Author: Amir Ban
Date: 07:52:12 01/10/00
Go up one level in this thread
On January 09, 2000 at 22:21:25, Dave Gomboc wrote: >You can read the letter at http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/feng.html > >Your comments? > >Dave Shay and I called Kasparov and asked him about it, and here's what he has to say (not an exact quote): There was one short letter from Hsu, which was answered by an even shorter letter, and that was the entire discussion. He felt that the question/proposition was not serious from the business point of view. The answer Hsu got was: Kasparov will play ANY computer, under suitable terms, provided the computer is a known entity that has a record against other opponents. He remembers that the conversation with Hsu ended after he received this answer. Kasparov told us that he reconfirms this commitment, and cited his agreement to play Deep Junior in the coming online tournament. Kasparov told us he will not agree to play against a mystery box as Deep Blue was before their match, and that the machine should have some public record before it plays him. Kasaprov also knew that Hsu has been talking to Microsoft about this. So far from Kasaprov. We tried to reach Owen Williams to clarify some more things, but couldn't reach him. There's some apparent contradiction in the number of messages passed and their content, which maybe Owen could clarify, but I don't think it's very important, because obviously both sides are telling the same story, but from their own point of view. Hsu bought permission from IBM to build his own version of Deep Blue. He needed to build a new chip, to develop new hardware and software, and get a new project going on. He needed funding for this project, and he could get it only if Kasparov gave prior commitment to play it. Kasparov, by his version, basically told him to come back when he has a working machine and a record to prove it. With this answer, Hsu could not make progress, and so folded his tent. I'm guessing that Hsu, a tech person, viewed the fact that he didn't have IBM with him, no funding, no project and no machine as temporary technicalities, and didn't see these as obstacles to planning a match. Kasparov probably saw it differently. IMO, if Kasparov indeed answered with "come back when you have a machine", that's a reasonable reply that does not break his former commitment. However Hsu didn't need Kasparov so much to play a match as he needed him to make the entire project possible. Amir
This page took 0.01 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.