract sponsors or money. > >* His entire presentation was speculative and without substance. > >* He began almost immediately to make threats and he seemed to think, like many >before him, that all he had to do to get Garry to do his bidding, was to >threaten "exposure." > >* To summarize, he had no sponsor, no money, no entity and was entirely lacking >in any seriousness or credibility from a business point of view. > >Ironically, Mr. Hsu waited until two and a half years after the match to set up >a flurry of e-mails which almost from the beginning were threatening in nature. >On reflection, I firmly believe that he knew his offer had no credibility and he >was looking for a little publicity and some notoriety. > >For any of you who still think Mr. Hsu was above-board, just put yourself in his >position. Would you not have called up and said, "Hsu here. Let's put our >heads together and see if we can make this thing work." > >That's not a good idea if all you want out of this is to have a go at THE WORLD >CHAMPION! > >Owen Williams > >S.M.S.I. Inc., Palm Beach, FL.
This page took 0.02 seconds to execute
Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700
Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.