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Chessville
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.jpg) TheParrot Squaawks….! Opinions and Reader Feedback TheParrot
Says… 12-26-2004 China has been growing in strength as a chess power for quite some time now - it's not even news any more in fact. There has already been a woman's World Champion from China (Manila 1991, when the young Chinese star Xie Jun beat Chiburdanidze +4 -2 =9). TheParrot wonders though, when are we going to see a Chinese World Chess Champion? Currently the highest rated Chinese player is World #51 GM Jiangchuan Ye (2649, born:1960-11-20). The Chinese team's victory in the very strong Petrosian Memorial demonstrates their potential, and maybe just reveals that they've - up to now - been taken too lightly by the opposition. The Chinese team had the lowest average rating among the four teams, nearly a hundred points behind the front-running Russians, headed by World #8 Peter Svidler. TheParrot thinks we'll be hearing more from the top Chinese men sooner, rather than later. 12-22-2004 How ironic, after all the trouble trying to get him there in 1972, if Bobby Fischer were to wind up in Iceland again after all this time. As reported above (See complete up-to-the minute coverage of this Breaking News.) Iceland has offered to take Fischer off of Japan's hands, and the Icelandic Committee to Free Bobby Fischer has appealed to the Japanese Prime Minister to assist in Bobby's release. TheParrot thinks we should be looking at this situation through the eyes of compassion for a fellow human being, rather than the politicized lenses of those seeking to make political hay at Bobby's expense. As John Bosnitch wrote to the Japanese Prime Minister, "In the course of our defense of Mr. Fischer's fundamental human rights we have uncovered incontrovertible evidence that the U.S. State Department did not follow the mandatory U.S. legal procedures necessary to properly revoke Mr. Fischer's passport. Instead, certain officials operated outside the law in an effort to have Japan deport Mr. Fischer to the United States in what would effectively be an extra-legal "back-door" extradition for totally unrelated charges dating back to 1992." and "Mr. Prime Minister, I implore you to be truly lion-hearted and to accept the offer from the highest levels of the Icelandic government that would ... let Bobby Fischer, one of the most famous men of the past century, live out his days in peace and freedom." TheParrot says, Amen! 12-12-2004 As you've probably heard by now, FIDE has adopted a rule which specifically prohibits players from writing down their move on the scoresheet before that move is played on the board. This is contrary to what some chess trainers have taught over the years, but FIDE Arbiter Geurt Gijssen says the rule is needed: Article 8.1: In the course of play each player is required to record his own moves and those of his opponent in the correct manner, move after move, as clearly and legibly as possible, in the algebraic notation (Appendix E), on the ‘scoresheet’ prescribed for the competition. It is forbidden to write the moves in advance. Over at the Chessville Forum we've started a poll, asking what you - the chess playing public - thinks about this new rule. Early returns show a quarter of the respondents (26%) don't care one way or the other, while the remaining voters split between the 39% who think it's either the dumbest idea they ever heard of, or at least think it's a bad idea which they oppose, and the 34% who think it's a good idea which they support. Add your voice to the debate - record your vote in our poll. 12-5-2004 A discussion currently developing among some of the newsgroups, important enough to reprint parts of here: "The AF4C, KCF, SPF, and many other organizations have done so much for US Chess in the past few years. In the mean time, some of these same people continue to complain, whine, insult and attack and they will never stop. Unless the current structure of the USCF is changed, the same problems will occur." - Paul Truong "Dear Paul Troung, today on a public newsgroup, was the first broach to any seriousness in these matters, and I repeat below an exchange with Rob Mitchell from Tennessee." - Phil Innes Rob Mitchell (RM): Phil, My dear friend. I was shocked at the sheer number of 501(c)3 organizations in the US promoting chess. As I see it, there should be one coherent plan of action regarding these organizations. I do not know if that is currently the case. Does the USCF communicate or attempt to coordinate programs thorough the other organizations? Phil Innes (PI): I would say that there is 'theory' and then there is practice. The practice is 'no.' RM: If not, perhaps this is what the Russians meant. PI: Not only Russians, but others have commented on speed, issues of competency, and a general aliveness and receptivity to ideas. RM: If a strong central power were to act with vision to coordinate the disparate actions of the various organizations; perhaps the "sleeping giant" would awaken? PI: And here begins a potential discussion of the role of USCF in America and in World Chess. For some time I have be writing with Kaarlo Shepel in the Netherlands who has wished to reform Fide, and also with some chess players prominent in world chess. Not simply to change the figurehead, but to examine the basis of future needs. Perhaps this may be some sort of guide to domestic arrangements of chess? I think we have currently resolved that there are two large categories, one is Chess Management, and another is Chess Development. In the world, as in the US, these two categories are quite divorced from each other, and suffer no cohesive organization at all. USCF is squarely in the Chess Management arena; that is, it manages ratings, certification of TDs, rule systems and arbitrations, and is the nominal point-of-contact for domestic and international event management. All the parties to the larger discussion do not dispute the need for good management practices, however, all parties also agree that Chess Management does very little to initiate big chess programs, to support professional players, to financially sponsor chess, to support new initiatives, and in general, promote it to the larger culture. These activities are undertaken by Chess Development folks, who are more dispersed and form ad hoc groupings to achieve these goals. A significant weakness to any better integration of affairs is one of 'ownership'. In USCF's case there is very little coordination with Chess Development, since USCF do not act to simply coordinate the management of an event, but seek to take it over, and indeed, to own it. I believe the result of this practice is that USCF currently have no sponsors at all, do not initiate or even take part in new projects, and do not attain a level of confidence by Chess Developers whereby useful conversations could take place. That is actually something of an understatement. Previously these sorts of comments have been met with 'send us a proposal' which <laugh> does not quite appreciate the point that Chess Developers prefer to development their own Management in preference to engaging USCF, who hadn't even admitted any interest in the subject but who seek to take it over, and who besides, think themselves to be the persons to whom others should 'submit.' RM: That is my hope. That is my vision. I would like to become a part of that. PI: I would also welcome greater national cohesion with the national chess managers. But it is no USCF policy nor practice to achieve it [!] and where elsewhere, I have talked of a strategic plan, this would certainly be a major element of any plan - some intelligent partnering. As for Crossville as a future site, I have no objection whatever to moving from a metropolitan to a rural location [although I understand that Larry Parr and Sam Sloan do have reservations]. My objection is that the organisation seeks to make a major move, and literally cement that move in a new building, without any open discussion of what functions it will support for US chess in the future. I submit to you that the current status-quo of partnering and generally relations which USCF enjoys and practices, has almost killed it. To simply plow ahead, as if there were nothing to discuss about its future role seems absurd, and the people making these decisions are not more experienced nor 'immersed' in chess than their critics. The current legal proceedings are so much fiddle-faddle, and essentially a red-herring. They mean nothing other than a current excitement about the scandal of the month. What about the next 60 months? Where does the organisation see itself supporting chess in America at that time, and //how// will it partner with others? Your note is encouraging the point that a real consequence is at stake here for chess in the country, rather than a 'if you are not for us, you're against us' attitude, which has successively marginalised over the years, much of USCF's potential worth. 11-20-2004 TheParrot included the World Youth data, as strategically important material for future prospects in world chess, Squawwk! Where are the America players? Squawwk, and does the new-Crossville generation of chess managers care about this world level of things, or do they agree with Eric that the Erie Chess Club is more important? 11-13-2004 Unmentioned above is a lawsuit purportedly filed by Sam Sloan in a New York court against the USCF's Executive Board, attempting to prevent the move to Crossville, Tennessee. Opinion seems to be divided between those who believe this lawsuit will save the USCF from extinction, and those who think it will hasten the same. One correspondent referred to it as "a joke among jokes". There is some question about the court's jurisdiction, and so far, no response from those named in the suit. Hmmm, threatened lawsuits if they don't move to Crossville, lawsuits if they do, it's enough to make any decent human being run away! Why would any self-respecting chessophile willingly subject themselves to this sort of nonsense? These events can only serve to deter the best candidates from volunteering for service on the Board in the future. Of course, everyone knows the USCF is flush with money to fight the suits (NOT!) too. TheParrot thinks he'd rather go to the park, and play blitz for quarters. Talk to The Parrot and tell us what you think. 11-6-2004 Well, Kirsan did it again. With some fairly predictable parliamentary maneuverings, he managed to avoid facing the USCF's Motion of No-Confidence. The Action Committee for a Democratic FIDE, was equally ineffective in managing any real change. They may, however, in conjunction with Don Schultz & the USCF's efforts, have set the stage for future change. The need has been clear for a long time, and never more so than now. Personally, while TheParrot will continue to support efforts to reform FIDE from within, revolution from without is what's really on our mind. We'd really like to see the right people (meaning the ones we agree with, of course!) step out & directly challenge FIDE's hegemony with the creation of a new organization for world chess promotion & governance. Of course, it's all about the money, and as long as Ilyumzhinov continues to find the funds, it's unlikely that such an effort will succeed. On the other hand, should some well-intentioned billionaire step forward, and plop down the kind of money the World Championship and professional chess in general deserves, who knows what might happen? The Motive & Opportunity are here, now. All that's missing is the Means. Talk to The Parrot and tell us what you think. 10-23-2004 The USCF's move to Crossville Tennessee seems to be mired in politics, as usual. A late-night conference call vote found the Board split 4-3, there was apparently no time to accommodate a two-week delay requested by one of the bidders, rumors are that the President wants to dump the ED, while others call for the Prez to resign, meanwhile Sam Sloan investigates the possibility of filing a lawsuit to stop the move. <sigh> Anybody wanna play some Blitz? Talk to The Parrot and tell us what you think. 10-16-2004 The USCF's motion of No-Confidence in FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was left off the official agenda. Apparently there is no room for dissent within FIDE. Nevertheless, TheParrot continues to support the Action Committee for a Democratic FIDE's reform efforts. If you haven't already, you should read their Final Report About FIDE Reform. Unlike some efforts of the past, they don't focus on removing Kirsan, per se. They have a complete agenda for reform, a serious effort to make sure things get clean and stay clean. No failing to learn from history for this group. TheParrot also has heard that at least one country's Federation has already sold their loyalty for the proverbial 30-pieces of silver. Let's hope they go home empty-handed. Talk to The Parrot and tell us what you think. 10-9-2004 Kramnik & Leko's "fight" for the Classical World
Championship has obsessed TheParrot of late. Our last two squaawks
have talked about it, and now a very interesting discussion is under way
over at the
10-2-2004 Be still my heart! The match for the "Classical" World Championship is showing signs of life once again, after a pair of short draws (18 & 23 moves respectively) Leko & Kramnik actually get to an endgame. Reports Rolf Behovits "After six and a half hours and 69 moves Peter Leko from Hungary wins his first game against titleholder Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and equalizes the score. Leko switches to 1. d4 and surprises Kramnik with the quiet line of the Queen’s gambit, which Kramnik likes to play himself. The titleholder from Russia defends well and reaches the endgame, where, although he was a pawn down, the draw looks like the most probable result. Leko manages to keep bishops and rooks on the board and starts to push his pawns. When he brings his bishop on the long diagonal, the position starts to look dangerous for the World Champion. He hopes to escape in the endgame with three pawns and rook against three pawns and bishop with pawns on the same side. But he fails to regroup his bishop on the long diagonal - and finally Leko wins his first game." There may be hope for the match after all, but for Leko? Remember, he still has to outscore Kramnik to wrest the title away. Will he do it? Talk to The Parrot and tell us what you think. 9-25-2004 Kramnik-Leko. <yawn> So said the critics. If Game One
is any indication, this match will be anything but!
9-18-2004
GM Maurice Ashley has once again proven his skill at exceeding
expectations, and delighting his many fans. This time he's helped
organize the richest open chess tournament in history, with a guaranteed
prize fund of
9-11-2004
As reported in the FIDE Chess Yahoo Group:
Dear Chess Friend: The new home of FIDE is Athens; it is the home of the FIDE Deputy President. It became FIDE’s home without giving other federations a chance to bid competitively. It is no wonder that FIDE flirts with bankruptcy on a daily basis. Although the move to Athens has taken place, the lease on our Lausanne office remains in effect and FIDE now pays the costs of both the Lausanne and Athens facilities. Choice events are routinely awarded to FIDE’s inner circle without competitive bidding. Financial abuses abound! For example, FIDE is paying for an assistant to President Ilyumzhinov in Moscow. What is this man doing for FIDE? FIDE has purchased gifts for President Ilyumzhinov’s head of state friends and FIDE has not been refunded for those gifts. The flow of money is going the wrong way folks!
FIDE fired its Executive Director for financial mismanagement and
illegally replaced him by a group of three insiders. They have not begun
a search to find an Executive Director as required by FIDE’s bylaws. What’s happened to the FIDE Forum? To the FIDE Handbook? To the President’s letter? To the World Team Championship? To FIDE’s assistance to chess developing countries? Never before have the member nations of FIDE been more ignored and so poorly served. The answer to criticisms, such as above, always comes down to the “Look at all the money our President is contributing to FIDE.” Hogwash! Where is it? Its been over two years since FIDE has received a nickel from the President. Another answer to attempts to terminate our President’s dictatorial reign is that he will pay his debts to FIDE and that FIDE can’t survive without this money. Another Hogwash! Spain is paying for this year’s Olympiad, and Italy is paying for the next Olympiad. The fact is national federations are actively competing to organize and finance youth and other championships. FIDE didn’t need President Ilyumzhinov’s money in the past and they don’t need it now. Friends, we do not intend to stand idly by and watch FIDE disintegrate. Our Executive Board has unanimously placed a no-confidence motion in FIDE’s leadership that will be on the agenda in Calvia. We seek your help in obtaining its passage. To this end we invite your federation president and delegate to attend a meeting in Calvia on Thursday evening, October 28 (precise details as to time and location will be made available in Calvia). At this meeting, we will present a plan to reform FIDE from within.
First we see the rise of the ACP. Next the group headed by Kaarlo Schepl (see The New Clothes of the Emperor). At last a challenge from within FIDE, by a member state. All TheParrot can say is, GO TEAM! What do you think? Come on, Talk to TheParrot. Readers say:
9-4-2004
8-28-2004 GM Ashley - take note: Above we told you about the Staunton Memorial taking place at the famous Simpsons in the Strand. One of the leading women players in the world, Jovanka Houska, seems to be taking her toll on the once feared GM Jonathan Speelman. In the first round, playing with the Black pieces, Speelman needed 69 moves to overcome his much younger rival. The exertion must have been too much for him, as in the following two rounds he could only manage a 14-move draw with GM Daniel King, and a 17-move draw with GM Jonathon Levitt. Poor Speelman, as fate would have it that was all the rest he managed to get before having to face down Houska again. This time playing with the White pieces he managed to polish her off in a mere 47 moves. Of course the exertion once again proved too much, and in the following round he once again managed a draw against King, this time in 17 moves. Truly a fitting memorial to Howard Staunton, once the strongest player in the world, who later was too busy (or was it too ill?) to play the upstart youngster Paul Morphy. Contributions to the Speelman recovery fund may be sent directly to Generation Chess. What do you think, is TheParrot too hard on poor old aged Speelman? Come on, Talk to TheParrot. Readers say:
8-21-2004 A new group, the Action Committee for a Democratic FIDE, offer their ideas for reforming FIDE in an open letter to the President of FIDE & current leadership. Read excerpts in The New Clothes of the Emperor. From abolishing the infamous anti-doping regulations, to a complete business and organizational overhaul, their recommendations to FIDE, which have so far gone unanswered, seem a sound and thoughtful way to take back chess from Kirsan and his cronies. Tired of lottery knock-out tourneys for deciding the so-called World Championship (TheParrot can only being himself to call it the "FIDE Championship")? Tired of forced testing for a non-existent problem? Tired of bureaucrats controlling the professional lives of GMs all over the world? Look at some of the ideas proffered by this group: restoring the traditional cycle for the World Championship; realistic voting rules for FIDE assemblies, including a weighted voting system; reigning in the power of the FIDE Presidency; investment in scholastic programs and developing countries, etc. This group has numbers and money behind them, and have thought this out very carefully. Unfortunately, it appears that at the USCF, things may be business as usual, with politicians representing themselves rather than their constituents. Watch these pages for more information as it becomes available. Read more of their ideas in The New Clothes of the Emperor, and Talk to TheParrot. 8-14-2004 Last week TheParrot squaawked about Tom Braunlich's article Scholastics and the Soul of Chess. Tom points out that the scholastic movement isn't bringing in new USCF members that stick around - they drop out after they've finished with the scholastic chess scene. Further, he argues, no one knows if there's any money being generated by the movement, or where it's going if it is. Most ominously, he argues that the scholastic scene isn't doing anything to develop new chess talents that are discovered in the scholastic scene. Even more ominously is the fact that no one at the USCF or AF4C seem to want to discuss it. Even though they are in the midst of a merger dance. Is it politics as usual at the USCF? Above we mentioned that former USCF President Dr. John McCrary has called for current USCF President Beatriz Marinello to resign, and that they will table a delegate motion on reorganizing Fide proposed by Don Schultz, and that the City of Crossville TN may sue the USCF over its failure to move there. Is the USCF on the brink? TheParrot thinks so, the real question in - the brink of what? If the USCF is to survive, cooler heads will need to prevail, and we'll need the politicians to - for once - stop acting like politicians, and start acting for the best of chess and chessplayers. Readers Say:
8-6-2004 Is the Scholastic chess movement actually bad for chess? Maybe, or so argues Tom Braunlich in an article extracted at Chessville (Scholastics and the Soul of Chess). Tom points out that the scholastic movement isn't bringing in new USCF members that stick around - they drop out after they've finished with the scholastic chess scene. Further, he argues, no one knows if there's any money being generated by the movement, or where it's going if it is. Most ominously, he argues that the scholastic scene isn't doing anything to develop new chess talents that are discovered in the scholastic scene. Instead, he says, "Scholastic Chess is ... a creation of educators, not chess players. They think of chess as an educational tool. They see it as a “Social Good”, not as a “sport”, and use it for their own purposes." and that "The brand of chess educators teach can be criticized by a chess sportsman in many ways, including their de-emphasis of developing a competitive and winning attitude, their strong reward of mediocrity, and perhaps most important of all, their tendency to ignore the talented players in favor of the large “mass” of kids that are their target." Is Tom right? He may be. Right or wrong, it is a critical question that should be answered as the USCF considers a merger proposal with the AF4C. If Tom is right, we can't afford to surrender our national organization to an outside group that might work at cross-purposes, a la the the American Chess Foundation. Readers say: Check here for the full text of the lengthy replies we received to this particular Squaawk!
7-29-2004 Irina Krush continues to impress. Earlier this year she finished highly in the hastily arranged 2004 US Women's Championship, now she goes 3½-½ against GM competition in the New York Masters, and jets off to play in the 2004 North Ural Cup, where she's holding her own with the likes of top-ranked Antoanetta Stefanova of Bulgaria (2527), and former Woman's World Champ Maia Chiburdanidze of Georgia (2498). Recently in 20 Questions with Susan Polgar the GM and 4-time World Chess Champion suggested that Krush is one of a handful of up & coming talents with the potential to eventually qualify for the men's GM title. Krush is also on the US Woman's Chess Olympics team. We may be partial, but we think Krush is someone special, someone to keep an eye on. 7-22-2004 Bobby Fischer's incarceration continues to dominate conversation. Evident is the diversity of opinion. Over at the Chessville Forum a poll asks "What should happen to Bobby Fischer now that he's been arrested?. Roughly 60% so far are saying either let him go or grant him a pardon, while a steady 30% or so want him to stand trial. The poll closes in another couple of days, so there's still time to go register your vote. Feedback to TheParrot so far has been of this ilk: "Fischer knowingly violated the law. Why are you making excuses for him?" another reader writes to say "No one is above the law. Maybe Bobbie and Martha can share a cell. She can teach him how to make doilies and he can teach her the French Defense." Then this Bobby Fischer Tribute site showed up, with an amazing photo parade and links of officials to contact with the following message: Free Bobby! Readers say:
7-15-2004 Regarding our 20 Questions interview with GM Susan Polgar, GM Ray Keene write in to say, "My Dear Parrot, get the politicians out of chess power-hooray!! Well done. I totally support Susan in this aim. I have been fighting this battle for 19 years-its great to have her now say the same." -Ray Keene, IGM
What would anyone here understand of the effect of becoming a world icon amid a world living in fear of it's very existence? Fischer has evidently taken on a Plutonic, dark and despicable role we dared not own in ourselves. Of course, to venture in these realms stirs up all the dregs which are not polite to mention or usually publicly avowable. Equally evidently he has not got threw his ordeal ~ no Dostoyevski him! He has not got through a realm of projecting these dregs from the bottom of his psyche onto other people, the same as with Dostovevski, Jews in both cases. Perhaps what is most frightening to everyone is the potential that they too could be exposed to some meta~world event which shakes them to their core, then they will have to explore their own Underground. Meanwhile we have only read of Fischer-as-icon, not Fischer as human being. Readers say:
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7-7-2004
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With
18.c4 Nxc4 the combatants embarked on a forced exchange that left the
defending champion with a rook & a bishop for the challenger's queen.
Soon Kramnik started threatening to queen his c-pawn though, and
eventually Leko gave back an exchange to rid himself of that particular
thorn. Now playing with two full rooks for the queen, the Champ
quickly took the initiative, and soon forced a general liquidation down
to a simple won 3-2 pawn endgame. Let's hope the remaining games
are as exciting as the first! Will they be, or will we see Kramnik
now head into a "4-corners" defense (a basketball term, referring to the
ploy of just holding the ball, without trying to score)? What do you think?
$500,000. Expected to attract over 4000 chessplayers to the
Minneapolis Convention Center, and with a top prize of $50,000 you can
bet your rook pawns there will be plenty of top-notch talent from all
over the world. Chief Organizer GM Maurice Ashley has made sure
that with class prizes of $20,000 there should be plenty of competition
on the lower boards as well. Find out more about the
Fischer finally lands in jail again, this time over the silly outstanding
warrant obtained by the US Government because Bobby defied their orders not
to play the 1992 rematch with Spassky in war-torn Yugoslavia. A few
years ago the whole world reported on a little ice-island in the Atlantic
and 2 people playing chess there during a much bigger war, the Cold War,
when their parent continents threatened each other for 50 years with global
thermonuclear warfare and mutually assured destruction. Then, what
Fischer and Spassky achieved was more than all the politicos put together,
they achieved a meeting!
