Chess is usually played by humans that entails strategic thinking, focus, and a lot of wits to outsmart one's opponent. But what happened during a chess match between a child and a robot was entirely different.
The robot unceremoniously snatched and broke a seven-year-old boy's finger last week during a match at the Moscow Open, according to reports by several Russian news outlets.
Why Did The Robot Break The Child's Finger?
The incident happened on July 19 and was reported by the state-run news outlet RIA Novosti. Channel Baza relayed the story on Telegram and cited the Russian Chess Federation vice president narrating what transpired.
Sergey Smagin, vice president of the Russian Chess Federation, claims that the chess robot broke the boy's finger because the youngster attempted a quick move without giving the machine the time to finish its task.
Jesus… A robot broke kid‘s finger at Chess Tournament in Moscow @elonmusk @MagnusCarlsen
— Russian Market (@runews) July 21, 2022
There is no violence in chess, they said.
Come and play, they said. https://t.co/W7sgnxAFCi pic.twitter.com/OVBGCv2R9H
The boy's finger is seen being pinched by the robotic arm for a number of seconds in the video before a woman, and three men hurry to rescue and escort him away.
According to Smagin, there were several safety regulations, which the child appears to have broken since he did not realize that he needed to wait before moving.
However, Smagin also noted that the incident was an "extremely rare case."
But Lazarev provided a different story, claiming that once the child made a move, he needed to give the robot some time to respond. However, as the boy hurried, the robot grabbed his finger.
Baza named the boy Christopher and said he was among the 30 best chess players in the Russian capital under the under-nines category.
Read also: Stanford Scientists Create 'OceanOneK' - A Humanoid Robot That Can Dive In Ocean Depths!
Is The Boy Alright?
Baza claimed that on the event day, the chess robot had previously played three games before playing with Christopher.
Baza's report on the matter concluded with uncertainties about whether the robot would be "put to sleep" or remain after harming the child's finger.
Speaking to RIA Novosti, Smagin clarified that the incident was "just a coincidence" and emphasized that the chess robot is safe.
Christopher, whose finger was cast in plaster, did not appear particularly traumatized by the attack, according to Lazarev, who spoke to Tass. He added that the volunteers assisted in recording the actions as the young player finished the tournament the very following day.
However, his parents have been in touch with the public defender's office following the defense, according to The Guardian.
Smagin further noted that the robot has already performed in various opens but reminded that children must be "warned" next time.
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
