Appearance fees for our best players

[Andrew McHarg]

I'd say they are both tied together though. More players playing Chess from a young age = more GMs in the future. We need to play the numbers game.

The devil is in the detail. The hard work that has been put in at primary level in the last 10 years has probably resulted in more primary school kids playing the game competitively but without a structure/system to take them on after primary most disappear.

Can you explain why you think sending more players, irrespective of their strength, to the WORLDS/EUROS will result in more players and stronger players playing?

Because I think there needs to be something to work towards. There needs to be a reason that you want to improve as a player and become the best of your age category. After achieving this status it's unfair to have the opportunity pulled from under your feet - just because you don't happen to be a very strong player. I know that I would personally be gutted if I had the chance to play for my country but some technicality (like grade) prevented me from doing so.

Its not always a numbers game - for example James Gillespies Primary out performed both South Morningside and Sciennes for a number of years and is generally of a similar strength in team competitions even though it is a significantly smaller club (~20 members against 80 or more at the others). If you can do with the 80 what can be done with the 20 then you probably right but often it is not.

Agreed that it's not always a numbers game - but on average it is. It's not the whole story, clearly, but more players will broaden the likelihood of unveiling a very special talent. I can't comment on the example you gave, but I don't think we are in disagreement here. I'd like to see as many players as possible playing and a progressive structure in place to bring them on and keep them interested.