MSN Zone Names Chess Challenge Winners Ahead of Kasparov Match

The MSN Gaming Zone has announced the four winners of its Chess Challenge tournament, played this past weekend as a warm-up for the Kasparov vs. The World match starting June 21. The grand prize winner, a player from New York City, takes home $2500 and a chess set autographed by Garry Kasparov himself. Second place earned $1000, while third and fourth place took home $500 apiece. Winner names are due to be posted on the Kasparov vs. The World website.

The main event is the real story. Starting Monday, the world chess champion plays everyone on the planet at once: Kasparov makes his first move June 21 at 10:30 a.m. ET, live from Bryant Park in New York City, then a new move every 48 hours. Once his move posts to MSN, the world team gets 24 hours to vote on a countermove, and whichever move draws the most votes gets played. Anyone can join, at any skill level, and the whole thing is expected to run through the summer. MSN is calling it the largest interactive competition of its kind, and for once the claim might actually hold up.