Author: ludicrous
Date: 06:23:17 01/18/06
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How do you see your future in chess?
At 25, I have understood that chess is not my calling, but only a temporary
occupation, one of the methods to develop my intellect. I don’t know what I will
take up in the future, but I know for sure that I will not play chess all my
life. My education qualifies me to teach Physical Education in schools, but this
too, somehow, doesn’t appeal to me.
It sounds like a requiem…
No, I am not expressing emotions, just establishing facts. I will try to
continue to earn money by the means of chess, to support the material component
of life. I will not burn bridges, nor will I throw chess out of the window. This
will not happen, but there will be a change of priorities.
And it is ungrateful in terms of time consumption and energy…
When you are fascinated by the game and achieve certain success it is too late
to change anything. However, it is clear that in chess the expenditure of energy
is absolutely disproportionate to the reward or to material compensation. The
relationship between expenditure and earning is absolutely unbalanced.
Is the game promising, does it have a future?
Chess has no image. It is necessary to regretfully admit that chess is not an
Olympic sport, and will not see TV prime time, just as one cannot see one's own
ears. Nor will it see major sponsorship. Also the abundance of draws scares
people away. Football (soccer) yes, it’s a show. The main thing is one doesn’t
have to understand it, it is sufficient to simply experience the emotional
output. But it’s another thing entirely to try to sort out what is going on the
chessboard…
-----------------------------------------
After reading this, the chess fan cannot help but think.
I bet there are a horde of masters or even amateur players out there that are
more devoted to the game than morozevich. If a player of Moro's calibre and
status can say such to chess, then what can we common chess folk can say? Moro
is stating his facts in an 'as a matter of fact" manner. It makes me see things
like an average player trying in vain to improve in chess all his life as so
much a waste of time. It is as if saying: "If you cannot gain anything
worthwhile in playing chess, studying chess, practicing chess, spending on
chess, then you are wasting your time." Chess as a game would then be likened
to, say, the Yellow Pages memorization championship. In itself, it is useless,
but if you win a million dollars by being the one who is able to memorize the
most business names and addresses in the Yellow Pages, then all your work
becoems worthwhile.
At least Moro is earning substantially on his chess, and has gained fame
through the game. The same cannot be said for the majority of chess players
worldwide, who have probably invested a similar amount of time, energy and
devotion to the game as Moro has.
Take a look at this:
An unknown ecclesiastic of the 17th century has penned a vivid
description of the kind of appeal that chess exerts. He calls it
"The Evils of Chess" (20):
I. It is a great time-waster. How many precious hours (which
can never be recalled) have I profusely spent in this game!
II. It hath had with me a fascinating property;
I have been bewitched by it: when I have begun, I have not had the
power to give over.
III. It hath not done with me, when I have done with it. It
hath followed me into my study, into my pulpit; when I have been
praying or preaching, I have (in my thoughts) been playing at chess;
than I have had, as it were, a chess-board before my eyes. . . .
IV. It hath caused me to break many solemn resolutions; nay,
vows and promises. Sometimes I have obliged myself, in the most
solemn manner, to play but so many mates at a time, or with any one
person, and anon I have broken these obligations and promises. . .
V. It hath wounded my conscience and broken my peace. I
have had sad reflections upon it, when I have been most serious. I
find, if I were now to die, the remembrance of this game would
greatly trouble me and stare me in the face. I have read in the
life of the famous John Huss, how he was greatly troubled, for his
using of this game, a little before his death.
VI. My using of it hath occasioned much sin, as passion,
strife, idle (if not lying) words, in myself and my antagonist, or
both. It hath caused the neglect of many duties both to God and
men...
Perhaps the guy is right...
On January 18, 2006 at 06:42:50, Sune Larsson wrote:
>From an article on the CB-site:
>
>Who is the strongest player in the world right now? Perhaps it is still
>Kasparov, despite having recently left the stage?
>
>"There is no such a thing as the “stronger player”. No one understands chess as
>it is, there is simply a will to reach the highest possible result. Actually,
>Kasparov doesn’t understand anything in chess. And personally I don’t give a
>damn what he is occupied with, he only exists on tournament score sheets. His
>other endeavors do not interest me."
>
>http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2874
>
>/S
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