Author: Mike Byrne
Date: 15:58:39 07/30/03
This is about 2 weeks old ...not computer chess but chess nonetheless ....Kasparov actually comes off looking classy in an obviously awkward situation. Hope that trend continues. " The Kasparov Simul in Chicago at the CBOE last night Last evening Garry Kasparov came to the CBOE sponsered by Belzberg Technologies and after an entertaining speech after the opening cocktail party, the charming Kasparov put on a simul vs 24 players. The CBOE is the stock option exchange in Chicago where I trade and help manage a trading firm. When I signed up for the event it was requested that I sign an affidavit stating that I had never been rated over 2000. However, the last rating I recall for me was 2084 and I signed up anyhow while making that very clear to them. I didn't really expect to be allowed to play, but my friends at Belzberg here in Chicago (my firm is a client) managed to arrange it so I could, noting the Sid Belzberg is rated about 2050 and was playing. After a while it was time for us players to make there way thru the crowded large room and register. I stated that I couldn't sign the affidavit since I was rated over 2000 and the Belzberg staff said, "no problem, Mr Kazaross, we have your rating written down by your name" (which I noted on the list of players) I was handed a big sheet of paper with my name clearly written on it and asked to pick a seat which I choose next to another backgammon expert who's recently retired from trading. Each player and many guests were given copies of Kasparov's book concerning his online game vs the world. (This book is really good and very entertaining !) Anyhow, the games soon began and Garry greated the players and choose e4 as his first move on most of the boards, including mine. As I had studied I played d5 playing into my recent pet known the Scandanavian Defence. Off course after making the rounds captured with exd5 and looked slightly surprised when I played Nf6 rather than recapturing with the Queen like most beginners do. He then played Nf3 and I captured Nxd5 and he followed up with d4 and then had a slightly concerned expression on his face when I played g6 to fianchetto and basically end up in the main line after he follwed with c4 and I retreated Nb6. Next from Garry came 6 Nc3 and I played Bg7 (not wanting to play a line with an early Bg4. 7 h3 prevented any bishop development at g4 but uses a tempo and simply went into another line I was confortable with and I castled O-O. 8 Be3 was followed by Nc6 and 9 Qd2 was followed by my counterattack of e5. He then played d5 and when he returned as I was reaching for my knight to play the messy complicated Na5 line he rather nervously asked me if I had a rating. I replied 2084 and he, not looking very happy, asked why I didn't write it down in front of the board next to my name. I replied that no one asked me too and that the Belzberg people knew my rating and only today OK my playing since I am a client. He then stated that if he had known I was rated that highly he would have played differently rather than getting into a very theoretical line. Being aware of the 2000 cutoff I again appologized for the misunderstanding and we quickly realized that the Belzberg staff had erred in not telling people to write down their ratings (these were different people than from the NYC event). I simply stated "I'm sorry for the confusion, I won't play " and started to get up and Garry, reiterating that he'd have played differently vs a rated expert, started resetting the pieces to the starting position and said we can restart. Being rather shocked by this and what was over a minute of commotion and confusion I knew the gentlemanly thing for me to do was to step away and let someone else under 2000 play. (Also I didn't want to give up a nice complicated and seemingly balanced double-edge position !) As I stepped away Kasparov's aid, a very nice gentleman approached me along with Alicia Belzberg and we discussed what had happened and I said that I take no offence and they appologized for their errors in not disclosing my rating to Kasparov. I requested that I get to spend some time talking about chess with Kasparov after the event and they agreed. By about 2 hours later Kasparov had finished off everyone else including the 1950 player who replaced me and sat down to dinner. His aid came to get me and seated me next to him, bypassing a long line of players wanting autographs. I asked for some chess advice and we discussed our final position a little bit and I was photographed with him and shaking hands a couple of times. Garry realized that it was not my intention to "smurf" him and that it was all a missunderstading caused by inexperienced staff. (Anyhow..how can I smurf a player over 2800 even if he is playing 23 other people ?!?) The autograph in my book reads...To Neil Kazaross..never be shy of your chess strength. See you next time. G Kasparov (and dated) Chicago 07/17/03 I arose and quickly went to the bar for my 5th drink with an ear to ear smile. Earlier I had met Sidney Belzberg who dropped a couple pawns and resigned in the middle game as he had no real play, and GM Dmitry Gurevich, who has lived in Chicago for quite a while. We were looking at an advance copy of Kasparov's new book about his predecessors who were world champions and it, indeed, is superbly written and analysed along with much new analysis. So..I certainly had one of the most interesting evenings of my life and things were just as good this morning at work ! "
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