Chess Masters: the Endgame

[LawrenceCooper]

One thing that (I think) hasn’t really been discussed is the time frame of filming for the series and whether it is intended to allow for any element of (self or assisted) improvement, which could give it more depth. Compare for example with various (amateur) iterations of Masterchef, or perhaps (but not quite the same) other reality shows like SCD or Dancing on Ice.

Taking people with some level of basic ability and combining eliminator style competition with training. I don’t think it’s ridiculous that players of the standard involved could, in the right circumstances, achieve quite significant levels of improvement in relatively short timeframes.

And this would add a level of uncertainty and intrigue to the competitive aspect of the programme as the general pecking order could change over time.

A bit like this? https://www.chess.com/news/view/announc ... champs2025

[Richard Bates]

A bit like this? https://www.chess.com/news/view/announc ... champs2025

Well I suppose, yes, in format anyway. Except that seems to be more about the coaches than the players, whereas in my mind the players should still be the focus since they are the ones that the watching audience would be able to most identify with.

Just as with eg. SCD where, whilst there maybe a really dedicated “anorak” sub-audience who follow and root for their dancers from series to series (who in some ways do certainly become celebrities in their own right - particularly the ones most keen on self-promotion), for 90+% of the audience it is still about the “amateurs”.

Look forward to the future court battles over who owns the intellectual property rights though!

[Roger de Coverly]

Maybe try BBC4 on Monday at 9 pm

How to win at Chess

Dan King and Ray Keene offer tips on playing chess

Like most of BBC4 it's a "chance to see again" aka a repeat.

From https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p8lhp

Also taking part are novelist Martin Amis, writer Dominic Lawson, Britain's youngest grandmaster David Howell and under-16 champion Sheila Dines.

which will give some clues as to when it was made.

[Ian Thompson]

which will give some clues as to when it was made.

There's no need to look for clues. The date on the clip explaining not quite all you need to know about castling is 18 December 2009.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

What we have all been waiting for, the verdict from Leonard Barden!

BBC Two’s Chess Masters: The Endgame provokes sharply divided reactions

...has provoked strong but sharply divided reactions, both among television critics and seasoned chess experts and amateurs.

Also includes viewing figures!

(This thread gets mentioned - *blush* - *ears burning*)

Kudos to Leonard for the interactive map to encourage new chess players to find chess clubs.

The comments section worth a read as well.

e.g.

I think the format is doing chess a disservice. It's great to see chess on TV but this feels like they don't want to get too into chess. I wonder why they didn't use the other TV format (I think there are only 2 now) and get semi celebrities to learn and play in a knock out tournament. It was a great success as Pogchamps. Sign up the charismatic GMs as coaches, give people the introduction they need by learning with the celebs and then when enough interest exists around the super gm coaches put actual chess on TV!

[Roger de Coverly]

What we have all been waiting for, the verdict from Leonard Barden!

There's also a Guardian editorial piece.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... -the-world

[John Foley]

Can someone or some bot summarise this thread?
I don't have the stamina to wade through the comments.

[Roland Kensdale]

Can someone or some bot summarise this thread?
I don't have the stamina to wade through the comments.

Some people are annoyed that the first chess on TV for so many years is of such little interest, with annoying chatter, very little play of any quality.

Others are glad that potential new players seem to be watching, some have even gone to clubs already. There might be something to draw in people who have never been interested in chess before.

Reviews in the papers vary from awful to good.

There are some useful suggestions of how future chess on TV could be better thought out, maybe with trainers improving the players over the course of the series.

[Neill Cooper]

Guardian Editorial:
"The Guardian view on the chess boom: how rooks and knights captured the world"
"With The Queen’s Gambit, Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo and a new BBC TV show, the game is winning it right now"
See https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... -the-world

[Jon Mahony]

I agree with Jon Mahoney.Thought it was very poor.Cant see new players being encouraged by that format.

Cheers Robert - nice to see you on here.

[Geoff Chandler]

Regarding Leonard and 'This thread gets mentioned.' and an earlier post saying three new players turning up at a chess club after watching the programme....Membership here may increase!

(put 50p each way on Bardenstown Lad 33-1, who ran at Cheltenham yesterday it came in 11th. No complaints, this horse has won me money in the past.)

[Ian Thompson]

The programme was included in Gogglebox last night, starting at about 14 minutes into the replay.

None of the "Goggleboxers" (Channel 4's term, not mine) appeared to play chess and there were a variety of reactions to it, although the Goggleboxers are obviously playing to the camera in that programme. Some seemed to quite like it. One wasn't happy when she heard that the final game was going to last half-an-hour and thought she might have to watch the whole game.

[Roland Kensdale]

The programme was included in Gogglebox last night, starting at about 14 minutes into the replay.

None of the "Goggleboxers" (Channel 4's term, not mine) appeared to play chess and there were a variety of reactions to it, although the Goggleboxers are obviously playing to the camera in that programme. Some seemed to quite like it. One wasn't happy when she heard that the final game was going to last half-an-hour and thought she might have to watch the whole game.

One of them appeared to fall off his chair after a victory on screen.

[Mark D Podlesak]

On Gogglebox from "surely not chess" attitude to several enjoying, got involved, "stressed watching that" comment, it went down better than I thought it might. Maybe it works on the target audience.

[John Clarke]

I take it Bill Hartston was not one of the viewers this time. (Actually, is he still with the show?)