English Chess Forum

The Weakest Link Celebrities BBC1 6.10pm to 7pm.
Saturday 15th January
Tamzin Outhwaite was asked by Romesh Ranganathan:
"What is the six letter name for this chess piece?"
As he showed her a picture of a black knight.
I'm afraid Tamzin didn't know the answer and was voted off at the end of the round.

Most none players refer to a Knight as a horse but that is only five letters. Surprised they never answered; 'A Horsey.'

Simon Rogers wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 23, 2022 12:32 am

I'm afraid Tamzin didn't know the answer and was voted off at the end of the round.

Why be afraid Simon? You are entitled to be so of course.

John Upham wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 23, 2022 11:03 am

Simon Rogers wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 23, 2022 12:32 am

I'm afraid Tamzin didn't know the answer and was voted off at the end of the round.

Why be afraid Simon? You are entitled to be so of course.

Probably the wrong terminology.
I should've used that word for my feelings of Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Independence Topic in the Not Chess Category.
Although I will probably use it for the 3 pieces of sad news I picked up including one from the South Coast.

There are three copies here:

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Sear ... ults&ds=20

All at similar prices of around £80 which are algorithm generated.

BBC1 Celebrity Mastermind
Saturday 26th February 6.30pm to 7pm.
In the General Knowledge round Clive Myrie asked the athlete Roger Black:
"Which chess piece begins on the back row between a rook and a bishop?"
Roger Black hesitated and replied:
"Between a rook and a bishop is a knight."
Clive Myrie then said "Yes"

The latest Private Eye (1568) reports in "Dumb Britain" section, from "The Chase"

Bradley Walsh - "The Fischer-Sozin Attack is an opening in which board game?"
Contestant - "Cluedo"

I do sympathise with the contestant, as why on earth would you know that unless you were a reasonably competent chess player?

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 02, 2022 3:19 pm

I do sympathise with the contestant, as why on earth would you know that unless you were a reasonably competent chess player?

Won't many people have heard of Fischer, even if not chess players? Or does that only apply to those aged 60+?

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 02, 2022 3:19 pm

The latest Private Eye (1568) reports in "Dumb Britain" section, from "The Chase"

Bradley Walsh - "The Fischer-Sozin Attack is an opening in which board game?"
Contestant - "Cluedo"

I do sympathise with the contestant, as why on earth would you know that unless you were a reasonably competent chess player?

How many board games have openings though? "Cluedo" could have been the impossible answer on the game show of that name.

The fast pace of the chase rounds tend to heavily benefit contestants giving speedy answers(even if wrong) over taking time to think and losing valuable seconds- I have definitely heard dumber answers, like a recent pointless episode.
Q: name a UK city beginning with the letter S,C,O,N or E
A: Scotland

"The fast pace of the chase rounds tend to heavily benefit contestants giving speedy answers(even if wrong) over taking time to think and losing valuable seconds"

Yes - also in front of lights, camera, and a slavering audience ready to laugh at you (well, OK the latter rarely applies on the good shows), it is easy to talk gibberish. I had a round at Countdown where after 29 seconds, I had, er, "cat", and it was only as the music signified the end of the 30 seconds that I spotted "agouti", which was a relief.

"like a recent pointless episode.
Q: name a UK city beginning with the letter S,C,O,N or E
A: Scotland"

Well, that is bad... I assume Ely would be a good answer.

"Won't many people have heard of Fischer"

Yes - occasionally I test non-players and they usually remember Fischer, and maybe Spassky and some maybe Karpov/Kasparov/"Karparov".

But hearing "Fischer-Sozin" out of nowhere, when the last question was perhaps about "Dizzee Rascal", could throw you anyway. We know it's "Fischer" not "Fisher", but not everybody would. I don't even know how our Bradley pronounced "Sozin".

In a recent semi-final (Reading vs Edinburgh) of University Challenge there was a starter for 10 as follows:

"Which word prepends the word 'random' in a phrase equivalent to 'Chess 960'?"

Michael Hutchinson (University of Reading) from Andover who has graduated with a PGCE was able to answer the question correctly.

ITV Friday 10th June 2022, 5pm to 6pm.
The Chase
Celebrity edition raising money for Soccer Aid.
In the Final Round on the buzzer, the first question was:
"The Barry Attack is a set of moves in what board game?"
The former footballer, Dion Dublin buzzed in and said "Chess".

The chase are making their chess questions a lot harder lately - I saw a question last night which was something like "which two pieces can never be one square adjacent to each other" and felt that not only was it badly worded but you also needed to actually play the game to know that kings can't go near each other rather then just have cursory knowledge of the game good enough to get you through a quiz show.

Simon Rogers wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 16, 2022 9:35 am

ITV Friday 10th June 2022, 5pm to 6pm.
The Chase
Celebrity edition raising money for Soccer Aid.
In the Final Round on the buzzer, the first question was:
"The Barry Attack is a set of moves in what board game?"
The former footballer, Dion Dublin buzzed in and said "Chess".

One aspect that is unknown is the extent (or otherwise) of the training of the alleged "celebrities" for quiz programmes.

Managers and brand managers of A-Z list celebs will not want them to appear inadequate in the eyes of the public.

The word "attack" does suggest chess of course.

Perhaps asking about "Philidor's Legacy" might have been more challenging.