(1310) CARLSEN: AN HOUR WITH THE MOSCOW PHYSICISTS

The chess world got very lucky with the new champion, The Norwegian Carlsen is not only the planet's strongest player, but also much more accessible to the masses than any of his predecessors. Just give him a call and he'll come on over! On Tuesday evening students and professors of Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology were able to see for themselves the guest appearance of Carlsen. Magnus was among hundreds of physicists to accept an invitation, which he received prior to becoming world champion last fall. But he forewent reassessing his plans and hiking his prices. As was expected of the champion—he came, he saw, he conquered. The evening's atmosphere at MIPT stirred to remembrance the famous visits to Moscow of the former world champions Emanuel Lasker and Jose Raul Capablanca (of the latter there was even a comic film “Chess Fever,” in which the Cuban genius played the role of himself.), where the public soaked in every word of the great players. Carlsen was touched by the public attention and, his typical Scandinavian reservedness aside, spent more than an hour answering the questions of the assembly and the night's television reporter, Tina Kandelaki. He told of his chess journey, of the ability to concentrate on and achieve goals. As one of his chess teachers the Norwegian credited Kramnik, whose games and books he studied. “When I was young I was very strongly impressed by his games. I think that early works of Kramnik would be of benefit to anyone playing chess, including Vladimir himself!” The 14 board simultaneous exhibition was filled with emotion. His prospective opponents had been battling for the right to cross swords with the world champion himself for not just one month, and  they proved themselves worthy. Three of them (including one young woman) managed a draw (and the ovation of the hall), the remaining 11 had to content themselves with the fact that they had played Carlsen, with signed brochures, books and boards as a reminder. He turned none down. As for where Carlsen will be tomorrow? Only his manager knows.

Prior to his defending his world chess title against challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia, Magnus Carlsen plays in the 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan--piloting the Norwegian team to a surprising 5th place finish while Karjakin and the Russian team finished 3rd behind Ukraine and champion again after 40 years U. S. A.                     (Photo by Paquito Suringa, Jr.) Carlsen: An hour with the Moscow physicists Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez                Tia Belau Newspaper                December 29, 2002 -- December 09, 2016                Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)                The Beginning of Chess in Palau                By Roberto Hernandez                Soon to be published as a book               The History of Chess in Palau               By Roberto Hernandez               June 09, 2002 -- December 09, 2016