Getting Strong Now 

  10/28/2004 - I took a look at Kasimdzhanov vs. Shirov from round 13 of the 36th Olympiad. Kasimdzhanov took the full point home against the 10th rated player in the world. I keep thinking about Kasparov vs. Kasimdzhanov showdown in January. It reminds me of the movie Rocky. Which matched Apollo Creed, the champion, vs. Rocky Balboa, a journeyman. 

   Today's game reminded me of the scene where Rocky is at the meat processing plant. The news media is there to interview Rocky. He's pounding on a side of beef. You can hear the ribs cracking. His brother in-law, says " easy Rocky your breaking the ribs." Apollo Creed's manager sees this on TV and says " hey champ, take a look at this guy, he looks tough." Apollo too distracted withoutside business matters, ignores his manger and says :" I'm tough too." 

    Well Rustam "Rocky" Kasimdzhanov pounded a big side of beef today in Alexi Shirov. In 1998 Alexi Shirov defeated the current champion Vladimir Kramnik in the candidate final by a score of 5.5 - 3.5.  Alexi Shirov earned the right to face Garry Kasparov for the world title.  However a divided chess world could not come up with the proper sponsorship for the match. I wonder if Kasparov's manager has the watched Kasimdzhanov vs. Shirov game. I wonder if he had told his fighter, "hey champ take a look at this guy, he looks tough. I wonder if a distracted Kasparov said :"hey I'm tough too." It would not surprise me if Rustam "Rocky" Kasimdzhanov is drinking raw eggs and doing one handed push ups to get ready for his big fight against Garry "Apollo Creed" Kasparov. 

     One thing is for certain, this Rocky is not fighting bums. Alexi Shirov is no Spider Rico. I think today's win over Shirov shows us that Rustam's winning the 2004 KO was no fluke.   Garry Kasparov better not let outside business matters prevent him from properly preparing for this tough match. One thing is certain Rustam "Rocky" Kasimdzhanov will be ready to move thunder and check lightening by January. 
   
   The 14th World Champion Vladimir Kramnik has this to say about the Kasparov vs. Kasimdzhanov match: I don’t know quite frankly, Kasimdzhanov is a dark horse. And Kasparov is in an obvious crisis. If he gets over this crisis, then he is an obvious favorite. If not, then… I don’t know, don’t know… One should not underestimate Kasimdzhanov. 
    

"Trying hard now, it's so hard now, trying hard now…
Getting strong now, won't be long now, getting strong now...
Gonna fly now, flying high now, gonna fly, fly, fly!"

Replay  Kasimdzhanov vs. Shirov round 13 from the 36 Olympiad in Spain. 
Kasimdzhanov wins the 2004 Libya KO
Hangin's take on Kasparov vs. Kasimdzhanov match in January 2005
Home site of the 36th Olympiad