Ten days ago, Gary Kasparov, the world champion, showed his overpowering machine-eating style against the computer Deep Thought. He handily won his two-game match.
Five days ago the 26-year-old Soviet champion also showed his "man-eating" style against the 15-year-old Gata Kamsky, who defected to the United States in March from the Soviet Union.The two exhibition games that Kasparov contested in the New York Public Library resulted predictably in smooth victories for the strongest player in the world.
It is Kamsky's announced ambition to challenge seriously for the world title some day, but that is not just around the corner.
The games were sponsored by the Maxwell Communications Corp. and Macmillan Inc. Each player had 25 minutes for all his moves, no matter how many were required. Kamsky was outplayed from start to finish.
The bright new American obtained the right for his informal challenge by a surprising finish ahead of a field of 16 leading United States players in a double-round knockout tournament held on the previous Monday and Tuesday at the Manhattan Chess Club.
Kamsky had been making remarkable progress, yet no one had expected him to reach this level so quickly, not even his enthusiastic sponsor, James Cayne, a champion bridge player who is president of the investment house Bear, Stearns.
-THE WINNAHS! - In the recent 9th annual Wasatch Chess Congress, Douglas Taffinder of Layton won the championship of the Open Section.
Doug Lee, Salt Lake City, was the highest-scoring rated "expert." Gabe Lither, Salt Lake City, was the highest-rated "A" player. First place for players rated under 1800 was John Minnoch of Ogden, and Sam Dean of Payson was the highest-scoring "first tournament" player.
In the reserve section, restricted to those nationally rated under 1800, the highest-scoring player was Todd Bennett; Robert Taylor was the highest "C" player; Vern Smith was the high "D" player. The highest-scoring woman player was Lorena Ascencio. All the above players were registered from Salt Lake City.
The highest-scoring player in the high school section was Darrin Allred from Box Elder High. Second place went to Carson Platero, also of Box Elder High. Richard Schow of Box Elder was the highest-scoring "D" player.
Mike Stanley was the highest "E" player. He represented Murray High. Keven Jenson, Box Elder, was highest "unrated." Box Elder High won the team trophy.
In the junior high section, the highest-scoring player was Ha Huynh from Granite Park Junior High.
The Rowland Hall team won the team trophy, and Granite Park Junior High finished second.
In the elementary section, Luke Flockers, from Rowland Hall, was the highest-scoring player, with Jana Klopfenstein of Silver Hills Elementary in Kearns in second place.
Craig Tenbroke, Rowland Hall, was the highest class-"D" player; James Bryne, Rowland Hall, was highest in class "E"; and Robert Kendrick, Rowland Hall, highest player rated under 1000. Glen Vickers was highest "unrated" from Silver Hills Elementary.
Rebecca Day of Majestic Elementary in Bountiful was the highest-scoring girl in the Elementary Section. Rowland Hall won the team trophy, with Silver Hills winning second prize.
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The Chess Congress was held in the United States Steelworkers Union Hall in Midvale. It attracted 105 players.
The congress was directed by Robert Tanner, president of the Utah Chess Association. He was assisted by Reed Adams, Vern Smith, Liz Lither and Craig Bishop.
A limited-edition tournament print has been prepared by artist Craig Bishop. They are available from Robert Tanner, 533-8001, for $8 and $15.
-CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SOLVERS! _ William DeVroom, Ardean Watts, Joan Nay, Covert Copier, Edwin O. Smith, Harold Rosenberg, Hal Harmon, Hal Knight, Ann Neil, Ted Pathakis, Paul R. Lindeman, Raeburn Kennard, Aaron Kennard, Kay Lundstrom, William D. Rice, Mel Puller, Robert Tanner, Monroe Iversen, Brian Harrow, Mark Stranger, Al Nicolas, Brian Griffith, Ken Frost, Michael Marsh and Grant Hodson.