Man vs. Machine: Round Two – Revenge of the Humans.
Einstein Group the broadcaster and multi media group that owns the international
television channel, Einstein TV and media rights in the Classical World Chess
Championship today announces it has completed the final agreement with The General
Organisation for Youth and Sport (GOYS) in Bahrain for the Brains in Bahrain
competition between Classical World Chess Champion, Vladimir Kramnik, and the
world's top-rated computer chess program, Deep Fritz.
An Opening Ceremony on October 2nd will inaugurate the eight-game match, with
the games themselves to be played at the Bahrain Mind Sports Centre between
October 4th and October 19th. The event will culminate in a Closing Ceremony
and Prize Giving on October 20th. Deep Fritz, designed by ChessBase of Hamburg,
Germany, will be using an eight-processor machine and is considered by many
chess experts to be the strongest computer chess program ever written.
World Champion Vladimir Kramnik commented that:
"The human brain has the power to take on the computer. In this match,
I will be fighting against the best chess-playing program on a brutally fast
machine. This match will be a fight against the computer, the most significant
technical development in history. It is also a battle between human creativity
and monstrous calculating power. Deep Blue did not impress me that much. The
fact that even a weaker program managed to beat Garry Kasparov tells us that
the match in Bahrain will be a hard challenge for me."
Frederic Friedel, one of the founders of ChessBase, the developers of Deep
Fritz agrees that Brains in Bahrain is a big opportunity:
"We are basically taking over where Deep Blue left off. We have the
unique opportunity to test the power of the world's most advanced chess software
running on a very powerful computer against the reigning World Champion. That
is what every chess programmer dreams of."
When Garry Kasparov played IBM's Deep Blue in 1997, the match generated huge
interest with millions of hits on the official web site as the tournament developed.
Today, Einstein brings the opportunity for worldwide television coverage as
well as internet coverage on the official Brains in Bahrain website (www.brainsinbahrain.com).
Steve Timmins, Einstein Group's Chief Executive Officer, believes that this
is a truly 21st century media event:
"The development of digital TV channels means that this kind of top level
event can be seen around the world in a way not previously possible. We are
delighted to be involved in the Brains in Bahrain event and would like to thank
the Emir of Bahrain for his sponsorship of such a great match."
For further information please contact:
Louise Cottrell – Einstein Group Commercial Director
Tel: +44 (0) 7870 648095
Email: louise.cottrell@einstein.tv
Steve Timmins – Einstein Group Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 7968 947477
Email: steve.timmins@einstein.tv
Web: www.einstein-group.tv
Einstein Group plc, founded in 1999, is an international multi media group
with offices in London, Berlin, and Bristol. The Group floated on the Alternative
Investment Market (AIM) in March 2000.
Einstein Group comprises the following companies:
- Einstein TV Ltd - this company represents the Group's international TV channel
and web brand, Einstein TV, which is dedicated to science and technology.
It is a platform for the Group to develop transactional and interactive services
alongside broad based education and entertainment activities; Intellectual
Leisure Ltd holds a five year contract with the Classical World Chess Champion,
Vladimir Kramnik and will be organising key chess tournaments and competitions
including the 'Brains in Bahrain' tournament this October, when Kramnik will
play the World's most powerful computer. In addition, Einstein TV will be
providing innovative and exciting programming relating to chess worldwide
- Einstein Entertainment, the TV programme production division of the Group,
develops and produces a wide range of factual and entertainment based programmes
which are commissioned by broadcasters in the UK and overseas
- Einstein Consulting Ltd is the consultancy division which specialises in
providing project management and media and broadcasting consultancy services
to leading media companies worldwide.
