Author: Graham Laight
Date: 03:27:14 07/15/00
Greetings. From an audience perspective, Junior's game against Anand yesterday seemed to be over before it had properly got going. While I personally felt somewhat let down and "cheated" by this outcome, upon learning that the 0.5 points were what you required to gain a GM norm from the tournament, I feel able to understand, and to just about forgive, my being deprived of the full enjoyment of the game. However, in the UK, Gary Kasparov is supporting a campaign to have chess recognised as a "sport", which would result in both massive extra funding for the game, and for numerous other benefits and prestige. In most sports, the players continue to play until the final whistle - they don't agree a draw. Would the classic Ali V Frazier boxing matches have been given the same attention, if the spectators had had the experience of either of them agreeing a draw after 2 rounds in the past? Would the soccer world cup finals get their multi-billion viewing figures if soccer teams were in the habit of agreeing a draw after 10 minutes of play, and possibly sharing the world cup? For a "sport" to maintain the interest level, there must be seen to be a good competition! You must be aware that, on the clubkasparov web site, your games are getting huge viewing figures. It is readily understandable that you wish to come away from the tournament either level with, or slightly ahead of, your human GM competitors. I also understand how easily you could lose that half point. I'm sure you remember as well as I do how Deeper Blue refused a draw offer, then subsequently went on to lose, in one of the games in the 1996 exhibition match against Gary Kasparov. In view of your large viewing figures, however, I implore you to think about the greater good - and to do everything you can to provide a complete, and hopefully exciting, game for the thousands of us who are following the game via the viewer on the clubkasparov site. This means that you should resist the temptation to grab an easy half point by offering, or accepting, a draw when the position is not demonstrably drawn yet. Please do the right thing for the greater good of the "sport" of chess, and play on until the viewing public can clearly see where the game is going. In short - you've got an enthusiastic audience - put on a show for us! I hope you understand what I'm trying to say, and view my arguments favourably. Yours Truly, Graham Laight
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