01-02-2014, 03:32 PM
Andrew McHarg Wrote:I suspect there are lots of reasons that are all part of the bigger picture. But maybe one of the biggest reasons is online play?
Like you say Andrew (and Stevie previously) many possible reasons. What would be really good is a breakdown of all the likely contributors, and an estimated percentage for each contributor (where possible and with strong analysis to support that). A difficult but very worthwhile job. I would really like to see what the % contributer of the poor Junior retention rate is, in relation to the decline of our various tournaments/events.
No one seems to mention all the Scottish players that travel abroad to tournaments in this modern day. They are probably still attending the tournaments here, however where are the players from abroad attending our tournaments? There definetly isn't much of that. Are we stuck in the past? Has the structure of our tournaments not moved on with the modern day? I don't think anyone would argue the need for more sponsorship and an improvement on the standing of chess in the public eye.
We should be having Billy Connoly along (good health permitted) to open the Glasgow congress. The Proclaimers could be playing an opening tune at the Scottish Championships. I'd like to see us think big, and jazz the game up, and really just move it on.