Latest news with #Kasparov
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Disney+ Rematch star admits he thought 'ridiculous' character trait was too much
Christian Cooke stars in Disney+'s new chess drama Rematch as real-life grandmaster Garry Kasparov Rematch lead Christian Cooke underwent extensive physical and mental training for his role as chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in the enthralling new series now streaming on Disney+. Despite this, he confessed to initially resisting a distinctive trait of Kasparov's, which audiences will notice recurring throughout the captivating six-part run. First aired in France last year, the series has finally arrived for UK viewers eager to witness the tense and true tale of Russian genius Kasparov challenging IBM's supercomputer Deep Blue in 1997 chess bouts. Kasparov's commitment to fitness is consistently depicted in the drama, with scenes showing him breaking from chess strategising to perform push-ups in his hotel room - a frequent sight each episode. The star revealed in a chat with Express Online: "I kind of fought back against it initially", reports the Express. "I initially thought it was a bit ridiculous, right? I'm not afraid to say that." However, after discussions with Rematch's co-creator Yan England, Cooke acknowledged the physicality was aptly chosen for his character and began to see the reasoning behind it. Cooke elaborated: "But, the thing is, Garry was very fit and he was the first chess grandmaster to really approach it like an athlete. "He was very fit, he ran a lot, he did a lot of push-ups. Approaching a match, he was very strict about his diet and his training. And so, now there is this accepted thing of 'healthy body, healthy mind'. "I don't know if chess players were really putting much thought behind that in the '90s and before that as well, but he'd been doing that in the '80s, since before he was world champion." Kasparov's legacy isn't just about his iconic matches against the machine. The series introduces viewers to a host of chess legends Kasparov defeated, including the Russian prodigy Anatoly Karpov (portrayed by Szabolcs Ruszina). Cooke highlights how the series' flashbacks capture Kasparov's belief in the importance of physical fitness alongside mental agility, especially during gruelling tournaments. "His match with Karpov, when he won the world championship, it went on for five months," Cooke recounts. "It's psychological and you have to be really fit to endure that. If you're sat at a computer and you work for10 hoursa day, writing or whatever, you're knackered. And it's that times 100, I think. "So, I said to Yan, 'Look, I'm going to trust you with this, but it feels a bit ridiculous to me'. But I do think it works. "It's sort of his little quirk, so that's one of those leaps of faith you take. I'm going to do this and hope I don't get egg on my face." The team behind Rematch can breathe a sigh of relief, as the show has garnered glowing reviews from both fans and critics alike. With its UK streaming debut, even more viewers are set to be captivated by the enthralling drama based on fascinating real events.
Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Rematch review — when Garry Kasparov met his match against Deep Blue
The chess master's face frowns over the board: his pieces are dwindling. Calculations click away within the boxy computer sitting opposite him. The master's thoughts whir: 'It wants to take my pawn on B7 and put the Queen on D5. But when I push to F3 it will weaken its King.' But then … his face darkens. In his complacency he has underestimated the machine. He resigns. The man is Garry Kasparov, the machine Deep Blue and the scene comes early on in Rematch (Disney+), a year before the iconic 1997 tussle that lends itself to the title. This is an irresistible prospect. As The Queen's Gambit showed a few years ago, two giant minds competing intensely over a chess board makes for weirdly compelling
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Gukesh in different position as world champ because Magnus Carlsen is there: Kasparov
Russian chess icon Garry Kasparov, whose record of being the youngest world champion was bettered by D Gukesh, feels that the Indian is in a "different situation" compared to him as Norwegian Magnus Carlsen is considered, "by all metrics", a better player than the Chennai teenager. Gukesh was 17 when he defeated China's reigning world champion Ding Liren in a 14-game showdown to claim the coveted title last year. Kasparov was 22 when he clinched the world crown back in 1985, beating compatriot Anatoly Karpov. 'It's a phenomenal accomplishment [Gukesh' world championship win]. But I beat the strongest player in the world. Gukesh is in a different situation because Magnus is there.' "So yeah Gukesh is official world champion, there is no doubt about it, but there is somebody else who is widely considered, by all metrics, as a better player," Kasparov told the YouTube channel of Saint Louis Chess Club during the Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest, Romania. This is not the first time that a comparison has been made between Gukesh and Carlsen, who is the current world number one and pursuing the ambition of a freestyle chess tour, putting him at loggerheads with the world governing body FIDE. The FIDE has made it clear that it would not allow the tour to have a world championship match as that would remain solely its domain. Kasparov has been effusive in his praise of India's current crop of chess players, including Gukesh, and described them as "Vishy's children", an ode to his contemporary and five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand. "He [Gukesh] has plenty of room and plenty of time to improve. That's a challenge that I am sure he is dealing with," Kasparov said. The Russian great felt that the 32-year-old Liren, who battled psychological issues in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and even stopped playing for a while, was not at his best during the mega-event in Singapore. "Ding at his best against Magnus… that would be a match! But then COVID ruined him. Ding after COVID was just a different player, still very tenacious, just tons of resilience. "Gukesh was just rising after he won the Candidates. Everything can happen in a world championship match because it's a long match. But Gukesh was always ahead. Ding fought heroically, he nearly saved the match. But I think it's a result that is justified. Gukesh was a better player," Kasparov conceded.
NDTV
13-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
"D Gukesh World Champion But Magnus Carlsen Considered Better": Chess Great Garry Kasparov
Russian chess icon Garry Kasparov, whose record of being the youngest world champion was bettered by D Gukesh, feels that the Indian is in a "different situation" compared to him as Norwegian Magnus Carlsen is considered, "by all metrics", a better player than the Chennai teenager. Gukesh was 17 when he defeated China's reigning world champion Ding Liren in a 14-game showdown to claim the coveted title last year. Kasparov was 22 when he clinched the world crown back in 1985, beating compatriot Anatoly Karpov. "It's a phenomenal accomplishment (Gukesh' world championship win). But I beat the strongest player in the world. Gukesh is in a different situation because Magnus is there. "So yeah Gukesh is official world champion, there is no doubt about it, but there is somebody else who is widely considered, by all metrics, as a better player," Kasparov told the YouTube channel of Saint Louis Chess Club during the Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest, Romania. This is not the first time that a comparison has been made between Gukesh and Carlsen, who is the current world number one and pursuing the ambition of a freestyle chess tour, putting him at loggerheads with the world governing body FIDE. The FIDE has made it clear that it would not allow the tour to have a world championship match as that would remain solely its domain. Kasparov has been effusive in his praise of India's current crop of chess players, including Gukesh, and described them as "Vishy's children", an ode to his contemporary and five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand. "He (Gukesh) has plenty of room and plenty of time to improve. That's a challenge that I am sure he is dealing with," Kasparov said. The Russian great felt that the 32-year-old Liren, who battled psychological issues in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and even stopped playing for a while, was not at his best during the mega-event in Singapore. "Ding at his best against Magnus… that would be a match! But then COVID ruined him. Ding after COVID was just a different player, still very tenacious, just tons of resilience. "Gukesh was just rising after he won the Candidates. Everything can happen in a world championship match because it's a long match. But Gukesh was always ahead. Ding fought heroically, he nearly saved the match. But I think it's a result that is justified. Gukesh was a better player," Kasparov conceded. PTI PM PM ATK ATK Listen to the latest songs, only on
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Gukesh in different position as world champ because Magnus Carlsen is there: Kasparov
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Russian chess icon Garry Kasparov , whose record of being the youngest world champion was bettered by D Gukesh , feels that the Indian is in a "different situation" compared to him as Norwegian Magnus Carlsen is considered, "by all metrics", a better player than the Chennai teenager. Gukesh was 17 when he defeated China's reigning world champion Ding Liren in a 14-game showdown to claim the coveted title last year. Kasparov was 22 when he clinched the world crown back in 1985, beating compatriot Anatoly Karpov."It's a phenomenal accomplishment (Gukesh' world championship win). But I beat the strongest player in the world. Gukesh is in a different situation because Magnus is there."So yeah Gukesh is official world champion, there is no doubt about it, but there is somebody else who is widely considered, by all metrics, as a better player," Kasparov told the YouTube channel of Saint Louis Chess Club during the Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest, is not the first time that a comparison has been made between Gukesh and Carlsen, who is the current world number one and pursuing the ambition of a freestyle chess tour, putting him at loggerheads with the world governing body FIDE (International Chess Federation).The FIDE has made it clear that it would not allow the tour to have a world championship match as that would remain solely its has been effusive in his praise of India's current crop of chess players, including Gukesh, and described them as "Vishy's children", an ode to his contemporary and five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand "He (Gukesh) has plenty of room and plenty of time to improve. That's a challenge that I am sure he is dealing with," Kasparov Russian great felt that the 32-year-old Liren, who battled psychological issues in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and even stopped playing for a while, was not at his best during the mega-event in Singapore."Ding at his best against Magnus... that would be a match! But then COVID ruined him. Ding after COVID was just a different player, still very tenacious, just tons of resilience."Gukesh was just rising after he won the Candidates. Everything can happen in a world championship match because it's a long match. But Gukesh was always ahead. Ding fought heroically, he nearly saved the match. But I think it's a result that is justified. Gukesh was a better player," Kasparov conceded.
