The masked men in the picture are Garry Kasparov and Thilo von Selchow. Actually they are wearing special protective suits in a "clean room" of the chip factory. That was in June 2001, when Kasparov first visited ZMD and eastern Germany. We reported on that visit in a multimedia report in ChessBase Magazine 83 extra.
Kasparov's first visit was so successful that Kasparov's host, the east German chip manufacturer "Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden" (ZMD) decided to do a repeat in their home town of Dresden. In August 2001 CEO von Selchow invited the charismatic ex world champion to celebrate the 40th birthday of his company. In the beautiful Pillnitz castle, which took 100 years to complete (starting from 1720), Kasparov first gave a simultaneous exhibition. And in July this year ZMD sponsored the traditional Dresden Open, which has been aptly renamed the "ZMD Open".
Schloss Pillnitz – Pillnitz Castle
Simultaneous exhibition in the castle
These are the boards with the German women's champions under 12, 10, 14 and
16
Kasparov with Thilo von Selchow
At breakfast the next morning
The Dresden opera – giving away drinks on the hottest day of the year
Visiting the famous "Zwinger" art gallery
Some of the most beautiful paintings in the world
The Elbe river, which flows through Dresden
The famous sandstone cliffs ("Sandsteingebirge")
