21-12-2011, 03:12 PM
Mike Scott Wrote:I have no problem with those who want to play chess purely for fun or as a social activity. The World and Euros are however elite events and there are players who want to take part and need the support of CS to do so: both in terms of a subsidy but also in terms of training, before and during the event. The latter is made much harder when there is a significant numbers of players who are there for the culture.
That's the point though; the younger players you are referring to are the elite in their age category in Scotland. Setting an arbitrary minimum grade standard fails to realise that grade is rarely a reliable measure of true strenght internationally (especially among juniors). How many young players go abroad and consistently smash players well above their own grade? Using it as a wall to prevent them that opportunity isn't likely to inspire them to reach it, it's more likely to make them forget about it and go swimming instead.