Aryeh Davidoff: Lev Khariton parses another interview by Kasparov


Lev Khariton: Kasparov Counts Autographs!

My readers can see that I am following attentively almost all recent
interviews given by Garri Kasparov. One of them taken by Juri
Vassiliev from Sport-Express, I regard as deserving special interest.
Below are some questions and answers with my comments.
-------------------------
-Garri, at one of the sites I saw a long line of enthusiasts entering
the London Chess Center waiting for your autographs at the
presentation of your book "My Great Predecessors"…

-Leaving aside some poisonous remarks from the so-called professionals
writing books that nobody reads, the reaction to my book was very
favorable, and that made me very happy. Never before had grandmasters
of my level undertaken such a hard job. The efforts do not make up for
losses of mental energy. But when I see such long lines of people
wishing to have my autographs on the book, I understand that all my
efforts were not wasted! In Madrid, for example, I signed in a small
chess center 315 copies and I was told that if the presentation had
been held in the bigger book center El Corte Ingles, there would have
been more signatures.

My comment: Vanity Fair! Vanity of vanities! Is there any limit to
the 4-year-old ex-champion's narcissism? HE is counting his own
autographs! Not to be believed! He reminds me of some literary
characters from Moliere's and Gogol's comedies. And of course people
who happen to say something negative on him are full of poison and
totally unprofessional…

-Having made a flashback into chess history, what can you say about
the general tendency of the progress of the game?

-Chess will never be a royal game, a game of the kings, great
champions as it used to be before. Chess is now rising to a new
height, new technologies allow us to see new horizons. In the past
some moves made by great champions used to amaze both amateurs and
professionals. Today all these moves are under the computer's eye
which is never awed by the magic of the champions…

My comment: Bien dommage! Regrettably and understandably Kasparov is
not nostalgic about the glorious past of chess. He is basking in his
glory. He obviously considers himself the last champion in the dynasty
of 13 champions (Kramnik be hanged!). And now he is contributing to
the development of chess (anti-chess?) technologies. Vain hopes! I can
predict in future new generations of chess players will come and they
will be ironizing over Kasparov: "Oh, that champ who thought he was
the strongest chess player of all time and who admired Julius Caesar
and General Lebed… The guy who thought that chess would not progress
without him and that chess computers would be all around…" Or "the guy
who drew matches with computers built up by his friends..."

-You are soon going to New York to play against Fritz…

-This will be a tough test for the human brain. I'll have to play
without a chess board and use my voice to make moves…

My comment: And why without the chess board? And why not use your
hands to make moves? Anything wrong with the board? Or with the hands?

-This is a revolutionary breakthrough! What will our "clever guys" say
on television? Those who always say that chess is anti-telegenic…

-From the very outset I said "yes" to chess computers on television. I
made many concessions to promote chess on the big American screen. How
can we miss this chance to attract the wide masses?
Of people to chess, the possibility of new super technologies?

My comment: Another publicity stunt! Kasparov is contributing to the
popularity of chess. I remember about 8-9 years ago he was promising
that America would become another chess Eldorado before his match with
Anand. People who never lived in the United States believed him. But
that was a lie. I have lived and worked in Tel Aviv, Paris, New York.
As far as chess is concerned, in New York the game is least popular.
Baseball, basketball, hockey, - but not chess! Even rapid chess
tournament attract more spectators compared to Kasparov vs. computer
shows. People are stifling yawns watching such games as the 3rd and
4th games of the recent match. Kasparov's blunder in the 2nd game
disillusioned many people, and Kasparov lost the credibility that
great chess champions enjoy.

-This year the chess organisers in Linares were very much impressed by
Rajabov's victory against you and that "showdown" that you gave to the
journalists at the closing ceremony because this game was awarded the
prize of the best game of the tournament….

-It is a bit strange that the chess player, who is not a native
Spanish player, receives a new invitation to Linares after he came
last in the tournament. But I am even happy that I will play another
two games with Rajabov.

My comment: Can Kasparov "forgive" Rajabov his victory over him in
Linares? Why does not this 16-year –old boy deserve another Linares?
What is eating Kasparov's heart? Jealousy? Or fear that someone can
outclass him? Why cannot he be a little bit more friendly to the boy
who is a quarter-century younger than him and who comes from Baku,
Kasparov's birthplace?

"Aryeh Davidoff" wrote in message
om...
Aryeh Davidoff: Lev Khariton parses another interview by Kasparov


Lev Khariton: Kasparov Counts Autographs!

My readers can see that I am following attentively almost all recent
interviews given by Garri Kasparov.

You follow them even overattentively.



My comment: Vanity Fair! Vanity of vanities! Is there any limit to
the 4-year-old ex-champion's narcissism? HE is counting his own
autographs! Not to be believed! He reminds me of some literary
characters from Moliere's and Gogol's comedies. And of course people
who happen to say something negative on him are full of poison and
totally unprofessional.

What`s so strange about telling the number of the autographs ? Either he has
a perfect memory or just sb else counted them for him.



-Chess will never be a royal game, a game of the kings, great
champions as it used to be before. Chess is now rising to a new
height, new technologies allow us to see new horizons. In the past
some moves made by great champions used to amaze both amateurs and
professionals. Today all these moves are under the computer's eye
which is never awed by the magic of the champions.

My comment: Bien dommage! Regrettably and understandably Kasparov is
not nostalgic about the glorious past of chess. He is basking in his
glory. He obviously considers himself the last champion in the dynasty
of 13 champions (Kramnik be hanged!).

Mr Khariton, you want Kramnik to be hanged ? You should be punished for your
words.


And now he is contributing to
the development of chess (anti-chess?) technologies. Vain hopes! I can
predict in future new generations of chess players will come and they
will be ironizing over Kasparov: "Oh, that champ who thought he was
the strongest chess player of all time and who admired Julius Caesar
and General Lebed. The guy who thought that chess would not progress
without him and that chess computers would be all around." Or "the guy
who drew matches with computers built up by his friends..."

Ravings of an old man. Computers has changed chess and there`s no return. Of
couse I could agree with an opinion that computer chess is not very
imaginative compared to the romantic play of e.g. Mikhail Tal.




-It is a bit strange that the chess player, who is not a native
Spanish player, receives a new invitation to Linares after he came
last in the tournament. But I am even happy that I will play another
two games with Rajabov.

My comment: Can Kasparov "forgive" Rajabov his victory over him in
Linares? Why does not this 16-year -old boy deserve another Linares?
What is eating Kasparov's heart? Jealousy? Or fear that someone can
outclass him? Why cannot he be a little bit more friendly to the boy
who is a quarter-century younger than him and who comes from Baku,
Kasparov's birthplace?


For sure you won`t outclass him by your writings. As a chess writer you are
far inferior than Garrik. As far as his competition with Radjabov is
concerned it`ll be interesting to see how could he outclass Kasparov

Double regards,
Jerzy