22-12-2011, 09:05 AM
Two things I'd like to throw into the mix
Firstly the next Junior Worlds is in Europe, the next 2 are South Africa and UAE. Should we be sending a bigger squad to the next one given the following 2 are going to be very small, hell yes
Secondly on grading limits, This is something we have bounced around for years, we could take to the empirical data that everyone is talking about and that is the Grading list. If you were to look at the "lower graded" players that have gone in the last few years and looked at their grading increases after they have gone to the Worlds / European you will notice a very distinct pattern. Their grading shoots up greater than the others around them. What is causing this?
I think it was last years worlds, that Phil told me that one of the party had asked if a chess playing friend could pay to go along, but not to play (Phil will correct me on dates). After a discussion it was agreed. That person did not play but did join in with the coaching, the result? That person is now playing way above where the level that they were.
So going to the event and losing is part of the storey but it is not the full one. The kids get a lot of benefit and come back stronger players who can then cope the next time they are there. It has been said before, these tournaments are the only way they can get the experience of these tournaments
And Mike, you keep using swimming as an example, why not use something like yachting where you have to be the best in your group to represent your country, irrespective of "grading"
For my final point, in chess terms we are practically a 3rd world nation, was it not for the fact we have GM's we would be. We are one of, if not are the smallest of the so called medium sized nations. We should be delighted that people want to represent their country and that their parent are equally supportive by funding it
Firstly the next Junior Worlds is in Europe, the next 2 are South Africa and UAE. Should we be sending a bigger squad to the next one given the following 2 are going to be very small, hell yes
Secondly on grading limits, This is something we have bounced around for years, we could take to the empirical data that everyone is talking about and that is the Grading list. If you were to look at the "lower graded" players that have gone in the last few years and looked at their grading increases after they have gone to the Worlds / European you will notice a very distinct pattern. Their grading shoots up greater than the others around them. What is causing this?
I think it was last years worlds, that Phil told me that one of the party had asked if a chess playing friend could pay to go along, but not to play (Phil will correct me on dates). After a discussion it was agreed. That person did not play but did join in with the coaching, the result? That person is now playing way above where the level that they were.
So going to the event and losing is part of the storey but it is not the full one. The kids get a lot of benefit and come back stronger players who can then cope the next time they are there. It has been said before, these tournaments are the only way they can get the experience of these tournaments
And Mike, you keep using swimming as an example, why not use something like yachting where you have to be the best in your group to represent your country, irrespective of "grading"
For my final point, in chess terms we are practically a 3rd world nation, was it not for the fact we have GM's we would be. We are one of, if not are the smallest of the so called medium sized nations. We should be delighted that people want to represent their country and that their parent are equally supportive by funding it
"How sad to see, what used to be, a model of decorum and tranquility become like any other sport, a battleground for rival ideologies to slug it out with glee"