Dangerous moves and IBM’s Deep Blue

By Frank “Boy” Pestaño
Chessmoso

DANGEROUS Moves, released in 1984, is a movie about two different men competing for the World Chess Championship. One is a 52-year-old Jew, Akiva Liebskind (Michel Piccoli), while the other is a 35-year-old genius, Pavius Fromm (Alexander Arbatt), who defected to the West several years earlier.

Pavious’ obsession since childhood was to defeat Liebskind. Paranoid, he is convinced that his opponent is spying from every corner. In fact the KGB tries to sabotage Fromm, in order to discredit everyone who publicly opposes the Soviet system of government.

This Swiss film won an Oscar in 1984, for best foreign picture.

GAME OVER. Kasparov and the machine is a 2003 documentary of the fascinating match between the reigning world champion Garry Kasparov and IBM‘s Deep Blue Supercomputer, a “scientific experiment” which captured the imagination and attention of millions worldwide.

In the second game, Kasparov laid a trap that most computers fall for. Deep Blue did not fall for it and Kasparov accused IBM of using a human player during the game to increase its strategic strength. With a dramatic victory in Game 6, Deep Blue won its rematch with the champion 3.5-2.5.

Rated by its viewers as a 5-star, it was nominated for a 2003 International Documentary Association Award.

The Chess Players is a 1977 film by the famous director, Satyajit Ray, based on the short story by Munshi Premchand .

The film is set in 1856, and shows the life and customs of 19th century Islamic India, at the eve of the Indian rebellion of 1857.The British Resident of the East India Company (Richard Attenborough) had observed that the monarch of Lucknow seemed to be uninterested in government. He tried to manipulate events so he can annex the province.

Embroiled in a long running chess rivalry, two local noblemen (Sanjeev Kumar and Saaed Jaffrey) cannot be bothered on such minor issues, as to who is governing whom, and continue to play chess. Meanwhile, conditions in the Kingdom go from bad to worse.

CEPCA. Cagayan de Oro-based Manny Manzanares won the October edition of the monthly tournament of the Cebu Executives and Professional Chess Association last Sunday at the Stella Maris Seafarer Center in Pier 4. He was undefeated in five games, conceding only a draw to 13-year-old Jessa Balbona.

Second placer was the hard-luck Joe Atillo, who lost his last game to Manzanares after four straight wins. At third was Pepe Gador and fourth place went to Cy Balbanera. Jun Quidlat placed fifth.

CHESS PUZZLE. Solution to last week‘s puzzle 2: Nf5. There were 10 correct entries and after a raffle, here are the winners; Beth Arrogancia, Francisco Mahusay, Jason Cabahug. Florence Domantay and Gamaliel Vicente Jr.

Claim your prize at Handuraw Café (beside Kahayag) in Mabolo anytime in the afternoon up to 11p.m.

Solve the following puzzle and win a prepaid card from our sponsor, the Corporate and Regulatory Group- Vismin of Globe Telecom. There are five winners of P100 card each.

Be reminded that only Globe subscribers can participate . Text your name and keymove to cell no. 0915-507-0286..