This is a journalistic piece that I put together over a 4 day period during my attendance of the DC 32nd Annual Eastern Open tournament which contains my impressions on the atmosphere, operation of the tournament, play, and so on.
It's separated into 4 short journal entries(one or two were written the day after but reflected what I had experienced the previous day). I've modified the original wording I had written down on paper as I've transcribed it to the blog but the general content is still basically the same.
Day 1: The first day of the event left me with two losses but I enjoyed myself nonetheless.I felt like the tournament is being run smoothly and there appears to be a sizable turnout. The competition faced seemed strong so the games were stimulating and immensely enjoyable. I entered the skittles room in between rounds and was pleased to find a lively atmosphere where I was able to make acquaintance with a great bunch of guys who would look at games they had played in the tournament or from books together in between rounds.
Day 2: This day wasn't any more successful than the first since I didn't manage to win a single game but I had a hell of a time anyway so my spirits remained high.There was an interesting opposite colored bishop with one rook each endgame between GM Alexander Ivanov and a young master in the third round that I was able to catch the conclusion of.The material edge was in the young player's favor since Ivanov was down several pawns but he had the positional edge of a good dark squared bishop which controlled a splendid diagonal vs a bad light squared one with little scope as well as a protected passed pawn on the kingside so he was able to gain the point.
Day 3: I continued my losing streak but I ended up having a fun time analyzing the game Fischer-Taimanov from the 1970 Interzonal tournament that was held in Palma de Mallorca,Spain.It's always a pleasure to soak up the chess atmosphere with fellow enthusiasts of the game and I reveled in it when I was engaged in lively conversation with the aforementioned acquaintances.This event also has a superb chess vendor whose selection contains countless enticing books,DVD'S,and equipment! It made me wish I were rich but I know that not all chess study material is created equal so it's important to pick and choose for practical purposes but I am unapologetically materialistic when it comes to chess items ( :
Day 4: This day turned out to be the day when I finally managed to a gain a half point on the score table when I salvaged a draw from a tough position that I had managed to bring to an unclear rook ending. My opponent was kind enough to offer to anaylze the game afterwards and I accepted the invitation before heading off to a local pub for lunch. I was very content with my experience at the tournament despite not scoring well so I entered the 8th round in good spirits but was not paired correctly which was a slight blemish on what was otherwise a very well run tournament so I took a bye to be with family for my stepmother's birthday dinner.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
New York Times Chess Related Editorials
A piece by IM Jennifer Shahade on what she thinks the chess community could learn from the poker scene that was sent to me by a close friend in NYC.
The issue of how to attract more cash into the chess scene in the U.S. that IM Jennifer Shahade raises is definitely an important one since sound finances are critical for hosting comfortable events and maintaining the existence of those chess professionals who make their living off of the game so her piece deserves attention.
"Chess tournaments, which are now closed gatherings of devotees, should include more basic commentary and instruction."
This would be a great way of providing introductory material to those who were intrigued by the goings on of a chess tournament they happened upon but had not previously been exposed to even the most basic rudiments of competitive chess.This provision of more basic instructional material shouldn't detract from the primary emphasis of ensuring a smooth and comfortable tournament for those already participating in the game but it could be possible to make sure that both of these concerns were taken care of.
"Funny, lively announcers can make the moves dramatic - and there's no question that chess is full of eccentric and engaging characters with made-for-TV stories."
This would certainly portray chess in a far more lively manner and wouldn't be a bad idea to implement as long as a desire to dramatize the game didn't lead to a watering down of the complexities that were occurring on the board in favor of flashy flair.
"Make its tournaments more exciting. Poker tournaments, the center of the poker boom, are "knockouts," meaning that players are eliminated one by one until the champion has all the chips. Most chess tournaments are now arranged so that everyone keeps playing till the end, and whoever amasses the most points is champion. "
I can see how this kind of tournament structure would lead to a more exciting atmosphere and a more climatic finish but I wouldn't want it to become the only way in which chess tournaments were organized since I wouldn't always want to play in events where one loss would lead to my expulsion from further play.I propose that any significant increase of cash into U.S. chess should be used to organize a variety of tournaments that cater to the differing tastes among chess enthusiasts from aficionados of blitz play to those with a penchant for longer time controls such as G/60 or G/120 as well as varied tournament structures from knockouts to traditional round robins or swiss systems.It will ultimately be up to individual chess players to decide what kind of events they want to fork their cash over too and this will have an influence on the nature of the events organized.I don't completely share IM Shadade's conviction that knockout events are the way to go but I do share her desire to see more fanfare for the sport of chess and a greater influx of cash to maintain the occupation of chess professional as an economically feasible option.
My father sent me this piece on sex appeal in chess.
It contains a link to a website that hosts a World Chess Beauty Contest but the focus is only on female players.
A suggestion I'd make to those with an interest in constructing rankings of chessplayers based on physical attractiveness would be to have a site that ranked the best looking among male chessplayers for the benefit of female or gay enthusiasts of the game.
I don't view such contests as particularly important in advancing chess but I'd make the above suggestion for those who think otherwise and wish to conduct such affairs.I don't wish to imply that chess players can't be considered good looking or that I am without any kind of sexuality but simply that it's not integral to the value of the game to trump up physical appearances.
The issue of how to attract more cash into the chess scene in the U.S. that IM Jennifer Shahade raises is definitely an important one since sound finances are critical for hosting comfortable events and maintaining the existence of those chess professionals who make their living off of the game so her piece deserves attention.
"Chess tournaments, which are now closed gatherings of devotees, should include more basic commentary and instruction."
This would be a great way of providing introductory material to those who were intrigued by the goings on of a chess tournament they happened upon but had not previously been exposed to even the most basic rudiments of competitive chess.This provision of more basic instructional material shouldn't detract from the primary emphasis of ensuring a smooth and comfortable tournament for those already participating in the game but it could be possible to make sure that both of these concerns were taken care of.
"Funny, lively announcers can make the moves dramatic - and there's no question that chess is full of eccentric and engaging characters with made-for-TV stories."
This would certainly portray chess in a far more lively manner and wouldn't be a bad idea to implement as long as a desire to dramatize the game didn't lead to a watering down of the complexities that were occurring on the board in favor of flashy flair.
"Make its tournaments more exciting. Poker tournaments, the center of the poker boom, are "knockouts," meaning that players are eliminated one by one until the champion has all the chips. Most chess tournaments are now arranged so that everyone keeps playing till the end, and whoever amasses the most points is champion. "
I can see how this kind of tournament structure would lead to a more exciting atmosphere and a more climatic finish but I wouldn't want it to become the only way in which chess tournaments were organized since I wouldn't always want to play in events where one loss would lead to my expulsion from further play.I propose that any significant increase of cash into U.S. chess should be used to organize a variety of tournaments that cater to the differing tastes among chess enthusiasts from aficionados of blitz play to those with a penchant for longer time controls such as G/60 or G/120 as well as varied tournament structures from knockouts to traditional round robins or swiss systems.It will ultimately be up to individual chess players to decide what kind of events they want to fork their cash over too and this will have an influence on the nature of the events organized.I don't completely share IM Shadade's conviction that knockout events are the way to go but I do share her desire to see more fanfare for the sport of chess and a greater influx of cash to maintain the occupation of chess professional as an economically feasible option.
My father sent me this piece on sex appeal in chess.
It contains a link to a website that hosts a World Chess Beauty Contest but the focus is only on female players.
A suggestion I'd make to those with an interest in constructing rankings of chessplayers based on physical attractiveness would be to have a site that ranked the best looking among male chessplayers for the benefit of female or gay enthusiasts of the game.
I don't view such contests as particularly important in advancing chess but I'd make the above suggestion for those who think otherwise and wish to conduct such affairs.I don't wish to imply that chess players can't be considered good looking or that I am without any kind of sexuality but simply that it's not integral to the value of the game to trump up physical appearances.
A Saturday in Lindsborg, Kansas-A Chessic Event
The Chess For Peace event turned out to be a worthwhile venture that I was happy to attend. There were some technical difficultes in the Karpov-Polgar match that caused the audience to miss out on several games unless they could interepet the convulted digital interface with multiple pieces on screen. There were 4-5 white knights at once! I did enjoy the question and answer session though and I had no idea that GM Susan Polgar was only 36. The scholastic tournament turned out to be a blitz affair which was probably a disappointment to some but may have been done because of time constraints. There was a fairly sizeable turnout for the festival and I had a fruitful discussion with a parent who had concerns about the state of his son's school chess club.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Commentary Upon Selected Thoughts of Mikhail Botvinnik-World Champion from 1948-1957,1958-1960,and 1961-1963
The basis of this analysis was the foreword to a used copy of Botvinnik's One Hundred Selected Games that I purchased at a local bookstore.
The famous player and 6th world champion Mikhail Botvinnik authored a piece titled The Russian And Soviet School Of Chess in which he stated the following.....
"Tchigorin approached chess in the same manner as our modern Soviet players.He served the art disinterestedly and self-sacrificially." ( Note:Does he mean in a monetary sense? That would render my criticisms moot since I certainly would not judge someone for foregoing financial gain in the pursuit of chess excellence although I see nothing wrong with making money off of one's passion for the game)
I get the impression that Botvinnik's ideal player is someone who devotes themselves to chess without reaping any personal benefit.The term self-sacrificially seems to indicate that a player is sacrificing their own interests to chess instead of devoting their life to it out of passion which isn't a sacrifice since their benefiting from it.
"But even more important is that when we Soviet masters take part in tournaments and study the game we know we are performing a socially valuable,a cultural activity,that we are bringing benefit to the Soviet state"
I am uneasy with this statement because of Botvinnik's characterization of chess activity as a boon to the Soviet state since the honor of a tyranny should be of no concern.I realize what the situation of being at the subsidy and mercy of the Soviet establishment must have put him in but my criticisms stand if he genuinely views himself as a chess crusader on behalf of the Soviet regime.
The famous player and 6th world champion Mikhail Botvinnik authored a piece titled The Russian And Soviet School Of Chess in which he stated the following.....
"Tchigorin approached chess in the same manner as our modern Soviet players.He served the art disinterestedly and self-sacrificially." ( Note:Does he mean in a monetary sense? That would render my criticisms moot since I certainly would not judge someone for foregoing financial gain in the pursuit of chess excellence although I see nothing wrong with making money off of one's passion for the game)
I get the impression that Botvinnik's ideal player is someone who devotes themselves to chess without reaping any personal benefit.The term self-sacrificially seems to indicate that a player is sacrificing their own interests to chess instead of devoting their life to it out of passion which isn't a sacrifice since their benefiting from it.
"But even more important is that when we Soviet masters take part in tournaments and study the game we know we are performing a socially valuable,a cultural activity,that we are bringing benefit to the Soviet state"
I am uneasy with this statement because of Botvinnik's characterization of chess activity as a boon to the Soviet state since the honor of a tyranny should be of no concern.I realize what the situation of being at the subsidy and mercy of the Soviet establishment must have put him in but my criticisms stand if he genuinely views himself as a chess crusader on behalf of the Soviet regime.
Friday, December 16, 2005
The Drive to Win in Competitive Chess with Added Thoughts on Fischer
"I like to make them squirm"
"I like the moment when I break a man's ego"
"There are tough players and nice guys,and I am a tough player"
These famous quotes are from the infamous Bobby Fischer who contributed much to chess but whose outlook on the world leaves much to be desired. I won't fault Fischer for having a drive to win at the board (every player should feel confident in their ability to play and win if they want to develop a good mental attitude for success) but does it really require you to view your opponent as a human being whose ego must be utterly destroyed in the process?
I am much more inclined towards a view of competitive chess that sees it as a struggle between two sportsmen (used in a general sense to refer to both women and men chess players if that wasn't already understood) who both strive to win but without viewing each other as implacable enemies who must be mentally broken down in the process (outwitted on the chessboard perhaps but psychologically destroyed...no)
I'll give a recent example from my own experience to further drive home my point because I was at a local chess club this Wednesday to compete in a rated game which I ended up winning in 11 moves but which didn't stop us from doing a friendly analysis of the game after it was over. I was intent on winning and did but had no desire to project an image of the chess playing machine who took pleasure in utter demoralize by my opponent at their loss. I also take issue with Fischer's comment that being a tough player and a nice guy are mutually exclusive because I consider myself a tough player but I am a pretty friendly guy at the same time and make an effort to display good sportsmanship in both my losses and victories.
So thank you Robert Fischer for giving us the pleasure of your fine play but a pox upon your behavior towards other players, tournament organizers (see Bobby Fischer Goes To War by David Edmonds and John Eidinow for anecdotal accounts of Fischer's disgraceful behavior) ,and comments in support of the unspeakable tragedy of the September 11th attacks upon the Pentagon and World Trade Center as well as various anti-Semitic ramblings.
"Fischer: What I am really hoping for, Pablo, did you ever see that movie Seven Days In May
Pablo: Yes,yes Fischer: That's a movie about a general who tries to take over the USA. I think it was with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, it was based on a book. I saw that years ago.
Pablo: Yes I did Fischer: That was more than a plain gesture.
Pablo: Yeah,yeah.
Fischer: I was really for the generals, you know. But in the end the president of the so-called democracy won. But I'm hoping for some kind of a Seven Days In May scenario in the lakes of Ontario, where the country will be taken over by the military, all the civil guards, to close down all the synagogues, arrest all the Jews, execute hundreds of thousand of Jewish ringleaders, and ,you know, apologize to the Arabs for the killing, .. for all the Jews over there of that bandit state, you know Israel. I'm hoping for a totally new world."
This exchange not only reveals an apparent desire on the part of Fischer to see the U.S. descend into military rule but is also a prime illustration of his anti-Semitic nonsense that consists of frequently ascribing any grievances he may have to the "Jews".
"Bobby Fischer: Hi Pablo .. cause the god damn Jews.. who will use any fuckin trick to screw me .. fuckin bastards and liars.. I got the dough.. it was a conspiracy.. I worked my ass off for this memorabilia for years. I was in and out of those file cabinets and safes thousand and thousands of times.. there's no way.. I kept this stuff, this memorabilia, through thick and thin for decades.. I had twenty lean years where I hardly made any money.. the Jews blackmailed me from playing chess. And it was a hardship just to pay the storage, you know? I kept this stuff.. for twelve years it was in storage.."
He is making a reference to the selling off of items placed in a Pasadena,California storage unit that the owner says occurred because of a failure to pay the required fee for continued storage but Fischer contends otherwise.
An interesting twist in this story is that these items have recently allegedly appeared on ebay.
I have one last Fischer quote to drive home my point about the HUGE contrast between his play at the board and his world view.
"They're all weak, all women. They're stupid compared to men. They shouldn't play chess, you know. They're like beginners. They lose every single game against a man. There isn't a woman player in the world I can't give knight-odds to and still beat"
-Bobby Fischer
He should tell that to a WGM (Women's Grandmaster) and I recall seeing several strong women players at the 2005 North American Open in Oklahoma who definitely defeated their fair share of male opponents.
I've been very harsh on Fischer for what I regard as his extremely contemptible remarks on women to individuals of Jewish descent but I remain fascinated by his history, character, and chess play nonetheless.
I don't mean to excuse any of his obscene comments but Fischer ultimately remains a very complex character with acts of compassion such as his visit to a hospitalized Mikhail Tal during the 1962 Candidates Tournament held on the island of Curacao (see pg.30 of Bobby Fischer Goes To War) existing alongside his disgraceful view of women. I've read a great deal about him without ever feeling like I completely understand the engima that he tends to be.
The following works have been a bountiful source of information on this peculiar chess champion that I've absorbed much from.
Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time by David Edmonds and John idiom that contains many interesting biographical details and anecdotes.
Bobby Fischer: Profile of a Prodigy by Frank Brady which is a biography that I read many moons ago in middle school but likely contains some useful information.
Russians Versus Fischer by Dmitry Plisetsky and Sergey Voronkov that I received for Christmas this year and have found to be fascinating reading with many anecdotal accounts from Soviet grandmasters who interacted with him on the international tournament circuit as well as transcripts of anaylsis of Fisher's play by top Soviet players with sessions convened by the Soviet authorities to discuss the "Fischer problem"
"I like the moment when I break a man's ego"
"There are tough players and nice guys,and I am a tough player"
These famous quotes are from the infamous Bobby Fischer who contributed much to chess but whose outlook on the world leaves much to be desired. I won't fault Fischer for having a drive to win at the board (every player should feel confident in their ability to play and win if they want to develop a good mental attitude for success) but does it really require you to view your opponent as a human being whose ego must be utterly destroyed in the process?
I am much more inclined towards a view of competitive chess that sees it as a struggle between two sportsmen (used in a general sense to refer to both women and men chess players if that wasn't already understood) who both strive to win but without viewing each other as implacable enemies who must be mentally broken down in the process (outwitted on the chessboard perhaps but psychologically destroyed...no)
I'll give a recent example from my own experience to further drive home my point because I was at a local chess club this Wednesday to compete in a rated game which I ended up winning in 11 moves but which didn't stop us from doing a friendly analysis of the game after it was over. I was intent on winning and did but had no desire to project an image of the chess playing machine who took pleasure in utter demoralize by my opponent at their loss. I also take issue with Fischer's comment that being a tough player and a nice guy are mutually exclusive because I consider myself a tough player but I am a pretty friendly guy at the same time and make an effort to display good sportsmanship in both my losses and victories.
So thank you Robert Fischer for giving us the pleasure of your fine play but a pox upon your behavior towards other players, tournament organizers (see Bobby Fischer Goes To War by David Edmonds and John Eidinow for anecdotal accounts of Fischer's disgraceful behavior) ,and comments in support of the unspeakable tragedy of the September 11th attacks upon the Pentagon and World Trade Center as well as various anti-Semitic ramblings.
"Fischer: What I am really hoping for, Pablo, did you ever see that movie Seven Days In May
Pablo: Yes,yes Fischer: That's a movie about a general who tries to take over the USA. I think it was with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, it was based on a book. I saw that years ago.
Pablo: Yes I did Fischer: That was more than a plain gesture.
Pablo: Yeah,yeah.
Fischer: I was really for the generals, you know. But in the end the president of the so-called democracy won. But I'm hoping for some kind of a Seven Days In May scenario in the lakes of Ontario, where the country will be taken over by the military, all the civil guards, to close down all the synagogues, arrest all the Jews, execute hundreds of thousand of Jewish ringleaders, and ,you know, apologize to the Arabs for the killing, .. for all the Jews over there of that bandit state, you know Israel. I'm hoping for a totally new world."
This exchange not only reveals an apparent desire on the part of Fischer to see the U.S. descend into military rule but is also a prime illustration of his anti-Semitic nonsense that consists of frequently ascribing any grievances he may have to the "Jews".
"Bobby Fischer: Hi Pablo .. cause the god damn Jews.. who will use any fuckin trick to screw me .. fuckin bastards and liars.. I got the dough.. it was a conspiracy.. I worked my ass off for this memorabilia for years. I was in and out of those file cabinets and safes thousand and thousands of times.. there's no way.. I kept this stuff, this memorabilia, through thick and thin for decades.. I had twenty lean years where I hardly made any money.. the Jews blackmailed me from playing chess. And it was a hardship just to pay the storage, you know? I kept this stuff.. for twelve years it was in storage.."
He is making a reference to the selling off of items placed in a Pasadena,California storage unit that the owner says occurred because of a failure to pay the required fee for continued storage but Fischer contends otherwise.
An interesting twist in this story is that these items have recently allegedly appeared on ebay.
I have one last Fischer quote to drive home my point about the HUGE contrast between his play at the board and his world view.
"They're all weak, all women. They're stupid compared to men. They shouldn't play chess, you know. They're like beginners. They lose every single game against a man. There isn't a woman player in the world I can't give knight-odds to and still beat"
-Bobby Fischer
He should tell that to a WGM (Women's Grandmaster) and I recall seeing several strong women players at the 2005 North American Open in Oklahoma who definitely defeated their fair share of male opponents.
I've been very harsh on Fischer for what I regard as his extremely contemptible remarks on women to individuals of Jewish descent but I remain fascinated by his history, character, and chess play nonetheless.
I don't mean to excuse any of his obscene comments but Fischer ultimately remains a very complex character with acts of compassion such as his visit to a hospitalized Mikhail Tal during the 1962 Candidates Tournament held on the island of Curacao (see pg.30 of Bobby Fischer Goes To War) existing alongside his disgraceful view of women. I've read a great deal about him without ever feeling like I completely understand the engima that he tends to be.
The following works have been a bountiful source of information on this peculiar chess champion that I've absorbed much from.
Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time by David Edmonds and John idiom that contains many interesting biographical details and anecdotes.
Bobby Fischer: Profile of a Prodigy by Frank Brady which is a biography that I read many moons ago in middle school but likely contains some useful information.
Russians Versus Fischer by Dmitry Plisetsky and Sergey Voronkov that I received for Christmas this year and have found to be fascinating reading with many anecdotal accounts from Soviet grandmasters who interacted with him on the international tournament circuit as well as transcripts of anaylsis of Fisher's play by top Soviet players with sessions convened by the Soviet authorities to discuss the "Fischer problem"
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