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Subject: Re: Open Letter by Hsu: Kasparov does not want a rematch

Author: Enrique Irazoqui

Date: 12:08:35 01/10/00

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On January 10, 2000 at 14:53:58, Albert Silver wrote:

>On January 10, 2000 at 10:52:12, Amir Ban wrote:
>
>>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
>
>Sounds a little oily on Kasparov's part. A rematch means another match against a
>same opponent, so all this talk of having a public record prior to accepting to
>play it sounds a little weak. If anyone knows anything about it, he does. He
>played the thing, so how mysterious can it be? Furthermore, all the talks given
>by Hsu and others involved, plus the paper detailing the design in IEEE Micro,
>certainly don't make it a "mystery box". Sure, it would undoubtedly undergo some
>changes in speed and tuning, but he knows what Hsu would be working from.
>Besides, he challenged DB and not "any program with an established public
>record", so I just don't buy it.

Well... I think I do. To you and to me, DB means Hsu and his team. To the
immense majority, DB=IBM. Then, this new DB would be your "mystery box" for
most, maybe also for Kasparov. As I understand it, match and rematch were
Kasparov against DB-IBM. Once IBM quits, it's an entirely different opponent in
the eyes of most. Therefore, it must qualify, etc.

Enrique

>                                       Albert Silver
>>
>>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



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