26-08-2013, 09:04 PM
Quote:Ultimately there is more to Chess for the vast majority of kids than simply being good at it
Yes but the vast majority of the kids are not going to go and play international chess. Indeed I think in this respect swimming is the reverse of chess and suffers for it. You either train very hard and aim for the top or you don't swim. And once you turn 18 most give up.
Actually I think the better you are at something the more you enjoy it - and not just because you can beat more old guys but because you get pleasure out of doing something well. Also the shared experience of the hard work creates friendships that often cross the usual barriers of age, sex and class and which I suspect will last a lot longer than those forged more casually.