Annoying time wasting

[John Clarke]

He could be quite horrible at times. I've seen him slam the clock and then stare his opponent down for long periods, trying to intimidate him. It was done in a rather nasty way also.

Nope because he stared down his opponent when it was his turn to move also. Can't remember exactly who he was playing, some eastern European guy with a rather tricky name.

Maybe referring to the photo in Keene and Levy's book of the 1972 Skopje Olympiad, showing Browne during his game against Ortvin Sarapu (who was Estonian-born, but emigrated to New Zealand after WWII). The caption refers to him trying "a spot of hypnotism", which I suppose is one polite way of putting it.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Ooh, are we besmirching the memory of great players? I heard Bobby Fischer was a touch unfiltered on occasions.

It would be quite something if we started a thread "Besmirching the memory of great players" in the obituary section. Any one volunteering?

[MJMcCready]

Well it has been proven that chess causes madness, so it's understandable.

[Ian Jamieson]

Or you have to be mad to spend more than a certain amount of time and money on chess?

[MSoszynski]

Or you have to be mad to spend more than a certain amount of time...

... on chess forums?

[Joey Stewart]

Ooh, are we besmirching the memory of great players? I heard Bobby Fischer was a touch unfiltered on occasions.

It would be quite something if we started a thread "Besmirching the memory of great players" in the obituary section. Any one volunteering?

There's a lot of great players who were not great people - nothing wrong with respecting someone's skill over the board but holding them in contempt for their personal views (Fischer being one of the most famous examples) and I almost think better to do it after they are dead so you don't have to worry about any repercussions.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Equally though, people like Fischer are on the other extreme and not typical of even the great chess players.

[Joey Stewart]

Equally though, people like Fischer are on the other extreme and not typical of even the great chess players.

I'd say as far as world champions go theres quite a lot of them who seemed to have a reputation of being unpleasant people - Alekhine, Botvinnik, Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov, topalov, carlsen have all had their share of controversies.

At least, however, you can't fault their excellence at the game - far worse is to be a horrible person AND a horrible chess player.

[Nigel White]

Returning to the original subject of annoying time wasting, in the final round of the above mentioned tournament for 7 of the 22 boards a player failed to turn up without informing the organisers. Thankfully, six of us were re-paired after the default time (but with a quicker time control).

While you sadly expect such selfish behaviour from one or two players, I was rather disappointed that so many did so.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"7 of the 22 boards a player failed to turn up without informing the organisers. "

That's terrible - the odd one is irritating, but seven!

[Brendan O'Gorman]

Returning to the original subject of annoying time wasting, in the final round of the above mentioned tournament for 7 of the 22 boards a player failed to turn up without informing the organisers. Thankfully, six of us were re-paired after the default time (but with a quicker time control).

While you sadly expect such selfish behaviour from one or two players, I was rather disappointed that so many did so.

Administratively tiresome, but I'd urge the organisers to demand a deposit from these players before allowing them to enter future events. The deposit (£50 ?) would be returned after the final round if they'd behaved properly.

[Nigel White]

Returning to the original subject of annoying time wasting, in the final round of the above mentioned tournament for 7 of the 22 boards a player failed to turn up without informing the organisers. Thankfully, six of us were re-paired after the default time (but with a quicker time control).

While you sadly expect such selfish behaviour from one or two players, I was rather disappointed that so many did so.

Administratively tiresome, but I'd urge the organisers to demand a deposit from these players before allowing them to enter future events. The deposit (£50 ?) would be returned after the final round if they'd behaved properly.

While I've seen such terms stated in the entry conditions (e.g. for the British Championships) for defaults before the final round, I can't see organisers putting in place something which might deter future entrants to tournaments.

[Ian Thompson]

While I've seen such terms stated in the entry conditions (e.g. for the British Championships) for defaults before the final round, I can't see organisers putting in place something which might deter future entrants to tournaments.

That wouldn't reflect well on the organisers if it was known that was their reason for not doing so. They'd be saying that taking players' entry fees is more important to them than ensuring an enjoyable tournament for everyone.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Well maybe fifty quid is a bit steep for a weekend congress, but it is harder to disagree with the principle.