On Chess: At 13, Carlsen drew with Kasparov
Saturday March 3, 2012 9:04 AM

The CBS series 60 Minutes recently offered a segment on 21-year-old Magnus Carlsen, the top-rated chess player in the world.

Featured was footage of a speed game in Reykjavik, Iceland, with then-No. 1 Garry Kasparov —when Carlsen was only 13.

Arriving a half-hour late, Kasparov was uncharacteristically subdued. He neither smiled nor shook hands before or after the game.

At one point, the teenager unexpectedly left his chair while Kasparov was pondering a move. Apparently, the kid was bored.

Viewing the tape with 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon, Carlsen recalled: “I thought to myself, ‘You know what? I don’t know why he’s thinking. But I know what my response is going to be anyway. So I’ll just walk off and watch the other games.’ ”

The draw that ensued was a coup for the teen.

“When I actually got a winning position, I had little time, I was nervous and I couldn’t finish him off,” Carlsen said. “I was playing Kasparov. I was intimidated.”

“You were intimidated by playing the world’s champion when you were already 13 years old?” Simon teased.

“Yeah, go figure,” Carlsen replied with a shrug.

Source: http://www.dispatch.com

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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