MARK RUBERY CHESS

A number of years ago Johannesburg was graced with the presence of former world champion Garry Kasparov arguably the strongest player of all time. Kasparov arrived here to promote his Chess Foundation and also give a simultaneous display where the publicity was ratcheted up still further with the presence of sundry dignitaries and celebrities. Kasparov was to play 30 players with the stipulation that nobody was to be rated above 2000. Having vanquished grandmasters in this form of chess before, it would have been perhaps more interesting to see Garry play both our Men’s and Ladies Olympiad teams blindfolded, but obviously he wanted to breeze through the exhibition with limited fuss. This he duly achieved with 28 wins conceding just two draws to the late and lamented Stephen Skosansa of the ‘Hillbrow Hyenas’ and Dr Mathole Motshekga, the chief whip of the ANC –although the cynic in me feels there was some professional courtesy involved here!

The most amusing incident in the event involved an actress from the TV series ‘Generations’ who being somewhat inexperienced was being assisted in the rudiments of the game by one of our stronger players, Kgaugelo Mosethle. Here the gallant man got somewhat carried away in his duties and chose to snatch a once in a lifetime opportunity. Thus although his attractive pupil was executing the moves it was Moesethle-rated over 2200- that Kasparov was actually facing.

A reporter at the scene described the drama that unfolded:

‘The actress makes a move that brings the master to a halt. He leans on the table and stares closely at the board. He turns to the adviser, eyeballing him from under a raised eyebrow. “What rating are you?” he growls quietly. “No, honestly. Tell me. This is a different kind of chess.” The secret is out. This is no ordinary adviser, but a former South African champ. Kasparov is furious. Organisers rush forward, apologies are made. The adviser makes to leave. But Kasparov now has a point to prove.

“Sit down,” he says. “Finish the game.” The actress then exits-stage left. .

And now the master’s full attention is on the adviser. He holds no punches, moving aggressively, powerfully. The whole audience is on its feet. One, two, three comes the attack. The adviser fights on, but he has lost his nerve. His defence crumbles, and with one decisive nod, the master finishes off his rogue opponent.’ Organiser Graham Jurgensen felt compelled to issue the following statement: ‘While the incident was extremely regrettable, it was by no means an attempt on behalf of any of the parties to cheat. It should also not detract from what was otherwise an extremely successful exhibition, which will have positive implications for the development of chess in this country.’

Since the idea for the whole event was to maximise publicity, the piece of theatre that unfolded fitted in perfectly. The simultaneous was hardly a serious challenge for someone like Kasparov, thus for me, the opportunism exhibited by Mosethle certainly added a distinctive colour to what would have been a routine exhibition.

Alas, I do not have the game score to share with you… Today’s puzzle was solved after about 20 minutes by the regulars at the Madeira Bar…

WHITE TO PLAY AND DRAW

I’d rather have a pawn than a finger. – Reuben Fine

It all depends: which pawn and which finger? – Roman Dzindzichashvili