Contact: Barbara A. DeMaro
November 17, 1998			                            (845) 562-8350 x137
Release #98B 					

KASPAROV-KRAMNIK BLITZ CHALLENGE ON ICC!

World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov and world #3 Vladimir Kramnik will play a 24 game blitz chess match in Moscow at the Kosmos Hotel, a previous co-sponsor of the Moscow Chess Olympiad, on November 27 and 28. The two Super-Grandmasters will be playing twelve 5-minute chess games each day, beginning at noon EST (5pm GMT), for $24,000 in prize money. The prize money will be split according to the score in the match, so effectively there is $1,000 riding on each game.

The Internet Chess Club is proud to be a sponsor of this, the strongest blitz match in history. Kasparov is currently rated 2815 by FIDE (#1 in the world) and Kramnik is rated 2780 (#3 in the world).

The games will be transmitted live to spectators from around the world on the Internet Chess Club. Observers on the ICC will be able to watch the games, chat with other observers, and see commentary of grandmasters and other strong players. World Champion Garry Kasparov is expected to make a pre-match appearance on the ICC to answer questions on Sunday, November 22nd from 4PM to 5PM EST.

This is the first pay-per-view event on the ICC. All proceeds from the sale of tickets go to the event organizers to pay for the prize fund. To find out how to watch this event for a two-day cost of $16 tune in to:

For more information about this item, contact Barbara DeMaro. For information about other chess events, contact Assistant Director Eric C. Johnson, U.S. Chess Federation, 3054 NYS Route 9W, New Windsor, NY 12553; phone: (845) 562-8350; FAX: (914) 561-2437; or see our weekly news column on the World Wide Web: http://www.uschess.org.