In the meantime, Kasparov gives another simul

Last night, Garry Kasparov gave a simul in the Alfacom studios in Lint (close to Antwerp), Belgium. His opponents: 19 Belgian CEO's and 7 primary school kids. His score: 26-0. The overall result: arguably the best broadcast of a chess event ever. Large pictorial report.Like last year, both Garry Kasparov and his 1993 PCA World Championship opponent Nigel Short were in Belgium last night. Three Belgian entrepreneurs, Inge Geerdens (CVWarehouse), Gabriël Fehervari (Alfacam) and Jan Callewaert (Option) had invited them in order to promote the game of chess in general and with young children (aged 6 to 12 years) and their parents in particular. "We'd like to see chess to become a part of the education material of primary schools," said Geerdens. The seven lucky children who were playing against the former World Champion, had earned themselves their seats in previous events. On Sunday, October 5th, a youth tournament was held for 6 to 12-year-olds and the 60 best players qualified for a simul against Nigel Short, that was held last Saturday.

Nigel Short: a busy weekend playing chess

Together with a few winners from another simul by Short, held last Sunday against club players only, a total of seven kids could enter the Kasparov simul. They were joined by 19 CEO's from Belgium in an event that had a superb media coverage. The event, which took place in the Eurocam Media Center in Lint, Belgium, was fully broadcast live. It was shown on television screens everywhere in Belgium through TV Channels EXQI via Belgacom TV, Coditel, INDI and Telenet Digital TV and elsewhere in Europe you could watch it via HD1 SPORT. A difference with last year was that the whole simul was played on 26 DGT boards with new, Belgian software. This way the spectators could watch the games, and close-ups of The Boss, on big screens, with live commentary by Nigel Short. "He is not a happy bunny", Short said about Kasparov when he was in serious trouble against Ronny Baekelant. But the former world champion still doesn't like to lose. He started playing faster on the other boards, to put Baekelant under pressure, and in the end Kasparov won the game anyway, like all other games, like last year.

The simul soon starts, and the first participants arrive

Lisa Lagaert, one of the lucky youngsters

Ben Tuerlinckx, also quite happy to be there!

Ronny Baekelant, CEO of Thyssen Krupp Materials, and a tough opponent for Garry Kasparov last night

Kasparov himself has arrived and receives what's probably a wired microphone

An introduction of... two players who don't need an introduction

But a Short interview with Kasparov is always nice

Well, time to start, right?

A special cameraman is chasing Kasparov...

...and keeps as close as a bodyguard

It's part of the fantastic coverage - here's the producer's control room

Overview cameras showing the boards from different angles...

Doesn't this look familiar? It starts with an "F" and sounds like "oidos"...

And while Anand and Kramnik were having dinner with their teams, contemplating the first draw, former world champion Garry Kasparov won his own little match 26-0 last night

Afterwards it was time to party, and Nigel Short also repeated his guitar gig from last year, this time performing Wild Thing

Photos thanks to De Schaakfabriek, an excellent blog in Dutch language.