Having a celebrity make the ceremonial first move of a chess match is a PR thing, similar to a ceremonial first pitch in baseball. It got interesting when Mikhail Gorbachev made the ceremonial first move in an exhibition match between Anatoly Karpov and JudithSusan Polgar in Lindsborg, Kansas, in 2005, and then insisted that Karpov leave the move 1.g4 on the board:
President Gorbachev arrived at 4 p.m. and they were ready to start. Anatoly had white in the first game. Therefore, President Gorbachev would make the first move for Anatoly. As he arrived at the board, he told the audience that this is a wonderful match between two great champions. “I am going to cause some difficulties for the older player”, he said, then proceeded to play 1.g4 without asking Anatoly. Both Anatoly and Susan looked up at President Gorbachev in shock. Anatoly thought that the President was joking as Anatoly mentioned that he would like to make another first move. But the President was firm in saying there is no take back in chess. Then the players started their first game.
This was probably the only time Karpov ever played Grob's Attack.