Mr. Hodgson
-
- Posts: 3279
- Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:30 pm
Mr. Hodgson
I was watching chess24 last week, at one point GM Julian Hodgson's name came up and it was claimed that he gave up chess to teach in London. Is there any truth in this and does anyone know if we will ever see him back at the board again?
-
- Posts: 21354
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm
Re: Mr. Hodgson
That's the accepted story. He's usually in the VIP room of the London Chess Classic discussing the games in progress.MJMcCready wrote: Is there any truth in this and does anyone know if we will ever see him back at the board again?
http://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-conte ... t-rd-9.jpg
Apparently he doesn't just teach chess, but other mind sports such as Bridge, Backgammon, Poker etc.
-
- Posts: 3279
- Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:30 pm
Re: Mr. Hodgson
Ah okay, so he's still connected to the game? It seems a great shame that when we produce such a great talent he leaves the game. Did the BCF/ECF try to persuade him otherwise do you know?
-
- Posts: 21354
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm
Re: Mr. Hodgson
He's still active as a commentator and presumably coach or trainer. Rumours had it that his new job was sufficiently lucrative that anything the BCF could offer to get him to play for England or in the British Championships paled into insignificance.MJMcCready wrote:Ah okay, so he's still connected to the game? It seems a great shame that when we produce such a great talent he leaves the game. Did the BCF/ECF try to persuade him otherwise do you know?
-
- Posts: 7288
- Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2011 8:13 am
Re: Mr. Hodgson
I did ask him about this when I saw him at the first London Chess Classic, it being the first time I'd seen him in about ten years. Apart from the financial side he also mentioned that his opponents at the team events were getting younger and more theoretical and he felt it was time for others to have a go. It's a shame, he was one of the most original and creative players when I was a junior and I probably have him to thank/blame for the Tromp and the Snake Benoni being part of my openings back thenRoger de Coverly wrote:He's still active as a commentator and presumably coach or trainer. Rumours had it that his new job was sufficiently lucrative that anything the BCF could offer to get him to play for England or in the British Championships paled into insignificance.MJMcCready wrote:Ah okay, so he's still connected to the game? It seems a great shame that when we produce such a great talent he leaves the game. Did the BCF/ECF try to persuade him otherwise do you know?
-
- Posts: 835
- Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:48 am
- Location: Bradford
-
- Posts: 10411
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:12 am
- Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester
Re: Mr. Hodgson
It would be possible for him to play in Seniors events though?LawrenceCooper wrote:I did ask him about this when I saw him at the first London Chess Classic, it being the first time I'd seen him in about ten years. Apart from the financial side he also mentioned that his opponents at the team events were getting younger and more theoretical and he felt it was time for others to have a go.
Any postings on here represent my personal views
-
- Posts: 7288
- Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2011 8:13 am
Re: Mr. Hodgson
You never know, the 50+ events didn't exist when I spoke to him but it could be something that tempts him, and others, to come out of retirement.Mick Norris wrote:It would be possible for him to play in Seniors events though?LawrenceCooper wrote:I did ask him about this when I saw him at the first London Chess Classic, it being the first time I'd seen him in about ten years. Apart from the financial side he also mentioned that his opponents at the team events were getting younger and more theoretical and he felt it was time for others to have a go.
-
- Posts: 3279
- Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:30 pm
Re: Mr. Hodgson
Hmmm, thanks for that Lawrence, of course he would know that his opponents getting younger and being more theoretical was an inevitability. That doesn't sound like the most convincing excuse/reason...excuse I've ever heard. Given that GM Sadler returned to the fold we can only hope that Julian follows suit. Having dedicated so much of his life to chess, surely an OTB return of some sorts is on the cars one day?LawrenceCooper wrote:I did ask him about this when I saw him at the first London Chess Classic, it being the first time I'd seen him in about ten years. Apart from the financial side he also mentioned that his opponents at the team events were getting younger and more theoretical and he felt it was time for others to have a go. It's a shame, he was one of the most original and creative players when I was a junior and I probably have him to thank/blame for the Tromp and the Snake Benoni being part of my openings back thenRoger de Coverly wrote:He's still active as a commentator and presumably coach or trainer. Rumours had it that his new job was sufficiently lucrative that anything the BCF could offer to get him to play for England or in the British Championships paled into insignificance.MJMcCready wrote:Ah okay, so he's still connected to the game? It seems a great shame that when we produce such a great talent he leaves the game. Did the BCF/ECF try to persuade him otherwise do you know?
-
- Posts: 4841
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:13 am
- Location: Bideford
Re: Mr. Hodgson
Nunn being one example.LawrenceCooper wrote:You never know, the 50+ events didn't exist when I spoke to him but it could be something that tempts him, and others, to come out of retirement.Mick Norris wrote:It would be possible for him to play in Seniors events though?LawrenceCooper wrote:I did ask him about this when I saw him at the first London Chess Classic, it being the first time I'd seen him in about ten years. Apart from the financial side he also mentioned that his opponents at the team events were getting younger and more theoretical and he felt it was time for others to have a go.
-
- Posts: 3279
- Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:30 pm
Re: Mr. Hodgson
Good pointIM Jack Rudd wrote:Nunn being one example.LawrenceCooper wrote:You never know, the 50+ events didn't exist when I spoke to him but it could be something that tempts him, and others, to come out of retirement.Mick Norris wrote:
It would be possible for him to play in Seniors events though?
-
- Posts: 7288
- Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2011 8:13 am
Re: Mr. Hodgson
I don't think that players need to justify their reasons for taking a career path that offers more security and more money. I agree that it would be nice to see him return though and the 50+ events may be the events that can do it.MJMcCready wrote:Hmmm, thanks for that Lawrence, of course he would know that his opponents getting younger and being more theoretical was an inevitability. That doesn't sound like the most convincing excuse/reason...excuse I've ever heard. Given that GM Sadler returned to the fold we can only hope that Julian follows suit. Having dedicated so much of his life to chess, surely an OTB return of some sorts is on the cars one day?
-
- Posts: 3279
- Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:30 pm
Re: Mr. Hodgson
Externally yes I think you are correct but internally I think they do at that level. I neither know nor understand the choices facing him when he left chess but I assume it was a very difficult decision. The principal reason for the post is that having played through some of his games recently it seems such a sad loss for a country that is, chess-wise, in decline.LawrenceCooper wrote:I don't think that players need to justify their reasons for taking a career path that offers more security and more money. I agree that it would be nice to see him return though and the 50+ events may be the events that can do it.MJMcCready wrote:Hmmm, thanks for that Lawrence, of course he would know that his opponents getting younger and being more theoretical was an inevitability. That doesn't sound like the most convincing excuse/reason...excuse I've ever heard. Given that GM Sadler returned to the fold we can only hope that Julian follows suit. Having dedicated so much of his life to chess, surely an OTB return of some sorts is on the cars one day?
-
- Posts: 3452
- Joined: Sun May 11, 2008 3:54 pm
Re: Mr. Hodgson
Well if Julian Hodgson was one of our leading players still that would be a sign of our decline.MJMcCready wrote: ... it seems such a sad loss for a country that is, chess-wise, in decline.
I do not what you mean but it does seem more likely that 'good' players are more likely to stop playing that mediocre hackers such as ourselves. Probably quite difficult to not be able to play at your previous level. that’s not something that those of us who’ve never reached a meaningful level have to worry about.
And that’s before you get to the economics and losing your taste for an itinerant lifestyle - once you have a family, say.
As for your question about did the ECF/BCF do anything to try to prevent this retirement: I"ve no idea but I doubt it.
What do you think they could have done?
Incidentally , I don’t think a career changes are particularly unusual at ' a certain age'. I know a lot of people who - like me - are no longer working as Social Workers even though we put many years of time and effort into becoming one and then being one.
The Abysmal Depths of Chess: https://theabysmaldepthsofchess.blogspot.com