Are people still playing in simultaneous exhibitions? I don't hear about them much anymore, but they were quite popular and common years ago. I can't think of any other sport or game where the common man can play against the greats -- you can't do that in tennis or golf or anything else I can think of.

When I was playing a lot of OTB tournament chess in New York in the 70s and 80s, I had the good fortune (and the approx $50 entry fee) to play in some great simul opportunities.

I played against Viktor Korchnoi (twice), Tigran Petrosian, Boris Spassky and Arthur Bisguier. I still have their games recorded in my tournament book. Amazingly, they all beat me.

Bisguier was very friendly, Korchnoi very intimating, Petrosian very reserved (his English was not good); my most vivid memory was Spassky who was a real gentleman and was very well liked by a huge crowd and the 100 of us playing him (an after-event at the NY Open). This was at least 10 years after the Fischer match.

Anyone else have simul play experince that they'd like to share?

i have one with GM larry christianson in my blog