The previous record, as far as we know, is 321 games played by IM Andrew Martin
(of ChessBase
DVD fame) on February 21, 2004 at the Wellington College Crowthorne. Earlier
records were 310 games played in 1996 by Swedish GM Ulf Andersson (result:
+268 =40 –2, achieved in 15 hours 23 minutes).
A simultaneous exhibition given by Samuel Rosenthal in Paris in 1867
As an aside we need to mention that according to the latest Guinness Book
Anna-Maria Botsari, WGM from Greece broke a record entitled "Most opponents
in consecutive chess games", which we assume means she played against far fewer
opponents, who were replaced by new ones when their games were over. Botsari
managed 1,102 "consecutive games", breaking the previous record held by the
Chinese player Ye, who had managed 1004. We have no details on the mechanics
of these marathons.
In 1977 GM Vlastimil Hort, after unluckily losing a Candidates' match, played
a marathon simultaneous exhibition in Reykjavik, Iceland. Vlastimil took on
200 opponents, who were replaced as soon as a game ended, and played 550 games
in a 24-hour session. His score: +477, =63, –10.
A 92-board simultaneous exhibition given by the entire Baden-Oos team (with
Anand, Svidler, Dautov and Almira Skripchenko) in Baden-Baden, 2003
In a genuine simultaneous record attempt all players have to be present at
the same time, and the master must play all games simultaneously, not sequentially.
When a game is over the opponent is not replaced. To qualify for the Guinness
world record the simultaneous master has to win at least 80% of the games.
Prepared: Susan Polgar at the Gardens Mall site in Florida
Susan Polgar's record attempt will be launched at the Gardens Mall in Palm
Beach Gardens, Florida. It will start on Monday, August 1st at 10 a.m. in the
morning. Her opponents are chess enthusiasts from all over Florida. Supporting
Organizations are the Susan Polgar Foundation, the Gardens Mall, Channing Corporation,
Northern Palm Beaches Chamber of Commerce, Boca Raton Chess Club, Palm Beach
County Sports Institute. The purpose of this event is to raise money for the
Susan Polgar Foundation to promote chess, with all its social, educational
and competitive benefits throughout the United States, for young people of
all ages, especially girls.
How hard is it?
This is how the mechanics of the record attempt work: 350 "chess stations"
will be set up in the Gardens Mall, each consisting of a table and chair, a
chess board and pieces. Each player is assigned to a station. Susan walks along
the rows of tables. At each station she will observe her opponent move. Then
she will respond with her move. Then she walks to the next station and repeats
the process.
Preparations under way to launch the simultaneous chess record
According to our calculations, if the stations are about a yard apart, and
if the games last an average of 30 moves, then Susan will have to traverse
the 350 yards 30 times, making for about 10,000 yards or close to six miles
(ten kilometers).
Boards and sets being put into place
She would make a total of 10,000 moves, and if she wants to complete the task
within a 24-hour period she will have approximately eight seconds to walk to
a board, ponder and execute a move. We assume that in the opening she will
play much faster, probably hardly breaking her stride.
Down these "chess alleys" she must go
It is an extremely daunting task, and the success of the endeavour is far
from guaranteed. We can only cross our fingers and hope Susan has the stamina
and determination to see it through.
The team of helpers and enthusiasts who are making this record possible
Meeting the children, telling them about chess in the Gardens Mall
The press takes a keen interest in these unusual chess activities
Susan being interviewed by John Shainman, ABC Palm Beach anchor
Susan with her two sons Leeam and Tommy
