Israel looks to checkmate Iranian record

Grandmaster Alik Gershon needs to defeat more than 80% of opponents in simultaneous games at Rabin Square. Jewish Agency head Sharansky to play exhibition game

Yedioth Ahronoth|Published: 10.20.10 , 07:40

More than 8,000 chess pieces will be placed in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square next Thursday as part an attempt to break Iran's record for most games played simultaneously.

During the event, which is expected to continue through the night, over 500 chess players, many of them immigrants from the former Soviet Union, will take on Grandmaster Alik Gershon.

In accordance with the requirements set by Guinness, all of Gershon's opponents must be ranked by the Israel Chess Federation.

Iran set the current record in 2009, when Grandmaster Morteza Mahjoob took on 500 opponents and scored 397 wins, 90 draws and 13 loses over 18 hours.

To break the record, Gershon, 30, a former Israeli champion and junior world champion, will have to win more than 80% of his matches.

A Guinness representative will be present at the event, which was initiated by the Jewish Agency and the Israel Chess Federation.

Well-known chess players, including Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky, will play exhibition games while Gershon tries to break the record.

"The aliyah from the former Soviet Union contributed significantly to the State of Israel's resilience," Sharansky said Tuesday. "This is best expressed by Israel's position as a world power in chess after coming in third in the Chess Olympiad.

Aviv Bushinsky, chairman of the Israel Chess Federation, said the event presents a unique opportunity to "expose the game to the general public and prove is the Ste of Israel's national sport."

Itamar Eichner and Danny Adino Ababa contributed to the report