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Around The World In 80 Days ... Print E-mail
By Glenn Petersen, Editor, Chess Life for Kids   
March 31, 2009
thumb_322540main_image_1314_428-321.jpg... was an ambitious goal for Phileas Fogg and his manservant Passepartout in 1872.  But even the great Jules Verne would be amazed at the speed of the international space station (ISS), orbiting the big, blue marble of Earth every eighty or so minutes!
  
And I'll bet our own Astronaut Greg Chamitoff (now earth-bound) wishes he had a booster rocket or two, as he completes his tour of personal appearances on behalf of NASA.  His schedule includes a docking at the Supernationals this coming weekend and a visit next month to his opponents in Bellevue, Washington.  Chamitoff will speak at the Opening Ceremony on April 3 at 11 AM and give a lecture at 3 PM in Bayou AB - Ed.
  
All of which makes it very difficult for Greg to maintain a regular transmission schedule - it was far easier when he was orbiting earth from a distance of 210 miles into the atmosphere!  And our young guides from Stevenson Elementary School are also finding it difficult to concentrate on the game, as they prepare to send a team to the Supernationals.
   
But we have made progress!  Greg chose 21.b4 and our club members have provided three options for Earth to consider.  Yes! It's time to vote!!
  
Your choices are 21...Rac8, 21...e5, and 21...Rfd8. The voting is open until the end of Thursday (midnight EST, 9 PM PST, and for Europeans, Friday, 6 AM CEST).  You can check out the game on our game viewer, etc., etc.
  
We thank you for your patience during this rough patch of turbulance.  We're back on schedule and awaiting your response!

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Greg Chamitoff vs. Earth (after 21. b4)

You can check out the current position in our Java viewer and try out the alternatives and see where they may lead - or you can see what you are voting on or the the entire game score by clicking on the links in the right column.
   

Reminder: Don't miss a moment of this historic match - add our RSS feed to keep up with the latest developments, as articles and moves are posted here, and as voting periods occur.
 
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Earth vs. Space Chess Match, 2008-09

Astronaut Dr. Greg Chamitoff has sent 46.Kxa2 and his resignation and congratulations to the Stevenson stars and Earth's voters.
 
Use the Java chess viewer (below) to review and analyze this historic game and read game commentary.

Explore the game in our Chess Viewer

(Click here for help with Java or the chess viewer, or click here for a move list.)

The Final Position:
Greg_move_46_150.jpg
(after Greg's 46.Kxa2)

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Read NASA's announcement about this game.

If you don't know all the rules of chess, and would like to learn, click here.
 
Media Contacts:
NASA - Kelly Humphries
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
kelly.o.humphries
@nasa.gov


USCF - Glenn Petersen
732-252-8388
[email protected]

Stevenson Team -
Coach David Hendricks
WA State Scholastic Coordinator
425-868-3881
425-269-7949
DavidCHendricks
@comcast.net


Match Director -
Hal Bogner
650-284-5062
[email protected]