Tromso Olympiad

[Alan Tate]

A few brief comments

1. Every chess player knows that tournament performance is normally determined in the first few rounds; Tournament score is determined in the last few rounds - that is just how the Swiss system work. The Scottish Women performed very well and the Men performed well. Both teams' final score were a bit disappointing. From some comments I get the impression that Scotland performed dismally and this is simply way wide of the mark.

2. The right team was selected. Simply selecting Clement Sreeves, or Adam Bremner, or Callum MacQueen doesn't constitute a youth development policy. Supporting these players requires some thinking and some cash, not some ad hoc suggestion every four years.

3. Many thanks to John Shaw and Alan Tait for contributing their informed commentary to this thread.

4. A lot of Chess Scotland's limited resources are used on the Olympiad. I think that is appropriate, it is after all the senior level of our game. However, we should welcome debate on spending priorities. It is all to easy to fall back on emotive arguments, but would it really be better to fund two juniors going to the World Youth Championship, or ten players who have worked hard to get where they are going to the Olympiad.

1. With all due respect Mathieu, you weren't there so I don't believe you are in a position to comment on the performance and a superficial use of statistics doesn't cover up what I believe to be a far deeper-routed problem.

2. I agree. Whilst these players have potential, none have shown enough ambition so far.

3. Thank you, I have always wanted to be more Scottish

4. No one is talking of blowing 2 grand on a couple of players in the strongest junior tournament. However, a £100/£200 here or there could be an incentive to help cash-strapped and busy students play more.

5. :-bd