Kasparov at the London Chess Classic

Kasparov in London

On the last day of the London Chess Classic, in the early afternoon, former World Champion Garry Kasparov paid the event a typically whirlwind visit, meeting players and celebrities, signing book and doing a CNN interview.

Kasparov, left, Android in his hand, chatting with GMs Jon Speelman, Genna Sosonko and John Nunn

With round seven under way Garry expounded on the scoring system in London (three points for a win, one for a draw). He told us almost exactly what Dean Arvidson of Los Angeles, USA wrote: even if Carlsen had lost his sixth round game to Kramnik, he could (and as it turns out would) have still have won the tournament! Carlsen would have had 12 points (instead of 13), and Kramnik would have had 12 points (instead of 10). But Carlsen would have been declared the winner on tiebreak #3 (number of games won). He would have been half a point behind according to classic scoring, having lost to Kramnik, McShane and Anand, but would have won with the football scoring!

Garry chatting with an old rival, Nigel Short, and Nigel's daughter Kyveli Aliki

The obligatory book signing – here Garry is dedicating one for an Egyptian chess fan

The CNN shoot

At one stage a good part of the foyer was taken up by a camera crew of CNN, which was there to interview Kasparov and Vishy Anand. It was interesting to see how this is done and how it ends up showing in a typical CNN report (link given below).

A reporter who doesn't appear in the final cut asks question, prompting Kasparov to provide sound bites. Meanwhile the camera crew assistants rush around trying to prevent people in the crowd from using cameras with a flash.

Garry Kasparov in the CNN report, which you can watch here

Vishy Anand is also interviewed by CNN on the subject "Is chess a sport?"

Photos by Frederic Friedel and John Nunn

• Read all the ChessBase reports on the London Chess Classic 2010