"Without a sponsor for '97, championship's future in doubt"

"... the decision by Intel to end its chess sponsorship leaves a deep
appreciation for what has been accomplished as well as a regretful
sense of loss.

"That decision became public last month when the newspaper El Pais
published a report by Spanish chess journalist Leontxo Garcia. The
report included excerpts from an interview with Professional Chess
Association World Champion Garry Kasparov.

"'Kasparov confirmed,' said Garcia, 'that the PCA's USD 7 million
contract with Intel is not being renewed.'

"A commitment to play a high-profile match with IBM's computer Deep
Blue --the series was held last week in Philadelphia--had played a
major part in Intel's decision, claimed Kasparov. 'Intel demands that
I not play this match.'

"A spokeswoman for Intel, however, described the decision as part of
the company's normal annual revamping. 'We were very successful
[through chess] in increasing awareness of Intel,' she said, 'but we
are now looking for projects that address a broader audience.'

END QUOTES

And perhaps which do not help IBM achieve greater mindshare...

Is Andy taking pettiness lessons from his ol' buddy Bill?