For a while it seemed that only a former driver who is now a commentator on Setanta Sports television channel in Ireland was not afraid to put his reputation on the line with the Grand Master. This was David Kennedy, who was a driver at the Shadow team in 1980 when the car, unfortunately, did not do very well in qualifying.... Kennedy is an intelligent, multi-talented man with many enthusiasms, one of which is to play chess for fun with his son.
I told Kennedy how I had been having a difficult time finding a challenger for Almasi, and Kennedy accepted to be the victim, and he said that it would not be the first such incident. He told me about how he had played squash while in Australia as a racer, where he was winning whatever series it was. He played at a club against increasingly powerful players, asking for a better and better player each time, and each time beating them. Finally he was wiped off the court, and it turned out that the player was there to play in the squash world championships.
Almasi vs. Kennedy: The Bridgestone Match:
We found Kennedy in the Bridgestone tire company's motor home - beside the Ferrari motor home - and I set up the chessboard I had brought with me - which I had bought on Vaci Street in Budapest years before. Finally the Grand Master had a game. I was too busy taking photos to see what was happening on the board, but before I knew it Kennedy had somehow used his Irish persuasion tactics to make Almasi agree to a draw.
When I saw the state of the board and the pawn and piece that the Grand Master had - to none for Kennedy - I realized that the result was through clear mutual agreement. Almasi had certainly decided he would be better off not wasting any more time.
