Summer 1999.44.95 Volume 10. Number 2

InAPIIA THINKING

BRAIN POWER THE MIND

LEAP FOR THE BRAIN I SECOND MIND SPORTS I BRAIN OF THE YEAR r TED HUGHES -AN APPRECIATION { l MIND SPORTS SECTION THE 3rd BIGGER AND BETTER!

OLYMPIA CONFERENCE CENTRE , 21-29 AUGUST 1999 f lOO,OOO PRIZE FUND

For MSO I and II over 4,000 participants from 64 separate countries compcted for MSO gold, silver and bronze medals

Abalone Co (l9xl9) Owari Go (l3xl3) Pentamind Bridge Go (9x9) Hexdame Pub Quiz Chcss Problcm Solving IQ Competition Puzzle Solving Chincsc Chcss () Japanese Chess Rummikub Continuo (Shosi) Scrabble Creative Thinking Jigsaw Puzzles Settlers ofCatan Cribbage Lincs ofAction (LOA) Skat (German rules) Crossword Puzzles Magic The Gathering Speed Reading Dccamcntathlon Mastennind Stratego (8x8) Memory Skills (l'Attaque) Draughts ( I0x l0) Mental Calculations Twixt Bntropy Othello () Zate OPEN TO EVERYONE!! For the first time, titles and ratings are to be gained in all tournaments.

Early indications are that the number ofparticipants at the 3rd Mind Sports Olympiad will show a significant increase on last year and we arc pleased to announce that we have decided to move the event to a larger venue.

To enter contact: David Le\y Tel: +44 (0)171 435 9496: Fax:. +44 (O)17 | 435 2870 website: http://www.mindsports.co.uk/ S YNA PS _ SUMMER 1999 'A SY'YAPS'A EDITORIAL A Feast of @od ttings

Among the many exciting anicles in this and eveq/one of us has, and how w€ learn issue we cowr the Brain Trust Brain of to learn. Learning, as most ofus know, the Year Event, held at Mosimann's on the continues for the duration ofour lives and ls January 1999. The ioint winners, John it is the purpose of Syndpsio to facilirate Glenn and l4ichael Gelb. have each dem- that process to the best of the editorial o.strated in their achievements that qual- team's ability. ity ofchildlike curiosiq/which has been the hallmark of great minds throuSh the I would be very glad to ages.lohn Glenn in his childhood dreamt r€ceive your comments on this issue - ofexploring space, dreams which haw your f€€dback is vital! ln our next lssue I persisted throuah the years as witness would like to expand the letters page, his magnificent return to space last year at so please write, ring, fax or \ the a8e of77!The young MichaelGelb became passionately interested in his- tory's Srear achieveru - an anterest that Lady Mary Tovey, has culminated in the writinaofhis latest, Cresswell Associates Ltd., and perhaps greatest, book: How to think I 25 Gloucester Road, like Leondtdo do Vin i. London SW7 4TE We all feel a great sense of sadness and Tet 017 I 373 4457 lcs at the untimelydeath of Ted Hughes, Fax 0l71 373 8673 a past winner of the Brain of the Year Ernail: [email protected] award. we are indeed fonunate in beirle able to print one ofhis hitherto unpub- lished poems, written for the occasion of a Memodad. The poem was used for a test whereby the contstants had to re- THE BRAIN CLUB CIIARTEi member the exact way in which the The Bmi. Clllb wa incorponted on I 5 punctuation Poem was written, with May I 989. lts oflicial chaner states the marks, spellings, capitalisation marks, etc. Club's fomal plrposes: We believe however that our readers will appreciate it a5 a po€m in its own right, rd To p.onote resedch into the study refle€ting as it does HuShes's continuing of tioL€ht process€s, and into the search for the truth ofthings... another iM3tit.tion of the mechei6 of way of sayinS 'intellectual curiosity'! thhklng as manifest€d ln leaming, undeFtandi.t, @mmuniGtion, And to further entice and stimulate problem-solving,.reativiiy md d*i- your own childlike curiosit/, we have our regular columns and contributors - the B. To dlss€minate the results ofsuch Mind Spons section, and the Mind Map reseeh and sndy. Gallery, which includes the three brilliant C. To pronote teneralt education and winning entries in the Mind Sports Olym- tralning in cognitive processes and piad World Mind Map Championshipfor Gold, Silver and Bronze - won respec- D. To develop and exploit new tech- tively by Elaine Colliar, Lana lsraeland niques in

Editor-in-Chiel Tony Buzan CONTENTS Executive Editor Lady Mar/ Tovey Editorial Board FEATURES

Ray Keene OBE Sir Brian Tovey KCMG BRAIN OF THE YEAR 1999 Lady Mar), Tovey The annual Brain of the Year award prowd to b€ as difficult a decision as ever. Chess Jonathan Tisdall reports on Cartoonist I ND SPORTS OI-YMP|AD 1994 Published by The second annual Mind Sports Olympiad took place in London The Braan Foundation, 20 ar the NovotelHotel, on AuSust 24-30last year. and Chris Dickson report.

Dorset BH l5 2PX Tel: (01202) 674676 (inside UK) +44 (120?) 674676 (outside UK) REGULARS

The ediror reseres the right to shonen, 3 Editorial dend or chdge any contribution 4cepted for publi@tion. Ple& submit 5 Synaptic Flashes conributions on disk (ASCIlorword 6.0 are the prefered forma6) ifpo$ible. lf l4 lind ilap Gallery you Mdd like atti

The term and concepr l''1ind llap@ 17 Poetry refered to in this publication isa ta A Million lor ilind Sports r€gistered trademdk.

P6cub. the world's fatest brain cnoonist, is happy to provide canoons baed on Iour idea and requests. All

Design, anwork and rypesettint by Byron MIND SPORTS leobs dAndrew Kinsman. a Chess 29 Bridge 6AE E6t Su$ex TN37 30 Chinese Chess 3t Crossword

John Glenn: PAi Aill Gates: Rex Features. SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999

SYNAPTIC FLASHES Lalesl Erain ,Yervs

A Bridge too tar? Pinker's How the /Vrnd work lvhich is de- Bridge players will be relieved to know scribed by Roben Matthews as like that, although computers can perform to 'spendinS an evening listeningto a brilliant the very highest standards at chess, they friend recount astream offascinating sto- are yet to achieve quite the same level at ries.' Pinker's earlier work The LarEuoge bridge. \rr'hereas chess lends itself per- irstind narrowly missed out on winning fe€tly to the kind of analytical tehniqus the 1995 prize. at which computers e)rcel, they are as yet Other titles on the shonlast include unableto master the inferen€e and judg- Morying the Mind b'/ Nl:ca.ter showing mentalskills necessary at the highest level you just what goes on inside your head, in bridge. One Reregode Cel, by Robert Weinberg Recently the top bridge-playing com- which delves in to the origins of cancer, puter, Goren-in-a-Bo{ competed in the Consilien.e - The Unity ofKnowledse by World Championships in Lille and Edward O. Wilson which aftempts to achieved a creditable l2th place overall. bridge the Saps between different scien- Although the computer performed ex- tific disciplines to form acoherentwhole, cellently in the latter stages ofthe set The Mon fio loved only Numbe6 by Paul plays, where its analyticalskills come to Hoffman the biography of Paul Erdos, one the fore, in the early stages its lack of ex- of the ereatest - and most eccentric - p€rience and intuition meant that itws mathematicians of the 20th centuD/ and unable to'second guess'the best way to Iinally Sylvia Nasar's A Beouriftr, /vlind play. Bridge has two main elements that which tells the story oflohn Nash who make it very difficult for a computer to recovered from schizophreniato win the 1994 Nobel Prize for Econom.c!. First, whereas chess always starts f.om the same position with allthe pieces on Cracking the Code display, in bridge the hand always starts Regular readers will be well aware that from a difierent staning position with the Ih€ Times crossword competitjon js now playeronly having knowledge of his or her a regular feature of the l,lind Sports own and the'dummy'. Top bridge plaFls Olympiad. But dad you knowthat over 50 have a highly developed insight into the yeaE ago there wd a crossword compe- game that enables them to make in- tition with a difference? The challenSe was formed decisions about what cards each to complete The Doily t€legrdph cross- of the other players are holding and how word puzzle in less than 12 minutes. ea€h play will run. At the moment com- Twenty-five entria were taken and the puters do not have similar skills. competitorc w€re asked to report to The Second, bridge relis panly on com- Doit lelesroph ofiices one Saturday in munication between tlvo panners; com- )anuary 1947. puters have problems understanding what Unfortunately, the first player com- their partners are trying to tellthem, and plete the puzle, Vere Chance, who took run into problems of interpretation iftheir onlysix minutes, was disqualified for panner makes a less than 'perfet' bid, spellinS a word wrong. However, four of which is inevitable when playing humans. the other entranc did manage to com- plete the puzzle in less than l2 minutes Science Book Award and they, along with one or two of the The shonlist for the prstigious $6ne- other panicipants who came close were Poulenc prize has just been announced. later interviewed by Ml8. Thosethar Six titles covering a broad Enge ofscien- were successful in the inrerview were tific subjects are stillin the runningfrom then recruited by the Armed Forces to an original lilt of90 nominations. The work at Sletchley Park to cnck wartime favourite for the { I 0,000 prize is Stephen S YNA PS IA - SUMMER 1999

BRAIN OF THE YEARAWARD 1999

The anFual Bralh ol the Year awa.d provgd to be a3 ditticult a deci3ion tt gve?. Chest Grandma3tet .ronathan lisdall rePorts.

tuigl1t: A{rcnout l.hn Ct.nn loin *inrq ofrhe $tuhof.h.f. owdd orysn obow: Arcin drhe Y.ot .n-

OPPGi.. b.,owi i.rdissan.€ mo, Mi- cho.t G.h - joint wi.nct drh. Nain d SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999

l{ew Becord Prire Thanks to Swedish sponsorc BURE, the 1999 graln ofthe Year Award enjoyed unprecedented prestige, and can prepare millennium ceJebrations with optimism. 8URE, an internationa growth and knowledse-baled company, runded a generous {20,000 prize, gilding the annual honou.. ln rhe wo.ds ofthe /dependenl's Cr€ativitycolumnist Bruce Birchall:'The Brain ofthe Year Award has now esiab- lished itselfamongst the premier prizes availade in this country for intellectual achlevement, on a par with the Booker, the Turner and theWhitbread.' BURE is active in education. heakh care, manaSement traininS, lnformation technology and infomedia, areas that link up wellwith the Brain Trust charity's mandare to suppon brain research and popularise the quest for intellectualex' cellence. With BURE's suppon, rhis proi- ect took aSiant step towards public

Whal counts most? The choice ofawinnerwas more difficuk than ever before. The demanding list of SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999

criteria introduced a ranSe of concerns for politics. Also l'4ind Sportsmen and the Trust iury. Which criteria should carry women, including reigning World Memory the most weight?Would it be possible to ChampionAndi Bell, who shattered the ignore the temptation of naming a media- records of former Brain of the Year win- friendly winner? who dactly would the ner Dominic O'Brien. Awesome academ- most media-friendly winner be, anyway? ics adorn the list, and many who combine Tony Buzan and Vanda North, Co- Chairs ofthe BrainTrust Charity, sup- Susan Grenfield's combination ol poned by their Committee, includinS best-sellinS books and barrier-breaking Raymond Keene OBE and Lady l'4ary To- career milestones demand recognition. vey, would have to jugSle these consid- My peEonalbet for a top finalistwasAn- erations. The Iirst task w6 towhitde drewWles, for his cra€king of Fermat's down the contenders from a preliminary classic conundrum. I discovered that De- cut of 21. mis Hassabis shared this hunch durinS a conreBation where, much to his surprise, Academics, Authots and Demis learned that he himself had eone Astronomy torward to the finalsix instead! The difiicult/ facing the Trust quickly be- ln the end, the shortlist became evenly comes clearwhen examining the blend of divided by gender. something which worthy names and demanding conditions. sparked speculation that the 1999 winner There are heavyweights from several would be a woman. Perhaps the late- fields - spon, cinema, business and comer, I I -year"old Jessie Gilben, cenain

BRAIN OF THE YEAR 1999 Synchroniciiy and Surprises To recognise superlative mental achieve- On Friday,lanuary l5th, the awards ment each year, Tony Buzan and Vanda ceremony took place at Mosimann's, the North, Co-Chails ofthe Brain Trust Char- top London club and restaurant, asuitably ity, supported by their Committee which eleeant setting for the champagne reep- includes Raymond Keene OBE, Sir Brian rion and rlinnerto fdllow. Formerwin.eB Tovey and Lady Mary Tovey, inaugurated Dominic O'Brien, Lana lsraeland Leif the Brain ofthe Year Award in 1991. To Edvinsson were present, alonS with re- po.teB many countries in- qualify for consideration for this prestig- representing cluding Sweden and the Ukraine. ious award, individuals must meet the Roger Holtback, Managing Director following criteriai and CEO of BURE. presented the prizes and a blue crystal trophy designed by I ) The candidates must be pre-eminent in their chosen field. noted Sredish artist BertilVallien. Holt- 2) The candidales must hav€ made a major new contribution to back's statement: 'BURE. with its interest their field in the preceding year. in health and education, and with 1999 3) The candidales must have contributed major n€w creative de- declared the Year of the Brain by the velopments to their field ofendeavour. Queen of Sweden, is deliShted to be asso- ciated with this initiative, .eflected a 4) The candidates must have made a notable effort to €ducate finely timed coincidence from the spon- others in thei chosen discipline. 5) The candidates must have integrated the principle ofMers sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body) in Mens Sana in Corpore Sano their lives. When the envelope was opened, the 6) The candidates must have exhibited persistence and stamina Bnin of the Year AMrd 1999 rent to two Americans:John Glenn and t4ichael 7) The candidates must have demonstrated a general cultural Gelb. The days of debate and discussion had resulted in a braw decision. The as- pect of corpore sono had emerged as a 8) The candidates must have demonstrably contdbuted to society. decisive factor, and couninS the local me- 9) The candidates must have demonstrated a concem for human- dia had not. Karen Morrissey, actinS cul- itv. tural attach6 for the US Embassy in Lon- l0) The candidates must be active and known on a global level. don, accepted on behalfofSenator Glenn, I l) The candidates must be outstanding role models for tlose in and modern Renaissance Man Michael their fields and for youth in general. Gelb, who has just published his definitive work on Leonardo daVinci, made a series of speech€s in which he stressed the SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999 global imponance of intelligence and this Aikido as wellas being a belt-selling award's role in promoting it. author of books on the body, the brain and thinking. These includeEody Leoning, Su.prise Award Ihinl.jngfot o Chan9e, which originated The event's youngest nominee was re- the concept of Syrwergent Thinking, and sponsible fora surprise coup. Besides Somuroi Chess. His latest book, How to being the localdarline, Jessie Gilbert's think like lEonordo dd Vin i. is a nN conf:dence and poise completely charmed world-wide bescseller, havinS risen to No BURE, and Roger Hohback announ€ed an I on amazon.com. Gelb i! also a malter impromptu prize in the course ofthe juggler, usinS jusslins a5 a metaphor for awards dinner. BURE donated a trip for the complex branches ofthinking re- ttvo to New York and a training course quired to thrive in rhe modem corporate wjth a Grandmaster to the Croydon environment. He is aTV Brain Star and schoolgirl. The training Grandmater will top psycho-physical coach to Chief Ex- be sele€ted by rhe li.nes Chess Corre- ecutive OfficeB in the USA. Michaelonce spondent Raymond Keene. Jessica men- juggled, with the RollinS Stones, on stage tioned three personal ambitionsr to be- in front ofan audience numbering 25,000! come a Chess Grandmaster, to become world champion, and to meetJohn Glennl ,6sie Gilbert (UK) A trip to the US can set the stage for all lessie Gilbert, I i, h6 become the young- at e@rwinne. ofan aduh world title.

Contenders tor the Ctown Here are brief profiles of the leading OF THE YEAR: contendeE for the award. BRAIN ROLL OF HONOUR Andi Bell (UK) After years of perseverance, eventually l99l Garry K|sparov (Russia), World became the World Memory Champion at Chess Champion - highest raled Olympiad 1998. He the Mind Sports player olall time, linguist, athlete broke the world record for the memori- and campaigner for improved sation of a pa€k of cards, memorising an global entire pack perfecdy in under 34 seconds education. 1992 Gene Rodd€nb€rry (USA), En- gineer, Philanthropist, the Gunter Carsten (Germany) originator of and mastermind behind Stdr" I/ek Gunter is a Doctor of Chemistry and 1993 Professor Stephen Hawking (UK), Astro Physicist ex- Philosophy. He won the 1998 German tmordinaire and holder ofSir Isaac Newton's Professor- Memory Championships. Responsible tor ship at Cambridge. initiativs with German major educatjonal 1994 Joint Award: Dominic O'Brien (UK), five limes World schoolchildren. He is an athlete and yoga Memory Champion and Lrna Israel (US/South Africa), Rhodes Scholar, teenage polymath and world promoter of Wiilliam (Bill) Gates (UsA) the ideal ofMental Literacy. Eill Gates is the Founder and Chairman of 1995 Dr Marion Tinsley (USA), legendary Mind Sports Microsoft which desiEns the software Champion, and the only human ever to win an official running on the majority ofthe world's World Championship against a computer, when he de- peBonal comPuters. His business made feated the awesome draughts-playing computer, Chinook. him, at the age of 36, America's younSest 1996 Ted Hughes OM (UK), Poet Laureate until his death in billionaire, and one of the world's 1998. wealthiest men- Gates' motio is 'l can do 1997 St€ven Redgrav€ CBE (UK), four times Olympic Gold anything lput my mind to'and he is well proponent known for encouraging greater intellectual Medallist in rowing, and living example ofthe achievement and aMreness within his beliefthat brain power can be the determinant for success company. He is also noted for a proda- in an ostensibly physical activity. gious memory as well d dtounding en- 1998 Leif Edvinsson (Sweden), Educator and author ofthe book Intellectual Capital which has revolutionised con- ventional thinking about company balance sheets overlhe Michael I Gelb (usA) past two yeals. MichaelGelb is a 3rd Dan black belt and teacher of the Japanese l4anial An of a

t0 SYNAPSIA _ SUMMER 1999

The Croydon High Sirlwon the Women s WorLd Amateur Chess Champonshlp at Hasrlngs, fin shinglan 7, against opposition from l3 countries. This is the culminatlon of her intensive training over the previous

lohn Glenn (uSA) ln 1998, after having been one ofthe fiEt asfonauts in space at the age of42, be- came the world s oldest astronaut at the aae of 77. He is a senior and respected US Senator, an athlete and fighter pilot. Be- cause of hls per{ect' character, he wd the bals of the film rhe Rriht Stuff

lane coodall (uK) jane Goodall is a word renowned expen on the behaviour of.himpanzees, havinS stodred them for more than 35 years. She is rhe author of numerous award-winning books on the subject and her career hd inspired many people to follow in her foorsreps. She has received honorary de- Srees and awards from numerous unirer- siiies and colleges a.ound the word in cludinS CambridSe University, the Na- Rtlht FIDE lwoth .]ress Fedeuton) Ency- ||orld ..hes.honPian anotal/ Katpov tional Geographlc Societyand the Aelow Bil Cat.s. whose ..hPont,

or susan Greenfield (UK) Professor of PharmacoloSy at Oxford University, where she is a Fellow and Tutor in l"ledicine at Lincoln College, and Professor of Physic at Gresham College, London.ln 1994 she gave, on BBC televi- sion, the Royal lnstitution Chrislmas Lec- tures on'The Brain, the first woman to deliver these lectures since they began in 1826. She h6 now been made Director of the Royal Institution, the first woman ever to hold this prestigious post in the lnstitu- tion's 200-year histor/. Her book, The Hunon Brcin, o Guided Tour, published in 1997, has become a b€st-seller.

Professor G Guttman (Austria) Professor Guttman is only the third per son this century to hold the Chalr of Psy- chology at Vienna University. Hls pio neeringwork in the measurement of brainwaves is breakins newsround in both the business and spons worlds through his e!'aluations of actiEted and relaxed mental states in relation to achievement. His revolutionary work on the psycholoSy ofchampions is baed on €onvertang traininS champions into real SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999

vaclav Havel () Czech political leader responsible for the Velvet Revolution agalnn communism. l"lajor playwrisht and an international campaigner for world peace.

Anatoly l(arpov (Russia) was World Chess Cham- plon between 1975 and 1985. Akhough he has had to be content with rhe sratus of world number two since beinS de' feated by Garry Kasp:rov in 1985, he h6 consisrendy perlormed brilliandy in lour- nament play and has managed to sustain rhe number two position in the face of Sreat sirides by rhe younger generatlon. Funhermore, follow ng the split in the chess world, he regained the FIDE (World Chess Federation) Championship title, by champions'. Majorforce behind the sLrc- defeatinglan Timman of the Netherlands. cessfulcampaign to have Auslria's 8ov- ln 1996 he convinclngly defended his title ernment proclaim l999 The Year ofthe against the youngAmerican Gara Kamsky, Brain'- while he repeated that feat in 1998 against the lndlan Viswanarhan Anand. (UK) Emerging Brain Star, cited ln fhe fimes as Akira Krrosawa (lapan) a younS business genius. Top medalwln- Akira Kurosawa died during 1998. He wd Pt.rious wtnnets af the Ston af the Y.ot ner in the 1998l'1ind Spons Olympiad. the director primarlly responsible for the Left: L.tf Edvinsso. Ch.npton af th. His company is primarily devoted to the porrrayal of the Samurai injapanese t,teo aftnt e.tL.t Cdpndl massively successf ul development of cinematography in films such as lhe Seven B.la\|: Ste,en R.dqrave Fon tine Sanwoi. Yojinbo, sonjurc, Rdshondn and SYNAPSIA SUMMER 1999 l2 -

/he Hdden Fonress. GeorSe Lucas has brilliant use of new special ef{ects tech- acknowledSed the lascnamed film as a nolo$/ and w"s one of the biggest- major inspiration for his Stor Wors series. grossing films ofalltame. His most recent Kurosawa also made a speciality of trans- film, the highly acclaimed Sding Prtdte ferring Shakespearean themes to lapanese Ryon, wa widely hailed as the lirst Holly- cinema in Iilms such s lhron€ ofB,ood wood nlm to show war as it realiy is. (Mocbeth) and Ran (Kns Leo4. Dr Sue whiting (UK) Lee Kwan Yu () DrWhitinS, five-times Ladies World A one-time Cambridge graduate in Law, MemoD/ champion, Grandmaster of in 1964 he led the island-state into the Memory, formerly an tutro Physicist, a uncharted waters of total independence. qualilied Chartered Accountant and Since then, has made singapore a byword Member of the Institute. She has demon- for enterprise, efficiency and social har- strated her immense abilityand determi- mony, and an economic and Political force nation in achieving her Grandmaster of to be reckoned with throuShout South- Memorytitle after giving up her career in Est Asia and beyond. The mover behind the City an order to raise her two younS Singapore's slogan of'Thinking Schools - children. She is a 8reat believer in mens Learning S(iety lntelligent lsland'. so'd ,n .orpore soro and holds to the view that age is no barrier to mentalability. Mark Mccwire (UsA) Broke the 'immonal record'of Babe Lord Robert winnon (UK) Ruth's 60 home runs in a baeballseaon. Lord Winston launched the ground- scoring an astonishing 70 home runs in the breakinS television series for BBC about I 997198 season. Acclaimed throughout his the mind and tuy. He is Professor of assault on the titlefor his ext.aordinary Fertility Studies, University of London, at mental powers, especially concentEtion, the lnstitute of Obstetrics and Gynaecol- creativity, persistence and communication o$/, and Consultant Obstetrician and Gy- naecologist at Hammersmith Hospital. He is a Mind Spons alicionado and aworld sir Simon Rattle (UK) authority on the bEin and education. He wa the City ofBirminsham sym- phony Orchestra's principal conductor for Andrew wiles (UK) nineteen yeaE, duringwhich period he 'l have discovered atruly marvellous led the orchestrato the very peak ofits proof, which this margan is too narrow to international reputation. He has staned contain.'with this tantalising note (possi- global initiatives forschools to brinS c.ea- bly the most famous marSinal note ever tiviry and music back into the curriculum. written), the lTth century French mathematician Pierre de Fermat threw Auns san Suu Kyi (Burma) down a challenge for future SeneEtions. Auns San Suu Kl, awarded the Nobel Although extremely simple to state, the Prize for Peace in l99l when still under problem defeared the fin*t mathematical house arrest, hd come to be seen as a minds for the next 350 years. symbol of heroic and peaceful resastance Andrew Wiles had dreamed of proving in the face ofoppression. Her National thetheorem eversince he first read about League for Democracywon the Burmese it in his local library. While the hops of national elections with an 82% majoriq/ in others had been ddhed, his dream was 1990, but the military regime refused to destined to come true. Wles devoted his surrender power. Aung San Suu Kyi, not- aftentaon to the problem for seven yea.s, withstanding six years of house arrest and during which rime he experienced both continuing restrictions on her treedom to huSe frusrration and exhilarating break- move and to speak, continues her peace- throughs.ln 1993 he announced his proof ful strugSle to wjn democEtic freedoms to the wodd, but.iSorous examination dposed a fatal flaw in his reasoninS. Un- deterred, he resumed work and linally, in Steven Spielbers (USA) 1995, he cornered his prey. This titne SpielberS is the most successful film pro- there was no flaw. Wiles's proof-whach, ducer of the lalt ten years and is noted for en possont, opend uP many new area for his creativity and originality. He is also mathematical research must surely rank renowned for his intellectual abilit/ and as one of the great intellectual achieve- indefatisability. His /urdssrc Pork made ments of the 20th century. SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999 I3

Aoceptance ol the 1999 Brain ol the Year Award on behall ot Sen. John Herschel Glenn, Ja. By Katen Mo issey, Acling cutlurat altach6 for lhe U.S, E nbasst/ ir Lordot

As an American, i1 is indeed an honour to accept this award on behalfof Sen. Jobn Herschel Glerm, Jr., who is truly an American hero and legend.

A senator from the state ofohio for an unprecedented four consecutive 1ems, John Glenn is consid- ered one ofthe Senate's leading experts on technical and scientific matters, and is widely respected for his work to prevent the spread ofweapons ofmass destruction- Jobn Glenn was also a highly decoraled Marine who flew 149 combat missions during World War II and the Korean War. In 1957, he set a transcontinental speed record from l,os Angeles to New York, spanning the country in 3 hours and 23 minutes. This was the first transcontinental flight to avemge supersonic speed.

The Manned Space Program started in 1958 and in 1959 John Glenn was selected to be one ofthe first seven astronauts in the U.S. space program's prcject Mercury. Three years later, he made history as the first American to orbit the eartl, completing three orbits during a five-hour flight in the tiny space cap, sule known as Friendship 7. For this feat, he was awarded the Space Congressional Medal ofHonor and won the hearts ofthe American people. Although he wanted to remain an active astronaul, Presi- dent Jobn Kennedy considered Glenn too valuable a national hero to a country engulfed in the Cold War to risk his life in further space flights. John Glenn resigned ftom the Manned Spacecmft Center in 1964. However, in 1998, at the age of 77, he rctumed to space aboard the Shuttle Discovery.

John Gleffr is an American icon. He represents the 'can-do' spirit of the United States that sees an ob- stacle and won't rest until it is overcome. He is a risk{aker who craves the opportunily to explore the untnown. Yet at the same time, John Glenn is a modest and deeply religious man. As adoring crowds greeted him along parade routes in Washington and New York in 1964, Glenn humbly thanked the 20.000 people drrecrly in\olved in the mission the launching crews, the men in the recovery fleet, the technicians standing by at tracking stalions all around the world, and all ofthe Mercury group at Cape Canaveral (now Cape Kennedy). He said that he was overwhelmed by the outburst ofnational pride. Like a herc from a Frank Capra film, John Glenn is lhe rype ofchampjon whom Americans iove most, the ordinary man who accomplishes great lhings through hard work, strength of char- acter. and a love ofrisk.

Although I wasn't yet bom when John Glenn made hls histoic orbit around the earth. he did havc a positive influence on my own life. As a schoolgirl, I heard news corffnentators recall the tales ofhis heroic mission during live broadcasls olthe Apollo launches. Teachers invoked his name to persuade me and my classmates to study science and math. We took pride in his courage to explore the un- known and dreamed of our own t.ips tlu ough outer space. We looked forward with greal excitement to leaming all we could about the New Frontier.

On behalfofthe U.S. Embassy, I am proud to ac- cept this award for Sen Glenn. Thank you. t4 SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999

MIND MAP GALLERY Medat t/innets rtom itind Spotts Olymprbd t998

This month we are p eased to be abe to present the medalwinnrng 14ind l4aPs from the 1998 Mind Sports Olympiad. On thls page we have gold medalwlnner, Elaine Colliar, whlle opposite are the efforts ot Lana lsrael (silver, above) and Phlllp ChambeE (bronze, below). We wjl be delighred to publish Maps produced by readers. Please send your cont.lbutions to Lady Mary Tovey (detalls on page 3)and see your orSanlsatlonal rools immofta ised ln SyndPsiol

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Dear L.ady Tovey, but to lead richer lives. I understood their The sad news of Ted Hughes'passinS sincerity but could not undeEtand how hd prompted this letter ro Syndpsto. I they would get us there. So I settled in to learn what I knew how to learn howto recalls have noticed Ted's contributions to the Daniel Philips arious efforts ofthe Brain Club. mental achieve what I wanted, only faster. Ted the inspirational competitions and the journal. Ted in- w?s the catalyst for a completely new qualities of ted spired me tremendously and taught me experience. His inspiration prompted me Hughes some ofthe Elue of poetry. Synopsto also to write some poetry, something that ieaches the \alue ot poetry both through even all of Vanda's encouragement may examples and implicaiions. lwant to re- not haE produced. After rereadinS the member Ted in pan by makinasome lyric verses ove. a few days I saw how a Poem elements explicit to readere who have not could have muhiple meaninas, some hid- had the opportunity to learn lrom some den from even the author. That was a one as poetically gified or knowledSeable very surprisinS exPrience and afunda- mental element of good poetry. k l€d to By a rare opportunity I studied for my understanding of another fundamental three weeks with agroup of bmin element ofpoetry- ir ls similar io allarts coaches including Tony Buzan, Vanda because they allcontain poetic compo- Nonh, MichaelGeib, Raymond Keene nents. That reaction opened the door to and seveElother notables. Their com- my new enjoyment ofthe arts in Sene.al bined effons would have been enough to as l now picture music, read paintings and suPercharSe anyone. However, you can see Poems from new PersPectives. lead a horse ro water but you cannot Therefore I support Synopsid s efforts make him think, to turn the phrase. The to include poetry d one kind of mental brain coaches professed that a large pan exercjse. A tool that connects many dis- ofrheirSoalw6 not to inspire students to parate toPics and enhances meanin8si jusr material gain or advanced position, multaneously should have a regular place in a brain journal. People who use this 1IOW I wlLL FEIIEIIBER YOU loolwillwant to read faster and remem- ber more. Scientific, anistic, religious or gbr a shott tine we nolPd talking. whatever, each experience willadd Ydu storyd tokjnc. I finished o &ink somethinS and increde the value ofall. Six hours had possed ls .h ey sl'eomed thtough For example, one Shakespearean analys! Tle night outsride lie Schloss, yo! desdibed saF she could not understand his sonnets Anciena ewnts, rclived poets, rcrcoled mysteries, untilshe memorised all 154 of them. Now Co.npleted osso

14 November 1998 Sincerely, Daniel L. Phillips, Danville, CA l8 SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999

THE MIND SPORTS MILLION A lrew Partuership is Eorn

syndps,o is delighted to announcethe trajectory. The main Picture sees Lord commencement of a pannershiP betlveen Hardinge, Chairman of Mind Spons l,1ind Spons Olympiad Ltd and agroup of Olympiad Ltd, Tony Buzan, President of Swedish investoB- This one million pound the Mind Spons Counciland Rqger Hok- deal was signed at rhe Compleat Angler back, the leading Ii8ht in the team of Hotel in Marlow on Thursday 20 l'4ay Swedish investoru, signing the aSrement t999. for the iointrenture at the Compleat An- This new venture will launch the Mind sler Hotel in t'larlow. Sports Olympiad on avdtly expanded SYNAPS'A - SUMMER 1999 t9

Above: Standing (frcm left)i Ke,t Stenstrom, C/des Knell. Annette Keene, kistion Dahl, Roynond Keene. Vondo Natth, Sn Btion Iovey. Lody Mat'l lovey. Jens Ove Ni/sson, Freder,k Rdmberg ond Les/ey Bids.

Aebw: Crosswotd solution tom prev,ous tssue

3 U R F s s a T N T

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25 E L B E F I F S T F o N N R U R F E D o U T T H F T 1999 20 SYNAPSIA - SUMMER

THE SECOND MIND SPORTS OLYMPIAD The second annual ind Sports olympiad took place in London at the Novotel Holel' Hammersmith on August 24.30 last year. Haymond Keene and Chris Dickson report.

Bigger and Better rhemselves the most versatile mentath- The 1998 Mind spons Olympiad w3 letes overall by capturiog owr 20 different borh bigger and better than its Predeces- medals between them. sor. More than 2,200 entries were taken Amongst the disciplines in contention from a truly international tield ofcom- were draughts, memory skills, sPeed petitors from 50 different colrntries in a reading, lQ, creativit/, theUnals of The wide ranSe of e\€nts. AlthouSh there Trrnes Crossword Championship and, of rere monetary and material awards on course, the Erious forms of chess:JaPa- offer, includinS Concorde flights, bottles nese (sho8i). Chinese (Xiansqi) and inter- of champagne, crystal decanters and national (normal chess). lt wa! interesting learned tom6 on thinkinSand the bEin, to see that theworld champion in Chi- the most cherished awards in the Olym- nese chess graced the event, whilst for- piad were the gold, silverand bronze mer world champions in l0xl0 draughs, medals, awarded for superlatire achieve- such s GuntisValneris of Lawia. and the ment in each category. The younSest reigninBworld champion in 8x8 draughts, competitor ws just llve years old, while Ron KinS of Barbados, were also prelent the oldest was 77, and two brothers, and prominent in the medal tallies. George and Demis Hassabis, proved ln the pa!t, it has been my under- standing that playeE in the different ryPes of draughts tended to maintain a strict segreSation, but the lestaval atmosphere ofthe l4ind Sports Olympiad se€med to encourage crossoreB, with 8xB specaalists picking up medals in the l0xl0version

Some ofthe biggest successes ol this year's Mind Sports Olympiad were in less

This year's Entropy tournament was tlvice the size of last year's event, while the Magic:The Gathering event on satur- day took up a full quarter of the vast downstairs hall with representatives ol manufa€tureB Wizards of the CoBt eager to demonstrate theirBame to newcom- ere. Another striking success was the Iirst World Amateur Poker Championship, which was played for platic chips rather than large sums ofcash. This tournament attracted tables full ol playeB every day and the eventualsiiver m€dallist was the S YNAPSiA SUMMER 1999 2l well-known games designer Reiner Knizia. The Ukrainian ladies' chess team (com- k is somewhat ironic that, olallthegames prising two Women Grandmasters and a he could have chosen to play, Reiner smattering of lnternational Mdters) took elected for the distinctly tEditional game part in a number of chess events. They scooped up a handfulof medah but were narrowly pipped at the post in the main Cle.n Play chess event by a trio of English GMs, One strange story w6 that ofSouth- Stuan Conquest,lames Plaskett and ampton's Josef Kollar, the reigninSWorld . Cluedo and Scottish Monopoly Cham- pion. At the MSO Josef made an assault They Just can'l get Enough on the World Rummikub title, playinS in Possibly the most interesting event wd his prelerred state naked in a deep, the Pentamind- which is b6ed on the warm bath! Despite the provision ofa familiar Pentathlon tournament event foaming bath,losef did not win the cham- from the Olympic. Pentamind is, in €f- fect, the game of Sames; competitors who

WIIAT T1IE PAPERS SAID

'What a cohcept. I|hat an evefi!! me brains behind this reruvkable etent have to be congratulated on creating a work ofsheer genius.' British Chess Federation Newsletter

'The Olympics ofthe nett Millennium is Mind Sports.' Straits Times, Singapore

'It is conceivable thal, r'ithin three yearc, preliminary competition in many sports rrill take place over the Internet. This alone i,ill make the Mind Sports Ol),mpiad the world's largest cofipetitive event.' South China Moming Post

'Nowadays companies are increasingly aware of their intellectual assets ithich - thottgh they may not register on the balance sheet - enhance competitiveness. The ancient Chinese game ofco I said to be analogous to business anage enL Merchant banks are quick to employ chess masters, v,/hile contest- ants tgho compete to compile computer programmes against the clock have obvious comrnercial rele-

The Times

'Mental athletes tone their bodies to keep their minds in shape.'

'Olynpiant put Mind over Body.' The Daily Telegraph

'The biggest gahes fest evet to hit these (or petheps a , other) shorcs. The Mind Sports Olympiad - a great celebration of the power of the human mind. The Independent

'Is chess more of a challenge than backgammon? Does bridge require more brainpower than poker? Which should be cohsidered the ultb ate Mfud Ga E? Debate will hit new peal

'In Lo don the elite emory artists measured up against each other. It was not talent but hard training the World Champion had to thankfor his title.' Der Spiegel 22 SYNAPS/A - SUMMER 1999

panicipated in five or more events had their best five resuks pooled and the per- son with the larSest total w6 declared Pentamind champion. A maximum 100 points could be awarded for each event, so that a gold medalwould score 100 and last place 0 points, and the best llve scores added toaether to p.ovide a total 'out of500. The eventual Pentamind gold medallist w6 's Demis Hassabis, who I encountered playing lYastermind and Entropy simultaneously (and doine rather well at both. too). Demis will be afamillar name to com- putergame Players, as he is resPonsible forthe best-selling Theme Potk, which he wrote himselfat l6 before he went to university. Nowadays he is managing di rector ofhc own softwarefirm, Elixir Studos. Despite his genius (and I use the word advisedly, havins been exposed to sundryWorld Champions), he is ex- lremely approachable and friendly with none ofthe ego thatyou might expect. People talk of meetin8 as being like puttingyour hand into the electricity sockei ofyour house and hav- ing your lights turned onr there's much the same in a conversation with Demis. As for me, lwa there to panicipate in rhe Puzzle Design event (pleasin8ly, pick- ing up a bronze medal) and the Entropy rournamenl; to learn the rules to as many unfamiliargames as l couldiand to run the Settlers of Catan card aame event (which cahpe.tats in o..ion fran the Mind sp 6 OtfiPi.d. Phyioq d*s (abNe) SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999 23

ws won with a 10096 record by acenain Mr D. Hassabis, despite the fact that he had oniy played it once before in his life'). l4SO director Raymond Keene outed himselfas aStor lrek fan while watching my event, correcdy identifying catan as a planet from Trek. The tournament itsell went smoothly; plenty of playeB ex- pressed an interest in taking part in an event bsed on the board game version of Settlers of Catan and I know thar other SettleB ewnts in this country have like- wise proved popular. Hopefully, we miSht be able to orSanise a Settlers board game event at the 1999 tlind Spons Olympiad. The Hare and Tortoise erenr I won my- self last yearw6n t repeated this year, so I suppose that, in a sense, I remain Cham-

One of the biggest joF of the whole event, however, is just meetingso many interesting people with a common inter- est in Sames; it was a great way of meet- in8 the big names ofthe mind sports world. The Mind Spons Olympiad will hopefully be a major catalyst in dissemi' nating information about new games to new players in future yeaB. ltt a great place forgaming competition in general and fullils its goals admirably. This year's event willtake place at Kensington OlympiafromAuSust2l-29. Such is the popularity ofthe weekend events that the Olympiad is being ex- tended to run over rwo weekends. Can you afiord to miss it?

All .uhutzs w{e rcbtepnted ot .he Mtnd spotts otynpiod wi.h n r diffet ent Emesfian orcund the qa d beinC ptored tn.tudiry dnuehts (obave) ond 24 SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999

Mind Sports Olympiad 1998 RolI of Honour

AaAIONE WORLD CH'SHIP BRIDGE - PAIRS CH'SHIF CHESS - SECOND EYENING 6old: Vojtech Hrabd I 6/ I 6 6od John Youn8/Ch.is J.8ser 6 I .38% TOURNA}IENT Silveri l"lar. Tatet l3/16 Silver: Ron Stich/Laurence f'lanning 55.29% 0/onze: le Turner I l/16 Erouei John Durdedsyron critenden 6old: Ruth Sheldon 6/6 55.t3% s/eeri jon s. Friedland s/6 &ACKGI ,l/l4ON FOR aEGINNERS Bronze: I'lild Petrd 5/6 6old, Cmpbell Gordon 5/5 ARIDGE _ OPEN IAIRS Silver Akero Mdia 4/5 6oldi Pdl l"tendlesn/Peter H dyent 6 I .0 I % CHESS -SECOND EVENING &onze: Summerell Fay 4/5 sit€r: Brian GlubouEspen Erichen 60.7 I % TOURNAI'IENT &onzei l',like Gold/David HigSinsn 56.S5% AACKGA/VIMON CH'SHIP 6old: Kumddip Cha:lcabony 4/6 PAIRS GOLO TOURNAII,IENT ARIDGE - NOVICES' S,,ve( Shdker Menon 4/6 6old: walker/Peter Walker s7.50% GEhffi Bronze: Matthew Sr@mlield 4/6 Silver: f'lahmoud jahebani Silvei loyce SreEki/Lucy Sloomlield 56.25% _ B.onzer Steve Rimmer Bronz€: Carlo M@otti/Beve lvlagti 55.00 CHESS SATURDAY IO-MINUTE TOURNAI{ENT _ FAIRS AAC(GA /t/l,toN CH'SHIP BRIDGE IADIES' Gold: Yttk Hebden 616 Haytack 49.22 SILVER TOURNAI!!ENT 6014 5u Burn/Sheena sirver: Thorsten Cmiel 5/5 Sirve/j P.jna @ Toullarsaret Courtnel &onzei lon S. F.iedldd s/6 4A.94 &onzei ludi Berzintl'4ona EldtidAe 46.27 CHESS - SUNDAY IO.MINUTE aacKc ttl\4oN cH'sHlP TOURNAMENT BRONZE TOURNAMENT ARTDGE - MENS'PAIRS Rowlands 67. I 5 Broize: lohn Broomlield Goldi TinS To/Bob Goldr Rich d Pen 57,16 Stver: Syron Crittendervjohn Durden 62.72% WEEKEND EVENT sillveri 5/6 MCKGA/VI/I/ION B.orzq Andrew Robson/Paul Mendelson Sronzer ThoEten Cmiel 5/6 61.t9 CHESS - SUNDAY IO.MINUTE srodei l{ahmoud jahanbMi ARIDGE-SwlSS PAIRS TOURNAMENT 6old: Bill Thurl/Francis Eddleston 96VPs Manin GaNey/Chris geanland 8l VPs aRtDGE - MrN|-BR|DGE 2518/98 (PAIRS) Silver: Goldj tuchard Pen 5r.4/6 points B.onze: 5u Burdsteve Eginton 78 VPs Gord: Ned PauyEtienne Nicai* 32 Silveri Kumddip Chakrabony 5/5 s,lver D io DiToffoli/Demis H*abis 30 aR D6E - SwlSS TEAIf'IS OF FOUR abnze: Yleleae Bu

Silve.: Stephen EmmeBon I I points S.orzei Hlgh Davi€s €l/12 INTEIIIGENCE - SATURDAY EVENT &odei Brid Stephenson 3l points DMUGHTS SUNDAY TOURNAIVIENT - Co/d: lain Gunn 79189 CHESS PROBLEM-SOLVING 8x8 Silyer: Christopher Dixon 52/89 Col4 Ron King I l/12 E.onzei Natalie Eskindi 6ll89 6oid Tim Hebbes I 9 points Siteri Pat Mcca.thy I 0/ I 2 Siher: Kumardip Chakrabony I 6 points Bto e:TetryThoma7l|2 fiPA ESE CHESS (sHOCl) - OLYMPTAD &onz€i EzE Lutton I 5 poinfl CH'SHIP D^IUGHTS SATURDAY 6old. Larry K&fma l0ll I CH'NESE CH'SHIP lO-tvllNUTE TOURNAMENT lOxlO - Silveri ftdab! Teao 9/ I I 6old Guntis Valneris l4114 &onze: Eric Cheymol 8/ I I 6oid Liu Da Hua l5/18 Slt€ri P€ivis Paetle lll14 S,lv€r: Hu l''lint l5/18 Sronze: Vladimir SedinoE 9/ I 4 ,aPrNEsE CHESS (SHOGT) - SATURDAY Ironzei Od8 Thah Trunt l4l18 IG}IINUTE EVENT DR^UGHIS SUNDAY I (!I!'IINUTE Col4 Demis Hebis 4/4 CH'NESE CHESS EUROPEAN CH'SHIP TOURNAMENT- loxl0 silrve/i Hideki Tanaka 3/4 Gold. Guntis Valneris l3/14 Erorzq FNil Bekele Z4 6oid. Woo Wei Cheung 6/7 S,/veri Kelvin Andell l3/14 Silyer: Chen FaZuo 5thl7 Eronze: Vladimn Bedinow 9/ l4 L'NES OT ACllON - WORLD CH'SHIP Erodei Chen Te Chao 5/7 6014 Hdtmut Thorden 6/7 ENTROPY WORLD CH'SHIP Silrverj Ratne Wktnan 5/7 CONTINUO WORLD CH'SIIIF BrcMe: Yd.r6*etSl7 Coldi Peter Horlck 5/6 IEARN AND FLAY NEW GAl'tES s,/veri Dario DiTofioli Sronze: David Pe ce 5/6 'Lift-Ofl Tournament 8renze Victoria Westnedge Coldr Ddio DiTofoli 5/5 ENTROPY WORLD CH'SHIP Siiverj David Sedtwi

Silver: Kehh Loveys 60 I I 000 / &onzei Francis Rdds 5/7 &orze: Demis Hasabis 575l'/ 1000 GO - 9x9 DMUGHIS FoR BEGINNERS - 8x8 /I4ASTER/I4IND 6014 Raivis PaeSle 9 points situer: T. Ni

/l,lEll4oRr SKILLS WORID CH'SHIP OIHEI.IO EUROPEAN CII'SIIIP POKER - WORLD AII'IATEUR POKER CH'SHIP Gold: Sue whiring 340 points Charnpion: Grahm Brishtwell Z3 in final 6-Card Lowball Tournam€nt, Silver: Tatiana Cooley 320 points Runnerup: Benyamin Schifman l/3 in final 6old: Reiner Knizia Wnner 310 points si/verj Geo€e Mille. Eronze: l'lanuela faeurer ow4a, woRtD cH'sHtP ME ,!ORY SKlllS WORLO CH'SHI? Si/ver: Kambui Charles POKEA - WORLD AIIATEUR POKER 6old, David Seidel 330 points Broize, Pumpkin LewG CH'SHIP Christiane Stenter 300 points Si/ve/: olvARt luNloR woRLD cH'sHlP OmahaTournament /vtENr t caLcul tloNs woRLo Cold: Elle Davis 8/9 6old: Gary Lee Winn€r gario CH'SHIF 5,1rer: Chemara Pearl 7/9 S,reri de Tofioli 6old: Roben Founhin 10,192 pts. Arcnze:Wafne Bonti 619 Silve.: Georye Lane 10,142 pts. PENTAANJNO WORLD CH'SHIP &onzei Greg Steven 9.987 pts. POI(ER - WORLD AMATEUR POKER cH'5Ht? A4INO-A4APP'NG WORLO CH'SHIP 6old: Demis Hasabis 4791500 T€E Hold 'Em Tournament 6o/d: Elaine Colliar 2541300 sirveri Paur smirh 4711500 6oldj Lick Haytack Winner 447l5OO S,lverj Laa krael 2481300 Brcnze: Oatio Oi Iofioli S,/ver: ThoEt€n Cmiel Erorze: Philip Chdbe6 215/100 PENT i,tIND WORLD CH'SHIP OTHELIO - SPEED CH'SHIP POKER - WORLD AMATEUR POKER 6old: Georye HdsabG 364/500 CH'SHIP silverj Granm Bnthtlv€ll Silveri Ezra Lutton 2 I 5/500 B/onzei Benny Shifmd 8/onze: Adam Swersky I 69/500 GIdj Ga.y Lee Winner OIHEIIO WE€KDAY CH'SHIP POKER _ WORLD A}IATEUR POKER cH'sl P Erorze: ThoBten Cmiel 6o/d: Lakoto Suekini t2l2/ l3 s-C.rd Draw Tournamcnt, Sirer: Graham Brithtwell 107y'13 Cold Michael K€lly Wnner PUBQUIZ Team Champiomhip &onze: Benny Schifmm I 0/ I 3 &onzei Andrew l,lennear 6014 Kevn Ashmd, Andrew Curtis, Gavin OIHELIO WEEKDAY CH'sHIP Fuller, Trevor Montagle POKER - WORLD AMATEUR POKER Silver; Paul Hennesy, L'ry Whitehurst, leF Gold: Benny Shifman l0/13 CH'SHIP emy Edge, Thond Dineen Silveri losiah Lutton 3/ll 7-Card Stud Toumament, Sronzer Roben KinSdom, Ded Tay'or, Ronnie bro'ze: R iit Gholap l/ l3 Goldi Tho6ten Cmiel Wnner Wlson, l'licha€l Booth Slveri john clark EUROPEAN CH'SHIP OIH€IIO E.onzei Alexad€r Bdon PUBQUIZ lndMdual Championrhip arrdi Makoto Suekini 8/8 Sirve/i flark Tdret Zg &onze, Gdham Srishtwell 6/8 &onzei PhilAndercn

Mind SPoa .nabE .Eqbody to .on- pcte on.qbl t n' rcgaidks of os., SYNAPS'A _ SUMMER 1999 27

PUZZLE DESIGN SCRAAAIE EVENING CH'SHIP &onzei llike Walsh/Keith Lovqs 6ldi Hkoshi Yamamoto 6oldr FemiA@mde 8/9 5TMTEGO WORLO CH'SHIP Slrveri Ddid J. Bodycombe si/ve.i Adebowale Aiose 6/9 E.onzei Chris 1,1. Dickson Bro.z€: Richard E@5 6,9 6old: Luc Adriaaen s4l54 PUZZI.E SOIYING - ]'IECHANICAL SCRAAAIE W€EKEND CH'SHIP S,/v€ri Seder Rinzema 43154 PUZZLES 8.orze: Erik ca den Eert 4254 6o/dr Femi Awowade I 0/ | 2 SIR^IEGO WORLD CH'SHIP Silver l,lartin Thomd 9/12

Brcnze Henry Rorett Srodei f|dia Thomson 9/ I 2 Co/d: Frak Poppd.s 25154 Puzaes fot Me.honi.ol Puzles solving loumo- SCRAAAIE WEEKEND CH'SHIP Silver: tlaik En der Unden 25/54 ment ptovi

L.dr Motf fMr (h1t) pt *nE paz.' to .h. whftB of rh. Mind Moqing .M- Pcti.i'. Frcn teft: L.n lstel lsiMcl, Ehin Collht lqotd) o.d Philib ChM 2A SYNAPSiA - SUMMER 1999

MIND SPORTS: Dry,D CHESS %ffi% Grandmastet naymond Keene OBE There have been some curious coinci- known to both Kasparov and Nunn this dences in chess when gams have been vanation had already been tested in a duplicated. lt sometimes happens that a Swedish correspondence same beN!€en grandmaster comes uP with some im- Gunnar Hiort and Mats Andersson. portant idea and wins a crushing game against a colleaSue, onlyfor the theorists I to discover afterwards that it had all been played by correspondence before. A case 1 in point wa5 a game between world 6 champion Garry Kasparov and the British 5 sEndmalterlohn Nunn. when Nunn resigned, it tu.ned out that he was still 4 followinS the contours ofa Scandinavian 3 2

White Garry Kasparov; Black lohn 1 Nunn sh Bru$els 1986 Griinfeld Detence 15... Rxfl+ I d4 Nf6 2 N{3 g6 3 c4 897483 0-0 s Or 15... F.f5 16 94. BE2 c5 15 qrdl Nxd4 Varying from his habitual King's lndian lf 16... Bxd4 l7 Bxd4 Qxd4+ 18 Khl Detence, Nunn opts for, what must have when, with Black's darksquar€s on the seemed to him, the relative security of kingside we-akened by the remowl of the the solid Neo-Gronfeld. defensiE fianchettoed bishop, White has 6 Nc3 d5 moves like Rdl and Nf6+ in the air. A natural akernative is 6 ... d6, which I 7 Rd I e5 I 0 N85 (diasram 2) would have been Black's lalt chance to revert to the King's lndian Defence. 8 7 (lds cxds I Nes e6 9 0-0 NfdT l0 t4 7 Although this weakens white's pawn 6 structure, firm slpponforthe knight on 5 e5 is the only way for White to 6pire to any opening initiative in this symmetrical line. 3 10.., Nxes 2 Nunn tries to solve his problems by hiShly direct means, namelythe prompt 1 remo\ral of White's outpost knight. The abcdefgh more sophisticated choice is 10... f6 to drive White's cavalry back. Black r6i8ns I I txe5 Nc6 12 e4 dxe4 13 Be3 f5 A remarkable miniature. ln the position Otherwise White ha5 adominating po- where Nunn resigned Kasparov demon- sition if he can play... Nxe4 without being strated the crushing variation I I ... Qe7 19 Bd5'1- Be6 20 Rxd4 exd4 2l Bxe6+ 14 exf6 Rxt6 l5 Nxe4 (diasram l) Kh8 22 Nl7+ Kg8 23 Nd8+ Kh8 24 Bg5 Kasparov's innoEtion, which involve! a QM 25 Nfl+ Ke8 26 Nes+ KhB 27 Keene, Raymond t),pical pawn sacrifice for his hypenctive Nxg6+ followed by Qh3. ln fact that was chess collespondent style. He thus improves on the game exactly how the game Hiort - Andeuson ot The Times, reports Sveshnikov - Mikhalchisin, Lvov 1983, had concluded! lt is bad enough to lose, on a coincidence. which had continued with the undynamic but to lose a game that has been played I S Rxf6 Bxf6 I 6 Ne2. However. unbe- b€fore is exceedingly Salling. SYNAPS'A - SUMMER 1999 29

MIND SPORTS: * BRIDGE o v Roberl Sheerran A

Women ln Bridge those women who mightchallenge the ln the e:rly days of men men generally prefer the Sreater chance and women played more or less as equals, of succ€ss that comes with playin8 often indeed s married couples: Elyand amongst their own sex. Jo Culbenson, Haland Dorothy sims were both leading pairs on the world lmproving wlth Age stage in the I 930s. Somehow between Most physical sponsmen and women then and now women became less skilled peak before they are thirt/. Thas means at the game than men and their status that women can excel at their chcen diminished. Nowadays the truth is that at discipline and later get married and have the very top women are outplayed by children. gridSe is a game where exPeri- men. Feminists may not like this but ence counts for more than youthful intel- would not be able to argue with the facts. lectual power. PlaFrs peak at around Of course, there areexceptions. ln the forty and can expect to continue at the last faacallan lnternational Pairs ewnt top wellinto theirfiftis and beyond. (held in London everylanuary), the sec- Playing any game at the top and caring for ond and third-placed pairs in afield of small childrendo not€ombinew€ll, par- sixteen, in which allthe others were men, ticularly ilthe woman concerned also has w€re Britain's Nicola Smith and Pat Da- to earn a living. vi6 and Germany's SabineAuken and Some would say that women are much Daniela von Arnim. The American Doro- too sensible to take the game sufficiently thy Trus€ott has won a silver medal in a seriously. After all, when €ompared to the Bermuda Bowl (the Open World Cham- 'real' stufi of life, such as reiationships and pionship) and a bronze medal in an Open the nunuring ofthe next generation. it is World Pair! Olympiad ... but it was over 'only a game'. Not aview that would be thirt/ years a8o. Few women nowadays taken by any self-respectinS competitive even tq/ to compete with the men. The only woman to have represented lnterestinS as allthis speculation may Great gritain in an Open European be, it is not relerant to most people's per- Ch:mpionship was Dimmie Fleming, in spective of the 8ame. At club le€l 1953.ln recent history Sally Brock Save women tend to exceed men both in num- up her almost certain place on the British bers and ability. AlthouSh nationalbridge women's team (which in the 1980s had authorities worldwide spend a great deal won Nvo Women's World Championships of time and resources promoting bridg€ in with heras a member) in order to de- schools and universities, the fact is that velop a partnership forOpen competi- bridge comes into its own later in life. The tion. She represented Great Britain in a complexity that maks it the'kingofcard few EC Championship€ but neverquite games' means it is very absorbing and made the grade a5 far as the Europeans once biften by the bu8 people often want to spend most oftheir leisure time playing Whyshould this be? Vvhat is it about the game. Young people have many more the game that prevents women from fal- imponant demands on theirtime: studies, linSshort of the very top level? I can think careers, children etc. But when you are of several possible explanations. retired and have more time on your hands The very fact that they have their own it is moch easierto return to the Same separate tournaments at international you iearn€d as a youth than it is to learn Robert Sheehan, level holds them back. At more phFical from scratch. And there is hope for the Bridge clrreapondei spons it is clearthat women cannot com- older players - Borjs Schapiro, bridge ot The llmgs, explore3 pete on equal terms with men and emi- correspondent of the Surdoy Times, has bridge demographica. nentlysensible that they should have their just won the World Seniors Championship own schedule of competitions. At bridse (for players over 55) at the a8e of 89. SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999 29

MIND SPORTS: * BRIDGE I v BoDera Sheehan A

Women ln Bridge those women who might challengethe ln the early days of Contract gridge men men generally prefer the greater chance and women played more or less as equals, of success that comes with playing often indeed as married couples: Eb/and amongst their own sex. Jo culbenson, Hal and Dorothy Sims were both leading pairs on the world lmproving with Age stage in the I930s. Somehow betw€en Most physical sportsmen and women then and nowwomen beame less skilled peak before they are thirq.. This means at the game than men and their status that women can excelat theirchosen diminished. Nowadays the truth is that at discipline and later get married and have the very top women are outplayed by children. Bridge is a game wher€ experi- men. Feminists may not likethis but ence counts for more than youthful intel- would not be able to argue with the facts. lectual power. PlayeB peak at a.ound Of couEe, there are exceptions.ln the fony and can expect to continue at the lalt l4acallan lnternational Paars event topw€ll into their lifties and beyond. (held in London ewq/January), the sec" Plaing any game at the top and caringfor ond and third-placed pairs in afield of small children do not combine well, par- sixteen, in which all the otheE rere men. ticulariy if the woman concerned also hG were Britain's NicolaSmith and Pat Da- vies and Germany's SabineAuken and Somewould s4/ that women are much Daniela von Arnim. The American Doro- too sensible to take the game sufficiendy thy Truscott has won asiMer medalin a seriously. After all, when compared to the Bermuda Bowl (the open world chan- 'real'stuffof life, such a relationships and pionship) and a bronze medal in an OP€n the nunurinSofthe nextgeneration, it is World Pairs Olympiad... but it wa! over 'onlyagame'. Not a view that would be thiny years ago. Few women nowadays taken by any self-respecting competitive even try to compete with the men. The onry woman to have represented lnteresting 6 all this speulation may Great Britain in an Open European be, it is not relevant to most people's per- Championship w:s Dimmie FleminS, in sp€ctive of the game. At club lerel 1953. ln recent history Sally Brock gave women tend to exc€€d men both in num- up her almost certain place on the British bers and ability. Although national bridge women's team (which in the 1980s had authoritis rcrldwide spend a great deal won two Women's World Championships of time and resources promotinS bridge in with her as a member) in order to de- schook and universities, the fact is that velop a partnership for Open €ompeti- bridg€ comes into its own later in life. The tion. She represented Great Britain in a complexitythat makes it the'kin8 of card few EC Championships but never quite gams' means it is very absorbing and made the gEde as far a! the Europeans once bitten by the bug people often want to spend mostoftheir leisuretime plalng Why should this be? What is it about the 8ame. Young people have many more the game that prevents women from fal- imponant demands on their time:studies, linSshort ofthe ven/ top level? I can think careers, children etc. But when you are of several possible explanations. retired and have more time on your hands The very fact that they have their own it is much easier to retu.n to the game separate tournaments at international you learned as ayouth than it is to learn Robgrt Sheehan, level holds them back. At more phFical from scratch. And there is hope for the Bridge co.respondent The sports it is clear that women cannot com- older plaFrs - Sork Schapiro, bridge ol Times, erplo?es pete on equal terms with men and emi correspondent of the Sundoy limes, has bridge demographlcs. nently sensible that theyshould have their iust won the World Seniors Championshjp own schedule ofcompetitions. At bridSe (for players over 55) at the a8e of 89. 1999 30 SYNAPS'A - SUMMER

@+@+@ MIND SPORTS: CHINESE CHESS @+@+@ Raymon t tGene OBE

Origins tional rating list is compiled twice a year. There are many similarities between Chi- nese chess (xiangqi) and its western What the Futute hold$ cousin and this certainly suggests a com- Xiangqi is extremely popular in nations mon origin. AlthouSh, historically, the like Vietnam, MalaFia, Thailand, etc. Chinese have always maintained xiansqi Since it is the mct popular board game ot wa! locally in€nted, the prevailinS theory the world's hiShest populated nation, plus on the origin of chess before the I 970's the large percentage ofChin$e immi- (which was larsely baed on grants owr the wodd, xiangqicould well HJ.R.Murray\ work) favoured the so- be the most played board Same in the called'lndian Connection'. However, world, even surpassing western chess. since the 1970's, more and more weight Xiangqi has ad!'antages over w€stern has been given to the ideathat Chinaal- chess as a spectator sport: ready had a version of chess before lndia. L Forthe same number of men, xi- There were mentions of the game 'x! ansqi has a much larger board (90 points anSqi'in documents during the Warring vs.64 squares, which is over 40% larser), states period (403-22lBc) and even ear- which means more open positions, i.e. lier. Chinse historians Senerally agree more tactical actions, that the modern version w3 reached 2. lt has a shorter time control (40 -l'ang sometime during the late Dynasty moves in 90 minutes at championship (aD6l8-906). This is supported by recent level), making it more app€ling to the uneanhing of ancient artefacts, with a xiangqi set identical to the modern set There are, though, three redons why that dated back to the song Dynasr/. For xiangqi hs not attained the worldwide a long period, xianSqi wa5 snubbed by popularity it deserves. First, itstillsuffeB high ofiicaals, and the game of go was from political and bureaucratic infl uences prefer.ed by the higher classes. However, that greatly hinder its internationaldevel- xiangqi, with its charms and characteris- opment. Though the recent politicalcli- tics, quickly became a game for the mate sems to have improved, no one as msses. From the SonE Dynasb/ throuSh sure what the next round will bring. the Qing Dynasty, the game beSan to be Second, there has been as yet no seri- more accepted byofficials, and numerous ous efiort on a large scale basis to pro- records were referenced in bureaucratic mote the game worldwide. tu its name manuscript! and scholarly work. implies, the Asian XiansQi Fedeation is During the infamous Cultural Revolu- mainly for Asian regions. lts olficials ap- tion, xiangqiwas banned, while outside pear to be content with the status quo of China it prospered.ln 1968, the first of having a team event and an individual seven Asian Team Tournaments (the llrst tournament every other year among a two cycles were called 'southeast Asian dozen membe6, and award afew individ- XiansQi championships') was held in ualtitls (not based on ratings) once in a Singapore, helpinS to unite south-st while. The Chinese XiangQi Association, Asian nations/regions. under whose auspices 9596 of allxiangQi 1980 marked another historical mile- literature is published, has yet to come up stone, s China finally joined theAsian with a.le.ent textbook in other lan- XiangQi Federation and entered interna- goages. This lack of'transfer of knowl- tional competition, at the First Asian CUP edge' is - and will be the maiorstum- Tournament held in Macao. The Chanese bling block for foreign developinS regions. players quackly showed their dominance, Third, although in the pat xiangqi h6 Keene Faymond and wrapped up every title that they been played with pictorialdisks, showing erplores the origins contested. Currently China is the only the pieces, it is now universally conducted and the future ol the place which has a ratinssystem. Grand- by means ofChinse ideograms. This Eastern oousin ol m6ter and malter titles have b€en maks it problematic for Western players chess. awarded to players since 1982 and a na' to recognise the pieces. SYNAPSIA - SUMMER 1999 3t

MIND SPORTS: cRosswoRD Scorpio Bichatd Btowne

ACROSS DOWN

I tu barnacles are- in masses, silent (7) I Seriously damage from drink, swallow- 5 Acinema productjon short ofvitaliry (7) in8 unfermented beer (5,2) 9 Breezyspirit is quite impracti€al(4-5) 2 Seductive woman sounds warnins (s) l0 Forthe troops, does he unnecessarily 3 Change the tone of one's sp€€ch (7) prolong sessions of religion? (5) 4 Time to so up and change (4) I I Lons yarn spun to the queen (6) 5 Allowins no correspondence, unlike this

l2 Feature of Muslim town from lonS crossword? ( I 0) time back in such perfect condition (7) 5Add notice about pressure on writer (6) 14 For money, make debased version of 7 Presiding ofiicerfell, tread slipping in- l'46 wor.en s Profess,on ( I0) side (9) 16 Popular performer, one of thousands S lnventor ofatomic pile changing posi- apPeadns every evenins (4) l7 \ryild animal back into the grass (4) I 3 Restless over dates, showinS signs of l8 Get less vocal criticism for supermar- avarice (s,s) ket packasins (6-4) l5 Who managed to hold vicar up on tree 22 Firm with error - it's awild bloomer in flood? (9) (7J l7 Supplier oftur: shelf, we hear, has 23 Cover that is stoppingsilly runs (6) nothins on (4 25 Don Giovanni, for example, work in I 9 Blood tie to no-sood royalty (7) Latin (5) 20 Go ahead, and quiedySo back (7) 27 To Holmes, a criminalis haterul (9) 2l Permanentb/ a provisional licence- 28 People return and tinally execute little holder on the roads (6) relatiw in vens€nce (4 24 Submarine named after tea, say' ( l-4) The tulurih ro rhe ao$wotd fro .he 29 One disarmed, perhaps, by theatrical 25 Soft food a requirement for old man Pt.violr jtsu. is oh pqd 19 skill(7) (4)