Are you sure the game wasn't played in 1981? The program was shown in early 1982, but obviously the games weren't "live" and I could quite imagine that it would take a few months from the time the game was played to the time it appeared on the TV.
The Master Game was a great concept, with the players mugging it up to show their excitement or displeasure and great commentary added afterwards but spoken as if we could read their thoughts during the game. Much more entertaining (but much more work) than what has has become the norm now - watching live games with instant, often banal, commentary by one or two strong players, who are usually switching between several games going on at the same time.
Originally posted by SMesq Ooh, actually yes '81 seems correct. doh!
Yes I think the basic concept is due for a renaissance......my kids were gripped & desperate to chop some wood afterwards.
I remember watching this show as a kid and loving it even though I barely knew how the pieces moved. This and the epic encounters between Karpov and Kasparov being occasionally reported on the news was what probably led me to take up chess as a hobby later on.
I recall some league matches and club championship game
being altered so the players could watch this on the telly.
All the players semed to get into the swing of things and realised this
was for entertainment so piffy excuses why they lost were shelved and
they admitted with an 'OUCH!' they had never seen the good move coming.
As Fat lady said adding the thoughts after the game is much more entertaining
than listening to or reading some IM's/GM's live game comments who take
their cue from what Fritz says.
Originally posted by hedonist I remember watching this show as a kid and loving it even though I barely knew how the pieces moved. This and the epic encounters between Karpov and Kasparov being occasionally reported on the news was what probably led me to take up chess as a hobby later on.
I can still hum the theme tune... where did you get the DVD from ? I'm sure I've searched before and found nothing apart from clips on Youtube.
Edit: Ugh.. £23 for a DVD of one series.. which will have cost virtually nothing to produce.. that's being held to ransom. Will have to wait for fleaBay.
These videos were on youtube for a year or so. I think someone decided to release them as a DVD and then this got taken down from youtube.
Too expensive - £23. £10 more like it.
Originally posted by CaptainBIdseye These videos were on youtube for a year or so. I think someone decided to release them as a DVD and then this got taken down from youtube.
Too expensive - £23. £10 more like it.
Or £8.99 here for Series 6... and now there's one less.
Just watched Gligoric versus Short (@15). Good game.. Gligoric sends his knight to the queenside flank on a fools errand after the b2 pawn then gets ripped apart on the kingside. The technology is awful with the pieces shaking as they move by hand but the players commentating on themselves is compulsive... and oh that theme tune.
So I've watched a few episodes of Series 6... then I walk into the living room while the kids are watching Gogglebox on Channel 4.... and holy crap Batman... it's Bill Hartston.
I've watched the whole series.
The wonky bits gliding from square to square is I think neat.
It appears it was someone behind a glass screen with demo board facing away from them.
At the end of the Short - Miles game you can just see the hand behind the screen.
Each reverse square could be lite up by Bill Hartson.
The Tony Miles - Lothar Schmid game is good.
Schmid weakens his kingside for all the right positional reasons, but for
all the wrong tactical reasons.
Miles - Larsen is also very good viewing.
BBC Master Game
08 Nov '13 11:042 edits
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