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Boris Becker vs Nigel Short
"Tennis, Anyone?" (game of the day Dec-05-2011)
London Classic Exhibition (2011) (exhibition), Dec-03
Spanish Game: Schliemann Defense. Exchange Variation (C63)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Boris Becker vs Nigel Short (2011) Tennis, Anyone?
Photograph © 2011 Ray Morris-Hill


Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Dec-05-11  bubuli55: The picture was taken on the sixth move when Mr Becker was picking his N to e5.
Dec-05-11  TheaN: <erniecohen: I don't quite understand why anyone thinks that there are untapped hoardes of potential chess enthusiasts who are going to be drawn in by an exhibition game played by a tennis champion of 20 years ago.>

No enthusiasts, indeed. Laymen who might have played a game here or there, and enjoy seeing a former spotlight sportsman play a just as similar exhibition chess game. That, and seeing someone like Short finding time to play such a person to boot. Real useful time spending? No. Fun? Sort of.

Dec-05-11  Ezzy: <FSR: Becker is evolving as a player. Eleven years ago he played 2.Qh5 against Kasparov. B Becker vs Kasparov, 2000>

Yes, Boris seems to like this Qh5 move. I think he should omit it from his repertoire. 8 Qh5 against Short was more tempting though, because at least it was a check. I see that as evolving!

Dec-05-11  knighterrant999: This game is a complete waste of cyberspace. Or does the game serve to prove that Short can beat someone, anyone, at London?!
Dec-05-11  kackhander: <This game is a complete waste of cyberspace>

Too true: it could have been an amusing picture of a cat, or someone expressing an opinion. Tragic.

Dec-05-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Short can beat Becker in chess, but Becker can beat Short is tennis.
Dec-05-11  SimonWebbsTiger: It's not a waste of cyberspace at all.

Or did people think the great German Tennis player could beat Nigel in a PR event for the Classic?

Dec-05-11  Rob Lob Law: Look at all these negative comments. I shouldn't be surprised, since most chess players are incapable of having fun, even for just one day. Every minute of every day is deadly serious for the chess player. I suspect that having this attitude is punishment in itself. Who would want to interact with such sullen, arrogant egotists?
Dec-05-11  lemaire90: ^^True that !
Dec-05-11  Deathstroke: I prefer to see this in a different light. Did anyone notice the "Chess in Schools and Communities" poster attached to the table in the photo? I see this as a famous tennis star lending his name in an attempt to bring more awareness and popularity to a game that is (let's face it) floundering in the international community.

I personally believe that every child should be taught chess as part of their early school curriculum (although I wouldn't require a "passing grade" or any such in it).

The fact that Becker went into a game that he <knew> he was going to be trounced in just shows how much he wants to get people more involved with it.

As for Mr. Short, he may have given Becker a sound thrashing, but he didn't have to play at all. He also <knew> that nothing would come of this game... and I've met too many players who won't even <talk> to one more than 200 points below them in rating.

Dec-05-11  kevin86: 14 d4 was a real double-fault
Dec-05-11  gun0m: this damn game wasted my time....
Dec-05-11  xthred: Very fun GOTD.
Dec-05-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Phony Benoni: Alekhine vs Russian Tennis Club, 1932
Dec-05-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  SteinitzLives: Let's have Becker play Sting, maybe a celebrity chess tournament.
Dec-05-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Madonna and Tom Scholz, from the 70s band Boston, play. Scholz has an engineering degree from MIT!
Dec-05-11  knighterrant999: Is Short wearing lipstick?
Dec-05-11  mrbasso: The first and only win for Short in London?
Dec-05-11  shakespeare: Bum bum Boris
Dec-05-11  haydn20: I'm a big tennis fan, and one of the most fun days I ever had was watching a friend play in a charity celebrity pro-am. It wasn't great tennis, but so what? [The friend was a retired pro.]
Dec-05-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  kingscrusher: Video footage :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9OR...

Available in HD - Choose 720!

Dec-05-11  screwdriver: Where is the analysis? Let's get some analysis please. I'm big fan of Boris Becker, and it looks like this other guy barely squeaked by him in this game.
Dec-05-11  swordfish: Former tennis great Becker seems like a real sportsman. I can't quote a source but recall that years ago he played an exhibition against no other than Garry Kasparov. Becker reportedly requested GK "Don't embarrass me too badly," to which the chess champ replied, "I am sure that if we played tennis, the ball would find me, no matter where I was on the court."
Dec-05-11  Shams: <swordfish> I'm being obtuse I guess, but wouldn't it be the opposite, Becker's ball consistently "finding" the spot on the court where Garry wasn't?
Dec-06-11  PaulLovric: Seeing that this is a game between a chess player and a sportsman, i thought i'd ask about chess boxing; it has always excited me. Anyone got some info. or links?
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