Media comments on chess

[NickFaulks]

World Chess, which owns the online gaming rights of FIDE, has been listed in London with a value of £41.7 million.

I think it is well enough known that, shortly before the 2018 election, everything of any commercial value in FIDE was given away. What is not known is the list of insiders who were among the beneficiaries. I have always felt sure that this giveaway could have been challenged, but I do not believe that has happened.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"To make Chess 960 more popular, a rating system is needed."

The events I have played just used the FIDE Rapid rating as that was the appropriate time-limit. Strictly speaking, you need 959 Chess960 ratings...

ICCF has a separate Chess960 rating list.

[Stewart Reuben]

For ordinary players, I think playing Chess 960 at 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minute + 30 seconds increment would do quite nicely.
It would be part of the game that people would familiarise themselves with the 960 variations. They would NOT need a different rating systems for each variant, provided those too favourable for white were weeded out.
Think of the explosion in opening theory books!

I had no idea that the ICCF has a separate Chess 960 rating list. Excellent.

[Kevin Thurlow]

I have noticed in the Chess960 events I have played that the higher rated players still tend to win. (I was being flippant about the multiple ratings.) Having said that, experience of playing Chess960 does count for something, e.g. RBQKBNRN starting position, 1.c4 threatens Bxh7 winning the exchange. It is very easy to go wrong very quickly.

[Roger de Coverly]

Having said that, experience of playing Chess960 does count for something, e.g. RBQKBNRN starting position, 1.c4 threatens Bxh7 winning the exchange. It is very easy to go wrong very quickly.

I don't think Chess960 negates the advantages of opening research. If anything it enhances them if there are a number of tricks available in the opening positions.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"I don't think Chess960 negates the advantages of opening research. If anything it enhances them if there are a number of tricks available in the opening positions."

For sure, a Dutch friend played in a German Chess960 event and followed two GMs into the playing hall, and heard one say, "I've found a new move in 456." (or some such number.)

I'm beginning to think I should split my Chess960 databases...

[Keith Arkell]

I have noticed in the Chess960 events I have played that the higher rated players still tend to win.

I gave a Chess960 simul v a strong Hammersmith Club, in July 2020, and managed to win all of the games. It just felt like playing chess to me - probably because I'm not very interested in Opening theory.

Here is a reference to the club preparing for it:

http://hammerchess.co.uk/2020/07/12/hammer-goes-960/

Here are the games ( ignore the ratings - nearly everyone is 1500 at Classical Chess on Lichess!).

https://lichess.org/simul/YELyR9Ta

[Peter Hornsby]

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Newcastle Chess Club featured on the front news story of the Stoke Sentinel!

[Kevin Thurlow]

BBC has noticed this story

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/africa/65280560

[Stewart Reuben]

In Kenya do they have a men's championship, or an open championship like the ECF or FIDE do?

[Simon Rogers]

BBC Breakfast news showed a preview of the BBC programme Morning Luve earlier. It featured Sir Richard Branson playing a game of chess against a BBC journalist.

[Stewart Reuben]

We invited Richard Branson to be President of the ECF when we first mooted the idea of an outsider taking on the role, probably 1993.
How good is he? Also can we get to see that programme?

[Kevin Thurlow]

Is it this one? https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001llpy

Don't watch without a TV licence...

[Mick Norris]

‘We use chess as a spine’: the Corsican revolutionaries teaching children moves beyond the board

There are now almost 7,000 licensed chess players on the island with a population of 340,000; more than 25 times the rate in mainland France. Corsica welcomed its first international master, Michaël Massoni, in 2013, and first grandmaster, Marc’Andria Maurizzi – France’s youngest ever at 14 years old – in 2021.

These successes are a byproduct of a concerted programme, now running for 25 years, of teaching the game in Corsica’s schools. Akkhavanh Vilaisarn, the president of the Corsica Chess League, says its true purpose is “to contribute in our way to creating the citizens of tomorrow. Whether or not the kids are strong in chess is secondary for us. It’s really about using chess as a kind of spine to teach children respect: for the rules and for others.”

[Wadih Khoury]

‘We use chess as a spine’: the Corsican revolutionaries teaching children moves beyond the board

There are now almost 7,000 licensed chess players on the island with a population of 340,000; more than 25 times the rate in mainland France. Corsica welcomed its first international master, Michaël Massoni, in 2013, and first grandmaster, Marc’Andria Maurizzi – France’s youngest ever at 14 years old – in 2021.

These successes are a byproduct of a concerted programme, now running for 25 years, of teaching the game in Corsica’s schools. Akkhavanh Vilaisarn, the president of the Corsica Chess League, says its true purpose is “to contribute in our way to creating the citizens of tomorrow. Whether or not the kids are strong in chess is secondary for us. It’s really about using chess as a kind of spine to teach children respect: for the rules and for others.”

They have quite a big focus on junior chess, though they do tend to show up a bit too much "in your face" with their regional flag and symbols.