Author: Graham Laight
Date: 14:44:13 02/06/03
This is it. 22 hours from now, the most important computer chess game since DB v GK '97 begins. In the Fritz v Kramnik match, it ended with a wimper, with easy drawing agreements. Thankfully, this has not happened this time. Apart from game 4, all the games have been very exciting. Tonight, the DJ team will have a decision to make: how will they set up their champion to play tomorrow? Actually, there is no decision to make. They have one sensible choice, and one only. They HAVE to go for it. Death or glory! Here are some compelling reasons: * Amir won't want to walk away with an inferior score to DB - it's a matter of pride * the team will want this match to last longer in the memory than rival Fritz's match with Kramnik will. They will do this by generating excitement (I nearly jumped out of my seat with surprise and disbelief when I saw 10...Bxh2) * if their champion becomes more passive in its play, they will invite GK to take his time building an irresistable attack * why agree a draw after 20-30 moves (as Fritz did with Kramnik more than once)? In all honesty, what have they got to lose? History and posterity would be far better saying, "They went down in flames to a narrow defeat, fighting like Trojans to the last" than "they agreed the draw because they were frightened to do worse than Fritz" * after only playing 19 moves yesterday, GK cannot claim fatigue. There is no earthly reason to agree a draw tomorrow unless the position is conspicuously devoid of life * there aint no other way DJ can play anyway. They can't turn Napoleon (the great attacker) into the Duke of Wellington (the great defender) overnight! So Shay and Amir - please don't disappoint us - give us the grandstand finish that this match now seems to be promising! -g
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