British chess grandmaster Nigel Short will pit his mind against 30 of Ballarat’s best players this evening at the Ballarat Library – all at the same time.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Short, 50, will play a simultaneous exhibition at the invitation of the Ballarat Chess Club in the lead-up to the Begonia Open this weekend, when hundreds of chess players will come to Ballarat for the prestigious tournament held at ballarat Clarendon College.
President of the Ballarat Chess Club Patrick Cook says he is easily the strongest player ever to come to the city.
“He was, at his peak, the number two chess player in the world. In the 1993 World Championship match against Kasparov, most people gave him no chance whatsoever. But it was a very exciting match; in a couple of games he threw every move at Kasparov. He’s a great tactical player, he’ll sacrifice pieces to get a quick, direct attack on the king and go for checkmate.”
The event is open to the public and the Chess Club doors will open at 6.30 for a 7.30 start to the exhibition. Mr Short will also be the guest at a dinner at Craig’s Royal Hotel on Friday evening and will give an address at Ballarat Clarendon College at 7.30pm welcoming players to the Begonia Open.
