SCIENCE

BAHRAIN -- The first steps to deciding who rules the chess world were taken yesterday, as Brains in Bahrain, the next installment of the Man vs Machine saga, was unveiled to the world’s media. In what proved to be a tense and informative press conference held in the surroundings of the Galleria, Chelsea Football Club, Vladimir Kramnik and his opponent Deep Fritz came face to face for the first time. Master of ceremonies Grandmaster Raymond Keene kicked of the event by introducing the two protagonists in the style of a boxing announcer: Representing mankind was the World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik. Representing machines was the most advanced and powerful computer chess program in the world, Deep Fritz. The big fight analogy was further enhanced by the presence of two boxing champions who acted as Kramnik’s bodyguards. Former Middleweight Champion of the World, Nigel Benn, and former Welterweight Champion of the World, Kevin Leushing ensured Kramnik reached the stage unmolested and certainly added an air of menace to proceedings. Deep Fritz was represented by Dutch programmer Frans Morsch and Frederic Friedel of Chessbase. The entrance of Fritz was a little more refined aided as it was by two blond models dressed in dark suits and shades to resemble a couple of characters straight out of the film Men in Black. The world’s media was reportedly gripped as Raymond Keene divulged the details of the long awaited re-match between man and machine that is to take place in Bahrain between the 12th of October and the 1st of November. If Kramnik wins he will be US $1million better off, and still stands to pick up $800 thousand for a draw and $600 thousand if he loses. Although both parties came across as quietly confident Kramnik admitted to being “quite scared to hear the computer can see 4 million moves a second. I'll be happy to do one a second". For more information visit www.brainsinbahrain.com