By Staff Writer
English grandmaster, Nigel David Short, MBE, is to give chess in Samoa an international boost by attending the launching of the Samoa Chess Federation this weekend.
Short is the vice president of the official governing body of international chess, FIDE.
He will challenge 20 players simultaneously at the official opening of the new national sporting body at the Petesa HRPP Hall from 3.00pm-5.00pm. on Saturday.
Samoa is his last destination in a visit that started in 6 other pacific nations.
“Chess enthusiast or not; this is a once in a life-time opportunity to play against a World renowned chess Grandmaster that has played at the highest level,” a statement from the soon to be formed Samoa Chess Federation announced.
The grandmaster first attracted major media publicity as a chess prodigy when he defeated the then 2nd best Chess player, Viktor Korchnoi, when he was only 10 years of age.
“Of his many accolades in the Chess world; in 1993 Short’s challenge for the World Chess Champion comes to mind, falling short against Garry Kasparov, who is renowned in Chess circles as one of the greatest players to have ever played the game,” the statement continued.
Short earned the Grandmaster title at the age of 19, and was ranked third in the world by FIDE from July 1988 to July 1989.