OLYMPIAD NEWS
Issue 7 Saturday 28 August 1999
Bob, Bobby and Che
Contents
Bob, Bobby and Che 1
Easy as ? 2
Mind Sports for All 2
Beginning Boku 2
MSO needs You! 2
Man vs. Machine VI 2
Dominic Dominates 2
Games People Play 3
Results Section 4
Medals Table 4
Today's Events 4
Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents
determinism; the way you play it is free will. - Jawaharial Nehru 1889-1964
Not only the players at the Mind Sports Olympiad are giants in their
field. In fact, a small, soft-spoken and extremely modest arbiter with
an impish smile packs one of the most impressive resumés of the
whole event. Bob Wade, presiding over the Chinese and Japanese Chess tournaments,
received an OBE in 1979 for services to Chess, fitting recognition for
a long and fascinating career. Describing himself wryly as 'well past retirement
age', he remains a full-time Chess professional.
Bob came to England from New Zealand in 1948 and has never returned
home ('It's too far'). Amazingly, Chess has always been his livelihood.
'Somehow I managed to survive. Survive is the word. If I had to explain
how I did it, I'd never be able to,' he smiles.
The life of a Chess pro has never been easy, and in many respects Bob
had to invent work. In the 1950s he began publishing tournament bulletins
('I suppose you could say I started the information boom, but the Russians
were already at it'), taught Chess to players of all ages and levels, and
was named Chief Trainer for England, a post he still holds. He has served
on world body FIDE's committees for 50 years. And he was a strong player
of course - champion in his homeland three times, and British Champion
twice.
As one of the first Chess information brokers, Bob built up a fabled
library and his flat became a Mecca for players and writers. He helped
the legendary Bobby Fischer prepare for all of his matches - the successful
world title campaign in the 1970s, the unplayed defence against Karpov
in 1975, even his comeback against Spassky in 1992. 'I think Fischer always
trusted me. We got on very well, after all I have drawn with him,' he explains.
Another cultural icon whom Wade counts amongst his friends was Che Guevara.
They met, played Chess and discussed politics in 1963-64 when Bob played
in Havana. 'Che enjoyed watching the event and was genuinely interested
in Chess. He used to work six days a week as the Minister of Industry,
and on the seventh he would set an example by working in a factory,' Wade
recalls.
Bob has adapted to the computer age, a useful development that must
have saved his home from sinking beneath the weight of his collected literature.
Now he is working on a book on thinking in Chess, and the effects of computers
in this regard. 'A very difficult subject - computers have changed and
probably developed Chess thinking. The game is harder today because of
computers, not easier.'
Bob is still constantly on the move, and has travelled to Dubai, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, India and throughout Africa in recent years, teaching Chess
and training teachers as part of a British Council project.
'I'll probably be going back to South Africa again soon. They had a
strong Chess tradition that was squashed by apartheid, and you can't do
so much in a short visit. I'm just as busy as I ever was. It's a very interesting
- and very demanding - life,' says Bob. Then he's off, back to work.
Easy as ?
This afternoon the South African memory star Kevin Horsley will be making
an attempt on Philip Bond's Pi matrix world record, which currently stands
at 53 minutes to recall 50 groups of five numbers from the 10,000 possible
sequences.
Mind Sports for All
Chess arbiter Stewart Reuben points out one of the great and enjoyable
differences between Mind and Physical Sports which is rarely mentioned.
It is difficult to imagine an amateur playing a reasonable game against
one of the great sportsmen or sporting teams. You are up against Pete Sampras.
Crash comes the ball over the net and that's the end of the rally. Play
Stephen Hendry at snooker. You play one, perhaps two shots on a good day.
He follows with a break of 30 or more. You have your turn and then he is
off again. Can you imagine your Sunday football team playing against Manchester
United?
It is different here at the Mind Sports Olympiad. There are world-class
players competing in many events and rank amateurs are always in with a
chance of having a shot at them. Michael Adams has just returned from Las
Vegas where he advanced to the semi-final stage in the World Chess Championship.
Yet every day you can see him battling it out in speed Chess tournaments.
The Open Pairs in Bridge features possibly one of the strongest line-ups
ever in Britain. Stratego is very popular in Belgium and the Netherlands
and the event here has all the best players in the world competing. Meanwhile,
the Draughts champion Ron King is putting his reputation on the line every
day.
Yet the ordinary punter can pay a small entry fee, play side-by-side
with great names and maybe even get a crack at them. Moreover, in many
events, although winning the top prizes is beyond the scope of many players,
there are often medals and supplementary prizes even for relatively inexperienced
players. Some of the stars are receiving appearance fees and some are playing
to win the prizes. However, all are here mainly to enjoy themselves and
to help popularise their sport.
Beginning Boku
Visitors to the MSO have been flocking to the Boku stand on level 2
where Rob Nelson, the inventor of this fascinating game, is taking on all-comers.
Such is the elegance of Boku that it has only two rules - but two billion
ways to win. It fits the classic description 'a minute to learn but a lifetime
to master' almost perfectly, as the simplicity of the game is such that
some people are able to become quite good players after only a handful
or so games. However, as they play more and more they are continually making
new discoveries.
Boku was invented when Rob was playing around with a few ideas based
on 'tic-tac-toe' and gradually evolved by a process of trial and error
into the refined form in which it is played today.
Rob is hoping to organise the first ever Boku World Championship for
the year 2001. However, although he loves playing and demonstrating Boku,
Rob does not claim to be a great player himself, admitting that 'someone
will write the definitive guide to winning at Boku, but it won't be me.'
He cannot conceal his delight and amusement when he hears Boku players
using terms such as 'forced move' and 'atari' which they have brought into
the game from other Mind Sports.
MSO needs You!
The MSO World Mindzine has opened on the organisation's new website
www.msoworld.com and aims to provide weekly coverage of the latest developments
in games and mental skills. With so many disciplines and the entire globe
to cover, help from enthusiasts around the world is desperately needed.
If you can help with news, player profiles, links, anecdotes, lessons or
ideas to promote your favourite Mind Sport, e-mail the Mindzine at
jonathan@msoworld.com.
Man vs. Machine VI
The final instalment of the Man vs. Machine challenge pitted former
Scrabble World Champion Mark Nyman against top software program PC Scrabble
UK. Clever strategy came to Nyman's aid in the crucial first game, as he
managed to wipe out a 100 point deficit by opening up the board and seizing
his opportunities, finally winning 469-457. The PC then levelled the match
convincingly by starting with two seven letter words, and was never in
reach. Nyman struggled with duff tiles but did manage a nine-letter play.
He then sealed the match with a crushing display in the deciding game,
opening with the hammer blows ZAMAN and ENNEAGON and running out
a 500-371 winner.
Dominic Dominates
Dominic O'Brien fully lived up to his reputation as the undisputed champion
of memory. Although in some respects teenage sensation Yu Zhang stole the
show with four firsts and two world records, he hasn't yet developed the
key ingredient of consistency. Dominic never faltered, and notched up three
firsts in a relentless march towards his sixth title. But a star was born
at MSO III, and future events promise great battles.
Twelve-year-old Christiane Stenger earned the title of Grandmaster of
Memory, awarded on performances in three specific events. She achieved
her final norm with just half a second to spare in the single deck of cards.
Games People Play
Reiner Knizia is probably the greatest modern game inventor and is regarded
as the natural successor to Alex Randolph. Reiner is now retired from his
work in the financial world and concentrates full-time on his 'hobby' of
game design. He moved from Germany to England around seven years ago and
very much enjoys the lifestyle over here. Many serious games enthusiasts
refer to Reiner as 'The Man'.
How many games have you designed over years?
My total of actual published games is more than 100 but I have also
written several books with new, unpublished games.
Which of your games have been the most successful?
There is more than one way to judge the relative success of a game
- is it the one that makes the most money, or sells the most copies, or
wins the most awards? I would say that my most successful publications
include Modern Art, which won the German game prize in 1993 and, modesty
aside, is still regarded as a classic. The game Euphrates and Tigris, which
reflects the origin of modern civilisation is probably my most complex
game and has many followers. It is also the current holder of the German
game prize. One of my simpler creations is the auction game Medici, but
this has also proved very popular.
Out of all your games, do you have a personal favourite?
No, I don't, and I would like to explain why, as I believe the answer
is important and reflects my philosophy about games. I do not regard a
game as an absolute - instead it is a mechanism to have an enjoyable social
experience with other people. Therefore different games can work well in
different situations, for example a game that you enjoy playing with your
children might not be the same one that you would play with your parents.
However, if I have to answer the question I would say that my favourite
game is always the one that I am currently developing. I am usually working
on as many as 12 games simultaneously and I often get stuck with them -
I have many dead bodies strewn around my house. However, the ones which
do eventually come together appear to work well. Maybe this is an example
of Darwinian evolution in action - the survival of the fittest.
What are the requirements for a good game?
First, there should not be too much administration. There must be
clear rules which are simple enough to pick up quickly, while containing
sufficient dynamism to create interesting possibilities for play. The game
must also be intuitive enough that the flow of the play is not disrupted.
For me a game is all about interacting with other personalities and
so a game cannot be really good if it doesn't allow this to happen. This
is a very different dynamic from computer games - with computer games you
mainly play with the computer; with board games you play with the other
players.
Are you a good games player yourself?
Not especially. One of my personality traits is that if I do something,
I want to be able to do it very well. Consequently, I do not do too many
different things. However, it is important for me to explore many different
games to familiarise myself with the mechanisms that are used.
When did you start designing games?
I have been inventing games for almost as long as I remember, perhaps
since I was nine or ten. Initially I just constructed basic games using
dice and simple pieces. None of these have ever been published - and not
without justification! My desire to create games was sparked when I found
that I wanted to play games but could not find ones with themes that satisfied
me. I therefore decided to design some games myself.
What are the actual mechanics of designing a game?
There are two main phases of game development. First, the core design,
during which the main theme and game mechanics are decided. This may sound
like a simple process, but it can take up to two months to arrive at a
prototype. The second stage sees the development of the game from the prototype.
Some games turn out well and make it to the market. Others simply don't
work and are discarded.
A further important stage is the testing process. No game would ever
be released until it had been played at least 100 times. A game can appear
wonderful in the design stage and yet when you come to play it you may
find that something is lacking - perhaps it is just not exciting. On average
I play four times a week, mainly in groups dedicated to trying out my games.
What do you find so attractive about designing games?
When you design a game you are a creator - and this is a fascinating
experience. You are in control of your universe and you make all the rules.
Also it gives you the possibility to explore different times and/or cultures.
Is it still possible to develop a truly classic game like Chess or Go?
Nowadays it is very difficult to succeed with abstract games like
these. If Chess or Go were invented today, there is almost no chance that
they would flourish. The only recent example of an abstract game that has
succeeded is Abalone - but much of this is based upon the brilliant design
of the board and pieces.
Day Seven Medal Winners
Chess Evening (Wed/Thu)
1= M. Adams (England) gold
1= J. Hodgson (England) gold
3 S. Williams (England) bronze
Chess Evening Junior (Wed/Thu)
1 D. Tan (England) gold
2 A. Ghasi (England) silver
3 S. Ghasi (England) bronze
Chess Olympiad Championship
1 L. Psakhis (Israel) gold
2 B. Lalic (England) silver
3 V. Golod (Israel) bronze
Chess Olympiad Junior Championship
1 M. Broomfield (England) gold
2 J. Mont-Reynaud (USA) silver
3 D. Tan (England) bronze
Countdown
1 T. Pay (England) gold
2 N. McHale (England) silver
3 J. McLeod (England) bronze
Dama
1 K. Essa (Bahrain) gold
2 M. Abdulla (Bahrain) silver
3 A. Mohd (Bahrain) bronze
Intelligence Junior
1 J. Stastna (Czech Rep) gold
2 S. Plebanek (Poland) silver
3 N. Eskirazi (England) bronze
Memory Skills World Championship
1 D. O'Brien (England) gold
2 Y. Zhang (USA) silver
3 A. Bell (England) bronze
Memory Skills Junior World Championship
1 Y. Zhang (USA) gold
2 C. Palmer (USA) silver
3 C. Stenger (Germany) bronze
Othello 5-Minute
1 T. Miyaoka (Japan) gold
2 K. Tominaga (Japan) silver
3 S. Nicolet (France) bronze
Othello Junior 5-Minute
1 T. Krzywonos (Canada) gold
2 B. Shifman (Israel) silver
3 H. Tatsutomi (Japan) bronze
Poker 7-Card Stud
1 P. Shepperson (England) gold
2 A. Baron (England) silver
3 M. Haytack (England) bronze
Poker 7-Card Stud Junior
1 G. Niccoli (England) gold
2 B. Haytack (England) silver
3 A. Haghshenas (Iran) bronze
Poker World Amateur Championship
1 G. Lee (England) gold
2 I. Adams (England) silver
3 C. Vaz (England) bronze
Poker World Junior Amateur Ch
1 C. Harris (England) gold
2 G. Hassabis (England) silver
3 T. Niccoli (England) bronze
Scrabble Weekday (SOWPODS)
1 M. Nyman (England) gold
2 F. Adowade (Nigeria) silver
3 A. Ajose (Nigeria) bronze
Scrabble Weekday Junior (SOWPODS)
1 S. Menon (India) gold
Scrabble Weekday (OSW)
1 S. Simonis (England) gold
2 R. Dowse (England) silver
3 B. Grossman (Scotland) bronze
Stratego World Championship
1 J. van Geffen (Holland) gold
2 R. Helmus (Holland) silver
3 G. Franka (Holland) bronze
Stratego World Junior Championship
1 F. Poppelaars (Holland) gold
2 M. Jungbluth (Germany) silver
3 T. Spierings (Holland) bronze
Zatre Olympiad Championship
1 P. Basedow (Germany) gold
2 B. Schick (Austria) silver
3 F. Schmidt (Germany) bronze
Zatre Olympiad Junior Championship
1 M. Voracek (Czech Rep) gold
2 J. Stastna (Czech Rep) silver
3 C. Haas (Austria) bronze
Medal Table after Day Seven
|
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| England |
65 |
58 |
62 |
185 |
| USA |
5 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
| Netherlands |
5 |
2 |
6 |
13 |
| France |
4 |
7 |
2 |
13 |
| Japan |
3 |
4 |
2 |
9 |
| Germany |
3 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
| Czech Republic |
2 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
| Canada |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Israel |
1 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
| Sweden |
1 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
| Austria |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
| Bahrain |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
| China |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Grenada |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Puerto Rico |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Scotland |
1 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
| Jamaica |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| Cameroon |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Australia |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Belgium |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| India |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Korea |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Norway |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Nigeria |
0 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
| Dominican Rep. |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Ireland |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Pakistan |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Poland |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Russia |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Italy |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Wales |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Ghana |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Iran |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Turkmenistan |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Latvia |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Lithuania |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Today's Events
Backgammon w/e pm/eve
Bridge Swiss Pairs am/pm
Chess MSO Masters pm/eve
Chess 10-Minute am
Chess 5-Minute pm
Chess Terafinal am/pm
Chinese Chess Euro Ch am/pm
Cribbage Individual am
Cribbage Pairs pm
Draughts 10x10 Blitz pm
Draughts 8x8 am/pm
GIPF Problem Solving pm
Go 19x19 Olympiad Ch am/pm
Othello Beginners pm
Poker Olympiad Hold'Em am
Stratego World Team am/pm
Olympiad News Team
Editor: Jon Tisdall
Production: Byron Jacobs and Andrew Kinsman
(First Rank Publishing)
Mind Sports Olympiad
PO Box 13388,
London NW3 5FB
Tel: 01707 659080
Fax: 01707 661160
http://www.msoworld.com/
MSOWorld.com