Magnus Carlsen's win at chess from the machines

In a series of matches televised around the globe, Garry Kasparov, the world champion in chess, was defeated by Deep Blue by IBM. Bryan Graham, the Guardian's US deputy sports editor, tells Michael Safi that he still vividly recalls those games played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was as if chess were changed forever.

Magnus Carlsen's win at chess from the machines


 

The game of chess is currently undergoing a pivotal change. The popularity of online chess has increased dramatically, as well as the success of The Queen's Gambit on Netflix. Computer breakthroughs have made the game more accessible and easier to learn. The best players simply memorize the "perfect" moves, which are determined by computers. This reinforces a style that often ends in a draw.

It seemed that the five first games of this year's Dubai world championship were following a predictable pattern. They all ended in 'perfect draws'. Then Magnus Carlsen, the reigning world champion, surprised his opponent and shocked chess fans all over. In a match that blew away expectations, it was a win for humans over machines.

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