Resumo de A chess challenge - Huascar P. Rodarte

A chess challenge. Kameo Kawabata is a neuroscientist with Tokio University and his research is about cognitive science. He works with chimpanzees and is surprised by the recent findings made when those animals are submitted to tests concerning memorizing numbers. Chimps proved superior when confronted with humans in the some tasks. Even college students stuck behind the apes when tested for memorization of digits 1 to 9 that appears in a screen for minute or so. Some young apes are almost perfect, but even the worst chimpanzee is better than the best student. Although Chimps cannot speak, those tests are proving they can exceed humans in certain tasks related to mental capability. And Kameo chose his best ape, Chico, to perform a challenge that anyone would think impossible, a chess dispute between a man and a Chimp. Silently and cautiously he invested long days to the backbreaking task of teaching chess to an animal. That was a risky move that could finish his carrier as a scientist. But his genuine curiosity made him forget all his fears and he moved along. After some time attempting to convince Chico to move chesspieces in return of no food prize, at last the ape assumed some taste for the task and started playing for the sake of just making a good move. During a year or so Kameo tried hard to communicate the complex ideas chess demands to be played in a high level. Chico became each day more and more used to the expertise involved in the game and in a special day Kameo is defeated by his animal pupil. After this, Kameo started to improve Chico abilities in the game by the use of computer chess softwares, preparing him to more advanced human players. After a while Chico became bored by such computer games and Kameo started the search for a master in professional chess to challenge. From the start nobody took him seriously and a derision was the main reaction. In sequence, when told about a possible money prize, some asked for a time to think about and never return the call. Some of them remembered the Kasparov smash by Deep Blue computer and imagined that much more devastanting could be overcome by a chimpanzee. Moreover, the simple fact of being in a chessboard with a animal is downgrading for a human. But, at last, a chess master named Yuri Chicatov accepted to face Chico for a one million dollars pay. The money been provided by a giant international animal food producer. The new spread and attracted attention around the world. So, in the contest day, the place of the event is surrounded by police troops and all the media is present. Many demonstrators carry cards in protest. Some against the abuse of animals and others saying animals should not be allowed to the same table with humans. The challenge starts and after a hour or so Chicatov demonstrates nervousness and his usual calm face is now covered by a profuse sweat dropping. Chico plays inside a cage and the camera shows a casual Chimp watching the screen he uses to make the moves. After a hour more, Yuri Chicatov drops the King and retires, pale and almost in tears. He needs medical help and is attended in a hospital, disoriented and in shock. Some say he never could return to a normal life and to spend the dollars he got for the challenge. Chico did not received any money. He has nothing to do with it.

Resumos Relacionados