Press release
World Première of the Internet Presentation System Foidos
Chess Giants in Enschede
ENSCHEDE
– On April 2nd a remarkable chess event will be played in Enschede (Netherlands).
Vladimir Kramnik, World Chess Champion from 2000-2007, will face two young and
talented Grandmasters: Marie Sebag (21) from France and the 24-year-old Dutchman
Jan Werle in a simultaneous exhibition.
The event has a special dimension, as it will be taped with six video cameras.
The recordings will be used to prepare the World Première of the
Foidos Internet Presentation System. With Foidos, the Internet user will
be able to watch live all aspects of a chess game. Not just the moves, but close-ups
of the player’s faces, comments by a Grandmaster and integrated computer
analysis of the position are transmitted with this revolutionary software.
The match will be played in the new offices of DGT (Digital Game Technology),
Hengelosestraat 66 in Enschede (within walking distance of the central railway
station) and starts at 14.00.
The arbiter will be experienced Dutchman Geurt Gijssen, previously chief arbiter
of several World Championship matches. The top American GM Yasser Seirawan will
be the commentator for this clock simul.
DGT is the world’s leading designer and producer of
digital chess clocks and electronic chess boards. All top level chess events
use DGT chess equipment.
Vladimir Kramnik (32) is a Russian chess player, living in
Paris. Kramnik is the 14th World Chess Champion, a title he won in 2000 by beating
Garry Kasparov. He lost his title in September 2007 to the Indian GM Viswanathan
Anand. In October 2008, Anand and Kramnik will battle in a match for the World
Championship in Bonn, Germany. During this match Foidos will be used to broadcast
the games over the Internet. Kramnik shares the number one position in the world
rankings with Anand. Both have 2799 Elo points.
Marie Sebag (21) owns the WGM (women grandmaster) and IM (international
master) title. She is one of the most talented female chess players and recently
entered the Women’s top 10 with a rating of 2510 points. Marie lives in
Paris and has played in the Netherlands before. She scored her second GM norm
in Vlissingen last year and participated in the Young Masters event in Hengelo
several times.
Jan Werle (24) lives in Groningen. Alongside Kramnik, he was
member of team that won the Dutch team championship last year. Jan has a rating
of 2570, which puts him in eighth position in the Dutch ranking. He became an
IM (international master) in 2001 at the age of 17 and Grandmaster in 2006.
Foidos is revolutionary internet chess presentation system,
developed by DGT and several partners. It presents all aspects of a chess game
via the Internet. Chess presentation on the Internet, using DGT e-boards and
software, is a key feature of top level events. A move is transmitted within
seconds after it is made on the board.
Foidos takes internet presentation several levels beyond the current standard.
Not just the transmission of the moves is at hand for the Internet chess fan,
but several video feeds can be watched. Features include: close-ups to show
all (hidden) emotions of the players, “live” expert commentary of
the games and interviews with special guests of the tournament.
During the game windows can be opened to witness the commentary by top level
GM’s. Currently chess lovers have to visit a tournament for this experience.
Now it will become accessible on the World Wide Web. Options to open a chat
channel that connects the viewer with the commentator are built into the Foidos
system. The user will also be able to link the games from a Foidos presentation
to a chess playing program for further analysis.
Although Foidos is developed with chess in mind, it will be possible to use
the system for other sports also. Foidos will be used on a “pay per view”
basis during the Anand-Kramnik match in Bonn, but could be implemented for free
if a sponsor or tournament organization is willing to invest in it.
Market analysis shows that an expectation of 150 to 250 thousand viewers during
the World Championship Match in October is realistic.
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