From: Jackie Meyer ECE NEU EDU> Date: 11 jun 1999 Subject: Re: Dorsch as a Candidate for Executive Board On Thu, 10 Jun 1999, Sam Sloan by way of Sam Sloan ishipress com> wrote: > The problems with the US Shogi Championship are very real. There are > no jokes there. There also seems to be no movement or change. All the > Americans agree with me but the Japanese are ignoring this. I think most people appreciate that the Japanese way of doing things is more flexible, and relies on the judgment of experienced people rather than on detailed rules. If you look at the annual computer shogi tournament, the format varies, which can be alarming to us Americans. But when you look at the details, the format and prize decisions are very reasonable. This is a credit to those responsible. The same cannot be said for the US shogi championship. The format and awarding of prizes is radically different each event, as well as being just plain bizarre. The Japanese way only works if the organizers are experienced and have good judgment. Why would I want to compete in such events? (Never mind that I wouldn't anyway, because of the fast time controls.) > I am not aware of any other candidates who support OMOV. Someone [much USCF stuff snipped] The divisions have always been there. Go back to when Chess Life was named CL&R. It wasn't until the last Chess Review board member passed on that the magazine was renamed. (And I think the reasons for renaming it were extremely flimsy.) New divisions are created all the time. The biggest recent one must have been when Kasparov broke away from FIDE. These wounds never heal, but it's interesting to watch as the alliances keep shifting temporarily. US chess also has problems with politically-oriented magazine editors (e.g., Larry and Glenn). It's troublesome when editors are more interested in politics than in promoting chess. Plus they always seem to enjoy shmoozing with the GMs, and lose perspective. Naturally, they also don't care if dues increase 33%. > So, I think the USCF may be in deep trouble, deeper than anybody > imagines right now. All those people who got their life memberships for $80 will still be members (alas, I paid $200). So all is not lost?-( I really don't see how they retain any volunteers. Regards, Fred "Jackie" Meyer -- The battles are so fierce, because the stakes are so small.