Caught on video: Kasparov in New York and Denmark

When you log onto the Playchess server you will see a window with a number of playing zones. Click "Chess Media System" to open this section and then "English" to go to the English language videos. Once you are in the English Media room click on the "Games" tab to see the list of files which are available for viewing.

You can see that there are ten short clips from the Danish press conference and one long (47 minute) video on Kasparov's New York match against X3D Fritz. If you double-click that the media stream will start:

This video was recorded on a Sony notebook with a webcam, after the end of the match in New York. Note that Kasparov is moving the pieces while he is talking. A unique experience, to get direct visual commentary in this way from the strongest chess player on the planet.

The Danish videos from the press conference were supplied by Lars Kirstein Andersen. They are also very interesting and definitely worth watching. Lars also sent us the following interesting report.

Garry Kasparov's visit to Denmark

With great anticipation the Danish chess society looked forward to the visit of maybe the greatest chess player of all times, Garry Kasparov. It was only the third time Kasparov was in Denmark and the first time he would give a simul to 25 lucky players. The visit was part of the 100 year anniversary of the Danish Chess Federation and was arranged in co-operation with the company BR Legetøj, who is the official distributor of the Saitek chess computer.

The event took place on the main square of the big shopping centre – Lyngby Storcenter. Over a thousand people watched the simul, and many TV stations and newspapers covered the event live. This was one of the biggest promotions for chess in Denmark – ever. Fifteen players were nominated by the Danish Chess Federation and ten was found at random from a group of hopefuls who had submitted their wish to participate. I was one of the nominated players, mainly due to the fact that I'm a vice president of the Danish audio/video company Bang & Olufsen, but also because I'm an active chess player at club level and in correspondence chess. I also am the web master for both our local Lyngby-Virum Chess Club and the Danish Correspondence Chess. In these capacities I was also admitted to the closed press conference and recorded the whole event on digital video.

Meeting Garry Kasparov in person is a very profound experience. He is very well spoken in English, and both sharp and witty in his answers to the various questions from the press. Facing him as an opponent – even in a simul – is an experience for a lifetime. I was so exited about meeting "the master" that I could hardly sleep the night before. So a bit tired and with some nerves I sat down to face Kasparov himself.

Lars Kirstein Andersen vs Garry Kasparov

Of course nobody of us expected to win, but I had three goals before the match: 1. I would last more the 20 moves; 2. I hoped not to make a stupid blunder; and 3. I hoped not to be the first to resign. But I also promised myself, that I would resign as soon as I could see that we had reached the point of no return. Here is my game:

Kasparov,G (2830) – Andersen,L (1702) [A45] Simultan Lyngby Storcenter, Denmark, 12.12.2003: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 Be7 4.Nd2 d6 5.Ngf3 c5 6.dxc5 dxc5 7.e5 Nd5 8.Bxe7 Nxe7 9.Ne4 0-0 10.Qxd8 Rxd8 11.Nxc5 b6 12.Nd3 Bb7 13.Be2 Nbc6 14.0-0-0 Ng6 15.Rhe1 Rd7 16.h4 Rad8 17.h5 Nf8 18.Nf4 h6 19.c3 a6 20.Bd3 b5 21.Be4 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 23.Kxd1 Nd8 24.Bxb7 Nxb7 25.Nd3 Nd7 26.Nd4 Kf8 27.f4 Ke7 28.Ke2 f6 29.Nc6+ Kf7 30.Ke3 Nb6 31.Kd4 Nd5 32.b3 Ke8 33.c4 1-0.

The adversaries after the game

When I resigned at move 33 I was down only a pawn, but with a lost game. I think I should have played a bit better, but with limited time to think and the pressure of the whole event I'm not that unhappy with the game. Getting Kasparov's signature on our mutual scoresheet is of course a trophy for life.

Reception at the Lyngby-Virum Chess Club

The simul ended 25-0 after app. 2 hours of play. After the simul Garry agreed to sign chess books and various chess articles for 20 minutes. There after he left the shopping centre and visited our local chess club for a brief closed reception. I don't think any other local Danish chess club can say that Garry Kasparov came by for a visit. We are very proud of this, and hope that this visit and the huge press coverage of the whole event will help to attract more chess enthusiasts to the game of chess and to chess clubs in Denmark.

The obligatory book signing