18-08-2014, 09:45 PM
What is the incentive to break 2300? Seems like it is being used as some magical figure, when the truth is that 2300 is nothing these days. I see many European players who I beat 10 years ago now rated 2500-2600 plus. The issue is clearly a lack of opportunities in Scotland and this has and always will be the case! The sad fact is there is little to no money to be made in chess so unless you enjoy spending 8 hours plus a day studying and spending a fortune travelling to Europe to play stronger events it is pointless.
I stopped studying chess seriously 10 years ago, aged 18 and rated 2250. Now in 2014, I am still rated 2254 and looking at the current FIDE rating list still no-one younger has over-taken me. I am trying not to sound negative, but I think that says a lot about the current state of chess in Scotland.
Let's hope things change, would be great to see some of the up and coming players reach not only 2300 but IM level and beyond.
I stopped studying chess seriously 10 years ago, aged 18 and rated 2250. Now in 2014, I am still rated 2254 and looking at the current FIDE rating list still no-one younger has over-taken me. I am trying not to sound negative, but I think that says a lot about the current state of chess in Scotland.
Let's hope things change, would be great to see some of the up and coming players reach not only 2300 but IM level and beyond.