29-01-2014, 04:00 PM
StevieHilton Wrote:For far too long numbers at clubs and congresses have been dropping.
Remote play will not reverse this trend, as Jonathan has suggested above. If everyone that "attends" a tournament plays remotely, then you basically have a really slow and expensive online tournament. I much prefer the angle Sean seems to be taking, and agree with Matthew's last post entirely.
StevieHilton Wrote:I know that some players, no matter how viable a point remote chess can be will not accept this. From a disabled point of view, this would be a great help, as there are still difficulties in regards transport to tournament venues and also the fact that some venues are not suitable for disabled players
I think people who are opposed to the idea have some very valid points. Perhaps some of them can be persuaded to see that it's a good idea for a small number of exceptional cases. But I think - and I may be incorrect in suggesting it - that Ian's main concern is that it'll become the norm and OTB Chess as we know it will no longer exist. That would be a concern of mine too; if I thought it even remotely possible.
But I do think there is an argument for allowing some disabled players to play remotely - and for me this is one of the primary examples of why this is a good idea on a small scale. The same applies to - perhaps - talented juniors whose parents lack the funds to take them to some of the major events as regularly as would be required for them to realise their potential. I think it would be a great pity if, under such circumstances, some players refused to play them.