Bulgarian breaks chess marathon record
1 hour ago
Associated Press
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — A Bulgarian grandmaster appears to have broken the world record for the highest number of chess games played simultaneously, organizers said Monday.
Kiril Georgiev played a total of 360 games simultaneously, winning 284, drawing 70 and losing six, during a marathon that lasted 14 hours and 8 minutes in Sofia’s Inter Expo Center, the organizers said.
The record number of games and the winning percentage of 88 percent will allow Georgiev to apply formally for entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. His percentage total is reached by having each win count as a point and each draw as a half point. That means Georgiev scored 319 points out of a possible 360.
The Guinness Book says the current record for most simultaneous games played was set in 2005 by Susan Polgar, the Hungarian-American four-time women’s world champion.
Polgar played 326 games, winning 309, drawing 14 and losing only three.
Here is the summary by Chessdom.com
The chess record minute by minute
360 players and as many chess enthusiasts were present in the Expo Center before the start of the simul, the Chessdom.com journalists reported. On table 1 the organizers have placed a priest for godspeed (see photos below). GM Georgiev started taking the opponents one after the other and after the first hour he had a perfect score of over 50 games won. The first draw came as a courtesy to the priest on table 1, again for luck or simply as a superstition, GM Georgiev offered to share the point.
The major weapon of Kiril Georgiev were the gambits and tricky sacrifices, expecting many players to be surprised in the opening and to reach fast a winning position. However, that task was not easy as there were many players 2000+ who put up a solid fight choosing top lines. With every move Georgiev was looking more tired, but still concentrated in the games. It was critical to win more games faster, as by the rules of the attempt the tables that finish are removed and the active ones are brought together, thus shortening the walking distance.
Kiril Georgiev reached move 19 after 10 hours of play. This was enough to make more than half of the players be in losing positions, however, at the same time there were 19 people with half a point as well. The remaining games were important, as for the record to be valid 80% of the games had to be won by the Bulgarian GM.
At move 24 there were 50 tables left (out of 360). Most of them were balanced games and Kiril Georgiev opted for positional play. This increased the time of each game, but also was good strategy for increasing the score of the simul. Surprisingly for all, Kiril Georgiev declined several of the time outs after this and refused to stop to the very end.
The last game finished after 14 hours and 14 minutes and the numerous audience that stayed in the Expo Center until the last moment celebrated with Champagne the great performance of Kiril Georgiev.
ChessBase.com (previous stats at Palm Beach Gardens, FL):
- Most Simultaneous Games Played: official record against 326 players: 309 wins, 14 draws and 3 losses = 96.93% in 16 hours and 30 minutes (the previous record was 321 games, with 294 wins, 26 draws, 1 loss = 95.64%, by IM Andrew Martin, England).
- Most games won: 309 (Andrew Martin: 294)
- Highest percentage: 96.93% (Andrew Martin: 95.64%)
- 1,131 Consecutive Games Played: Overall statistics which included 551 opponents: 1,112 wins, 16 draws and 3 losses = 99.03% (previous record: 1102 games by WGM Anna-Maria Botsari, Greece)
Records broken: 360 games and 14 hours and 8 minutes.
Records remain: 309 games won, 96.93% winning percentage and 1,131 consecutive games.
I am very happy that GM Georgiev did it. Perhaps IM Martin and I will attempt in the future to do this again. This kind of positive publicity is good for chess.
Knight suspended for one game
February 23, 2009 · Print This Article
BY JEFF WALKER | A-J SPORTS EDITOR
Texas Tech head coach Pat Knight will not be on the bench on Wednesday when the Red Raiders play at Texas.
Knight has been suspended for one game by the Big 12 Conference for his comments following Saturday’s 79-73 loss to Texas A&M.
The conference posted a release on its web site right after Knight finished with his weekly teleconference with the Big 12. The release included a statement from Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe.
The release stated that Knight’s comments were a violation of the Big 12 Conference’s Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Rules.
“I am disappointed that Coach Knight committed this violation soon after a January 31 incident during the Texas Tech game against Nebraska for which he was publicly reprimanded,” Beebe said in the statement. “I was extremely lenient in that case and chose not to suspend Coach Knight. The nature and extent of his comments after the Texas A&M game, and his callous attitude in light of his commitment to me to abide by the rules, require a serious penalty.”
Knight received two technicals and ran onto the court to argue a call when play was stopped in the game against Nebraska.
Following Monday’s teleconference, Knight said he was expecting a fine or suspension after he made the comments and told his coaches such after his Saturday news conference.
Knight said he didn’t think the suspension was related to his public reprimand.
“I don’t think one has anything to do with the other,” Knight told the A-J. “If I have to get my point across and it’ll get me fired, I’ll do it if I think I’m right.
“There’s two ways you can get your point across. You can get a technical or get thrown out of a game or you can say something. I was not going to get thrown out again, so when I was asked the question, I answered it. I knew I’d get fined or suspended, but I had to get my point across for my players. If that’s the only way to bring attention to it, that’s what you have to do.”
Following Saturday’s loss, Knight was asked about the free-throw shooting discrepancy in which the Aggies went to the line 51 times while the Red Raiders shot 22 free throws. Four Tech players fouled out.
“I don’t care right now what the Big 12 thinks,” Knight said following the game. “They tell us to send tapes in and that obviously doesn’t work. Call (someone in the league office) and talk to them … it’s just tough. I don’t care about me, it’s my kids. My kids bust their butt and they have enough of a time playing against A&M let alone have somebody else they have to play against. I just think it’s a shame. Take nothing away from A&M, but we play at home and they get 50 free throws and I have, shoot, four guys that foul out. It’s just not right.”
Assistant coach Stew Robinson is in charge of scouting the Longhorns. Knight said Robinson and associate head coach Chris Beard will control the bench against the Longhorns.
Congratulations to GM Kiril. Bulgarians are best!
Now wouldn’t it have been a lot more fun if the contest involved eating 360 hot dogs instead?
Bulgarians are always best! Just look at Topalov, Stefanova, Ivkov and Cheparinov.
Ivkov is not a Bulgarian.
If Ivkov is good then we make him a Bulgarian. No problem. Bulgarians can do everything.
“Bulgarians can do everything.”
Go BULGARIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Simultaneous games dont not count as Consecutive Games Played.
Consecutive means “following one after the other in order” not played at the same time.
Does anyone have any information on more Consecutive Games games beening played ( one after another ) non-stop than the record set in New Zealand in 1991 of 665 games ( without a break ) in 62 hours and 55 mins ?