I have received an email regarding my previous post. A nice email but
I will refrain from naming them. Here is my reply with a few bits added.
Hi,
Yes a bit of a rant, possibly a wee bit unkind but as I'm 72 I can get away with these things.
I really feel sorry for these guys. Fair do's for stepping up
and paying their own way but we should not have to rely on players
and parents dipping into their own pockets.
I followed a few of the games and recognise the symptoms of age,
tiredness and self doubt. (four of the team won't believe me but
I'm older than them so I know these things.)
I watched live Graham v Hannes Stefansson (Scotland v Iceland a 3½ - ½ loss)
I cheered like a football fan when Graham played 33.Rh4 and when his opponent
played Rc2 and Rxb2 I was in raptures looking at the winning sacs after 36.Qg5
Graham's game
(how come I cannot print a diagram or show a game on here - we use to be able to.)
I remember a time when Graham would have played 36.Qg5 after one minutes
thought and stomped this GM but Graham bailed out with 36.Rxh5 because
the perpetual was there and that is not dig, it's what today I would have done.
(also the by then the team 2-0 down and Jonathan was fighting for a draw at the best.)
And David, a really good player in his day had an awful 18 move loss.
(I won't give the link, it looks like one of my recent games.)
Normally I view a loss as a loss with no sympathy. losing is part of the game.
but this is not the David Levy of old.
This must not happen again, these lads have carried Scottish Chess for long enough
we need to figure out a way to raise funds so players and parents do not have
to pay their own way. We should pay for everything, include a financial bonus
to the players and in future field stronger and younger teams.
(no offence guys but you lot learned your trade when there were adjournments,
today's top level play to a finish games are best left to the young ones...hmmm...
no matter how I word this it will probably cause offence...I'm back!)
Yes, it's good to be back! I'm thinking of paying my sub again but last time
I did that things went tits up. Despite countless emails and password resets
from the powers that be I could get onto the forum so I just gave up.
I am loathe to join again as I only subbed to play on the forum and because I have
lost all faith in the system paying a sub may see me out in the wilderness again.
I'll pay but ask not to be an official member as it appears the system cannot cope.
And there should an O.A.P. sub, or at least an over 70's fee say £20.00. The students
get a reduction (£18.00) and 'apparently' none of them are interested in playing for their country.
Geoff
I will refrain from naming them. Here is my reply with a few bits added.
Hi,
Yes a bit of a rant, possibly a wee bit unkind but as I'm 72 I can get away with these things.
I really feel sorry for these guys. Fair do's for stepping up
and paying their own way but we should not have to rely on players
and parents dipping into their own pockets.
I followed a few of the games and recognise the symptoms of age,
tiredness and self doubt. (four of the team won't believe me but
I'm older than them so I know these things.)
I watched live Graham v Hannes Stefansson (Scotland v Iceland a 3½ - ½ loss)
I cheered like a football fan when Graham played 33.Rh4 and when his opponent
played Rc2 and Rxb2 I was in raptures looking at the winning sacs after 36.Qg5
Graham's game
(how come I cannot print a diagram or show a game on here - we use to be able to.)
I remember a time when Graham would have played 36.Qg5 after one minutes
thought and stomped this GM but Graham bailed out with 36.Rxh5 because
the perpetual was there and that is not dig, it's what today I would have done.
(also the by then the team 2-0 down and Jonathan was fighting for a draw at the best.)
And David, a really good player in his day had an awful 18 move loss.
(I won't give the link, it looks like one of my recent games.)
Normally I view a loss as a loss with no sympathy. losing is part of the game.
but this is not the David Levy of old.
This must not happen again, these lads have carried Scottish Chess for long enough
we need to figure out a way to raise funds so players and parents do not have
to pay their own way. We should pay for everything, include a financial bonus
to the players and in future field stronger and younger teams.
(no offence guys but you lot learned your trade when there were adjournments,
today's top level play to a finish games are best left to the young ones...hmmm...
no matter how I word this it will probably cause offence...I'm back!)
Yes, it's good to be back! I'm thinking of paying my sub again but last time
I did that things went tits up. Despite countless emails and password resets
from the powers that be I could get onto the forum so I just gave up.
I am loathe to join again as I only subbed to play on the forum and because I have
lost all faith in the system paying a sub may see me out in the wilderness again.
I'll pay but ask not to be an official member as it appears the system cannot cope.
And there should an O.A.P. sub, or at least an over 70's fee say £20.00. The students
get a reduction (£18.00) and 'apparently' none of them are interested in playing for their country.
Geoff