February 26, 2014, 3:30 pm
The Singapore Chess Federation and the World Chess Federation (FIDE), have the honour of inviting all National Chess Federations and eligible players to participate in the FIDE World Amateur Chess Championships 2014 which are to be held in Singapore from 25 April 2014 to 4 May 2014.
Regulations
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE’S CONTACT
Address: 51 Bishan Street 13, #02-01A SIGC, Singapore 579799
Federation’s Website: www.singaporechess.org.sg
Email: thomas@singaporechess.org.sg
Official Website: http://wacc2014.com
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February 26, 2014, 10:07 pm
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The next edition of the Reykjavik Open will take place on 4-12th March, 2014. Once again the tournament will be held in the beautiful Harpa concert hall by the Reykjavik harbour.
The 2014 Reykjavik Open will celebrate a 50 year anniversary of the tournament. The organisers will do their best to make this 50 year anniversary edition a very memorable one.
There will be many side events, including a photo-op and book signing by former World Champion Garry Kasparov. Full schedule below.
The tournament will be played over 10-rounds of Swiss system. Top prizes are 5.000€ / 2.000€ / 1.250€ / 800€ / 600€ etc
There are also prizes for best women, juniors and elo categories.
Reykjavik Open 2013
Tournament website
Side Events:
- Monday 3rd of March, Opening Party
For those coming on Monday it’s ideal to go to the opening party which will be held at the official bar of the tournament, Sky Lounge and Bar which is situated at Hotel Arnarhvoll which is straight across from Harpa and only about a minute walk away or so. The party will be held from 17:00 till 19:00.
- Thursday 6th of March, The Golden Circle (before the round)
Guided tour around some of the most spectacular sights in Southern Iceland, including the Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir hot spring and Bobby Fischer´s final resting place.
Also a stop at the Fischer centre in Selfoss: http://fischersetur.is/index.cfm?page=pages/start_en2&lang=en
Registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ERl7mffewsXa73rmUvA8PbMGLl2l8xRg849h59qoO5M/viewform
- Friday 7th of March, The World Famous Reykjavík Open Chess Pub-Quiz (after the round)
The really popular and entertaining chess pub quiz which is becoming a standard feature of the tournament will be here yet again. As usual there are 30 questions about chess and the history of the game, both recent and past. This will be a pair event. Registration on-site, just show up just before 22:00 at the official bar of the tournament Sky and Lounge Bar.
- Saturday 8th of March, The “Kids’n Blitz” Tournament
The finals of a blitz tournament for 13 year and younger children from the Reykjavík metropolitan area. Elimination format. Will be played in the morning, and finish just before the start of that days round.
“Even Steven” Blitz Tournament at 20:00
A nine round “5-minute” plus 1-second blitz tournament with time odds, where a total of 10-minute playing time is divided between opposing players, depending on the ELO ranking. For each 100-point difference in ELO ranking, there will be a two-minute difference in with a maximum difference of 8 minutes (1 minute and 9 minutes). So, for example, a 2200-rated player will thus have 8 minutes against a 2500-rated player, who will have 2 minutes, but each will enjoy the 1-second increment time per move. Entry fee is EUR10 (or the equivalent in ISK) and is due prior to the start of the first round. The tournament will be in HARPAN!
Minimum age: 18 years.
- Sunday 9th of March, Kobalia Lecture
At 11:00 on Sunday the very strong 2650 rated GM Mikhail Kobalia from Russia will give a lecture. Hopefully Kobalia can give us some insights or secrets since he one of the head trainers of the Russian youth teams traveling to junior events!
- Football – Iceland vs. Rest of the World
The 4th annual soccer match, open to all. To be played at 22:00 in the indoor hall: Fifan. Registration possible up to and including Saturday the 8th. Pickup will be from Harpan @21:30. The plan this year is 4 teams and played about 7-a-side on half a pitch.
- Monday 10th of March, Kasparov photo-op and book signing
Kasparov will be on site before the round on Monday and there will be a photo opportunity as well as book signing. Details later
- Wednesday 12th of March, Closing Ceremony at City Hall
Closing ceremony at Reykjavík City Hall commences at 18:30. Everybody welcome.
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February 26, 2014, 10:12 pm
http://simplechess.com/index.html
As you can tell from the name, SimpleChess is simple to navigate around the site. It is designed for amateur players who would like to have a good time by playing and /or learning online.
Our playing zone has more than 800,000 members. You can play 24/7 against players from all over the world. You can also play against computer at various levels. In addition, you can solve puzzles, read news or improvement tips, and watch instructional videos.
To celebrate this historic World Championship in Chennai, India, between legendary World Champion Vishy Anand and world #1 Magnus Carlsen, you can play and learn FREE on SimpleChess until February 1, 2014. After that, some parts of the server will remain free, while others will be available at nominal fees.
There will plenty of additions in the next few months. In the meantime, have fun and enjoy the greatest game on earth!
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February 26, 2014, 10:30 pm
Approximately 988 million positions that can be reached after just 4 moves for white and 4 for black! True or false?
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February 26, 2014, 11:21 pm
Candidates Tournament: March 11 - April 1 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
How did the the qualifiers earn a spot in the Candidates' Tournament? Below is the breakdown:
Qualifiers by ratings (2):
1. Aronian
2. Karjakin
Qualifiers from the World Cup (2):
3. Kramnik
4. Andreikin
Qualifiersfrom the Grand Prix series (2):
5. Topalov
6. Mamedyarov
Organizers' nominee (1):
7. Svidler
World Championship Loser (1):
8. Anand
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February 27, 2014, 12:00 am
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White to move and win. This was composed by GM Golubev about 30 years ago. Enjoy :)
Source: ChessToday.net
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February 27, 2014, 3:00 am
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February 27, 2014, 4:00 am
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February 27, 2014, 9:30 am
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A man of many talents: Mark Heimann’s intensive quest to conquer everything Wash. U. has to offer
Mia Kweskin | Staff Reporter
February 27, 2014
He takes versatility to a whole new level, trumping the notion that passion can only be applied to one field. At a school with thousands of well-rounded individuals, he represents just how unbounded interests can be. From chess champion to instrument intellectual and beyond, there’s no one label you can place on Washington University junior Mark Heimann.
“At Wash. U., you can be a nerd, and that’s cool, but you can also burst the bubble of being the stereotypical nerd. I like that we have nerds in the sense that you have an area of interest that you’re really passionate about and proficient in but not in the sense that that’s the only area you’re able to participate meaningfully in,” Heimann said.
When Heimann was 5, his dad bought him and his twin brother their first chess set for Christmas. Just a few years later, Heimann finished fifth in the national championship for second-graders. He then went on to win the national grade-level championships from third through fifth grade, as well as in seventh and eighth grade. In middle and high school, he won the Pennsylvania state championship as well as the Ohio state championship. Despite the influx of honors related to chess, Heimann remains humble about his achievements.
“It’s crazy how good Mark is at chess but how relatively few people know,” junior Laura Watkins said. “He’s a really genuinely humble guy, and [he] never talks about his achievements unless you bring it up and ask him.”
With so many chess accolades, Heimann often felt boxed in by the label “chess guy.” He said he still loves the game and currently holds the position of president for the Chess Club on campus; however, in high school, where there was “one standard for being cool,” he felt he needed to branch out.
“The story of my life in high school was that I was really concerned I was too nerdy,” Heimann said. “To a certain extent, I felt like chess was reaffirming my status as a nerd. Every time I talked to peoplee, they would always say, ‘Oh, you’re really good at chess,’ which is cool, but I was like, ‘Is that all there is to me?’”
Looking to explore new interests, Heimann spent the majority of his spare time in high school researching unique instruments. At around the same age he started playing chess, he also started playing piano. In high school, however, his instrument cravings became more obscure when he picked up and became instantly obsessed with the hammered dulcimer—an instrument he describes as a “lumberjack’s piano” that’s “a joy to play.”
Heimann “has introduced me to eight new instruments, most of which I do not remember the names of,” sophomore Shane Deiley said. “But my favorite that he has introduced [me to] is the hammered dulcimer. It’s so cool, and he’s a boss at playing it.”
In addition to the hammered dulcimer, Heimann plays the guitar, mountain dulcimer, ocarina, tin whistle and thumb piano (kalimba)—just to name a few.
Full article here.
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February 27, 2014, 10:30 am
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February 27, 2014, 11:30 am
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Paramaribo, Suriname
1 February - 7 February 2014
Surinamese Women's Champion Rosangela dos Ramos through to the next round of the World Chess for women
WGM Carla Heredia of Ecuador prolong title
The Subzonal 2.3.5 Fide Female Championship was completed on Friday February 7, 2014 at Wyndham Garden Hotel. The Surinamese women's champion Rosangela dos Ramos managed to hold on to the desired 4th place, giving the right for qualifying to the next round of the World Chess Championship for women. The next round will be played in December 2014 in El Salvador. This qualification is a very momentous milestone for the Surinamese Chess Federation because this is the first time that a Surinamese chess player goes to the next round. Along with Rosangela also qualifies the champion of the tournament WGM Carla Heredia of Ecuador, semi-champion WFM Oriana Aponte of Venezuela and 3rd place winner, WFM Deborah Richards of Jamaica.
WGM Carla Heredia from Ecuador ends, because of her draw in the last round against WFM Victoria Naipal, tied with WFM Oriana Aponte from Venezuela. Both gained 8 points, but due to a better tie break points, WGM Carla Heredia become champion of the Subzonal 2.3.5 Female championships for the 3rd consecutive time. WFM Deborah Richards from Jamaica is 3rd with 7.5 points. Tiebreak s must also provide a solution to determine the 4th place Along with Rosangela, Renusha Gajadin and WFM Ekaterina Naipal also gains 5 points. After tie breaks they ending respectively on the 5th and 6th place.
Both Oriana Aponte as Deborah Richards were awarded the title Woman International Master (WIM). Rosangela dos Ramos, Renusha Gajadin and Anviti Adhin, all from Suriname, and Aditi Soondarsingh from Trinidad & Tobago will get the title Woman Candidate Master (WCM).
In a busy closing ceremony, which was graced with dancing and singing of a Awassa group, speeches were given successively by the president of the Surinaamse Schaakbond, Frank Lo Kim Lin, the representative of Fide Americas, Russell Smith, the representative and the executive director of the FIDE, Nigel Freeman, director of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Michael Watson, the Governor of the Central Bank of Suriname, Gillmore Hoefdraad. All speak well of the good chess development in Suriname and the amazing rapid development of women's chess in Suriname.
Both Russell Smith and Nigel Freeman stressed the importance of participating in international competitions, and calls on the authorities to support the Chess federation of Suriname. The champion of the tournament WGM Carla Heredia gave a spontaneous and heartfelt speech.
During the tournament the representatives of FIDE, Mr Russell Smith and Nigel Freeman and board members of the Surinamese Chess Federation Frank Lo Kim Lin, Ricardo dos Ramos and Ruben Soetosenojo, brought courtesy visits to the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Mr. Ismanto Adna and the Governor of the Central Bank of Suriname, Mr. Gillmore Hoefdraad.
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Meeting with the Governor of the Central Bank of Suriname
The final Ranking
1. WGM Carla Heredia (Ecuador) 8 points
2. WFM Oriana Aponte (Venezuela) 8 points
3. WFM Deborah Richards (Jamaica) 7.5 points
4. Rosangela dos Ramos (Suriname) 5 points
5. Renusha Gajadin (Suriname) points
6. WFM Ekaterina Naipal (Suriname) 5 points
Category: Best Surinamese women
1. Rosangela dos Ramos
2. Renusha Gajadin
3. WFM Ekaterina Naipal
Category : under 1700 rating (excluded the top 5 spots)
1. Anviti Adhin (Suriname)
2. Javanna Smith (Trinidad&Tobago)
3. Katrina Blackman (Barbados)
Category : under 1900 rating (excluded the top 5 spots)
1. WFM Ekaterina Naipal (Suriname)
2. Aditi Soondarsingh (Trinidad & Tobago)
3. WFM Victoria Naipal (Suriname)
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February 27, 2014, 12:30 pm
The First Women's International March 8 Tournament was organized between March 8 and 24, 1965, in honour of The Women`s Day March 8.
International March 8 Tournaments have become a tradition in Belgrade, and with exception of 1980 and 1984, have been held every year. In 1980, the Tournament wasn't held at all due to financial reasons, and in 1984, it was played according to the Swiss system, but only with the participation of local players.
Today the organizer of tournaments, Belgrade Chess Association, tried to save tradition of tournament and has managed in that.
1. 46. International Ladies’ Grandmaster Chess Tournament, Belgrade, 3. - 11. March 2014, 10 participants from Serbia, Poland, Moldova and Spain.
2. Detail information www.beochess.rs
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February 27, 2014, 1:30 pm
Kasparov: "Sochi has been a dictator's Games"
Jesús Boyero 02/26/2014
Considered the greatest chess player ever, alongside Bobby Fischer, Soviet-born Garry Kasparov now lives in New York, where he is committed to taking the game to schools. He is also running for president of the World Chess Federation.
Q. You draw a distinction between chess for education and chess at school.
A. Chess at school can be confused with playing chess as a sport - like football or basketball - whereas I see it as an important pedagogical tool that teaches children to think and nurtures values. In other words, it is a subject unto itself or a teaching aid for other subjects like maths and history.
Q. At what age should kids start playing?
A. Where the educational effect is concerned - because it's never too late to learn to play - before the age of 9. Results from different tests concur that our decision-making capacity begins to develop before this age. Introducing chess in primary education means stimulating this capacity; after that, the brain becomes less flexible.
Q. Why are you running for president of the World Chess Federation?
A. We are at a historic juncture. Whatever we do now, if we do it well, will shape the future. Chess has been jostling for position for a long time now. People ask me why chess is no longer covered in the media as much as it was in the 70s, when there was that historic contest between Fischer and Spassky during the Cold War and my five matches against Karpov, which were so highly charged in terms of their political symbolism. In actual fact, a lot more people play now than did back then.
Read more: Kasparov: "Sochi has been a dictator's Games" - MARCA.com (English version)
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February 27, 2014, 1:30 pm
Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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February 27, 2014, 2:30 pm
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Gambia: GCA to Host Chess International Tournament
BY ARFANG MS CAMARA, 26 FEBRUARY 2014
The Gambia Chess Association (GCA) is set to host the Gambia Chess Open tournament from the 28 February to 2 March 2014 at the Badala Park Hotel.
The competition organised by the Gambia Chess Association and sponsored by the World Chess Federation (FIDE), is targeting 40 competitors from the Gambia and the sub-region.
Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday at the Serekunda West Mini Stadium ahead of the event, Mawdo Sallah, the secretary general of the GCA, disclosed that prizes would be given to the best ten players at the end of the competition. He described Chess as one of the oldest games, recalling that one Uncle Mike introduced it in The Gambia in the early 1940s.
Since then, he said, The Gambia has been participating until the GCA was de-registered by FIDE in 1986. He added that they rejoined FIDE in November 2012, thanks to the Gambia National Olympics Committee (GNOC) who paid all their arrears.
According to him, when they took office in July 2012, their main objective was to re-register with FIDE, adding that they also needed to have arbiters (referees) and as such wrote to FIDE who approved their request.
"The Gambia now has 4 trained qualified arbiters who are expected to serve as arbiter in the competition and also has 4 rated players who are qualified to compete in any chess competition in the world," he informed reporters.
The Gambia Open, Sallah went on, will help expose their players to international competitions, and they will be sending a team to Norway in August to represent the country in the Olympiad.
The secretary general of the GCA expressed hope that the Gambian players will do well in order for most of the prizes to stay in the country during the Gambia Open, adding that the Gambia players are ready for the competition.
Sallah also said that they aim to introduce Chess in schools and in the Gambia Services before the end of the year, he pointed out, while inviting everyone to learn the game so they can know the sport and start playing it.
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201402261471.html
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February 27, 2014, 5:26 pm
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Benet Academy took runner up at the IHSA Chess Team State Championship. Read the full release below.
The Benet Academy Chess Team captured second place at the 40th annual IHSA Chess Team State Championship held in Peoria, Illinois on Feb. 14 to 15. This is one of the largest team chess tournaments in the country with 138 teams competing. Benet compiled an impressive 6 & 1 record, losing only to undefeated 1st place finisher Whitney Young.
Although Benet lost to the number 1 seed, Whitney Young, in round 4, the team defeated Hinsdale South, Saint Patrick's of Chicago, Indian Creek, Evanston, Bloomington, and Glenbrook North enroute to their 2ndplace finish. While seven teams finished with 6 & 1 records, Benet earned 2nd Place honors by racking up the most tie break points among the 6 & 1 teams. Benet won the tie break by scoring the second highest amount of points earned which was second only to Evanston who lost to Benet in Round 5.
With the top prizes up for grabs in the 7th and final round, Benet did not lose a game in its final match against Glenbrook North, who was also 5 & 1 at that point in the tournament, chalking up 6 wins and 2 draws in the decisive final match.
Playing for Benet were Seniors Brendan Brown of Naperville and Anthony Gedvilas of Naperville, and Juniors Matt DeMario of Glen Ellyn, Ethan Evans of Glen Ellyn, Grant Kozeny of Wheaton, Nate Kranjc of Wheaton, Alec Mather of Hinsdale, Russell McKenzie of Lisle, Patrick Noble of Geneva, Joe Weber of Westchester, Johan Widmann of New Lenox, and Max Zinski of Wheaton. Earning All State honors at their respective boards were Max Zinski and Matt DeMario. Source: http://napervillesun.suntimes.com
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February 27, 2014, 10:03 pm
Autistic teen excelling at chess
Posted on: 10:26 pm, February 27, 2014, by Wade Smith
ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI)– A Lindbergh High School student has become a chess idol among his teammates.
Out of all the possible moves for Lindbergh High School Chess Coach Rick Nelson, breaking stereotypes has always been his favorite play.
Rich, poor, jocks, brains, heroes and zeros, Rick Nelson has welcomed all to play.
His players have learned the game well. A trophy case full of awards and accomplishments are proof of that.
But after 15 years of coaching chess, his favorite achievement is not found be hide this glass.
It’s watching Max Chaney play.
Max has autism and had never played chess before joining the club his freshman year.
Now he is a captain in his senior year.
Watching max play, Coach Nelson can’t help but wonder about the other Max’s of the world who have been written off.
Source: http://kplr11.com
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February 27, 2014, 10:10 pm
About Khanty Mansiysk, the host city of the Candidates' Tournament 2014
http://candidates2014.fide.com
The city of sport achievements and hopes, the space for creative thought, the flight of modern art, the impulse of innovations, the value of national culture and the majestic beauty of harsh northern nature.
Khanty-Mansiysk is a capital of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Ugra, the territory of which equals 338 square kilometers. The city is located on the West Siberian Plain, at the right bank of the river Irtysh, 20 kilometers away from its confluence with the river Ob. The city’s time zone is +6:00. The time difference between Khanty-Mansiysk and Moscow is +2 hours. Presently, the population of the Ugra capital is 76100 people.
Comfort and culture of “The Green Island”
Khanty-Mansiysk is built on seven hills and is washed by the river Irtysh and its tributaries from all sides. Residential areas are scattered across the territory of the natural park “Samarovsky Chugas”, that is why the city is known as “The Green Island”. Cedar woods that occupy almost a half of the wood covered lands are the pride and joy of the park. Because of the landscape and climate peculiarities, unique in their beauty natural complexes have formed on the territory of the natural park “Samarovsky Chugas”. A combination of water meadows and steep banks, covered with taiga, great number of small lakes and reach in berries swamps create a picture of the West Siberian nature, unsurpassed in its beauty.
The territory of the park equals 6621 hectares. Moreover, “Samarovsky Chugas” includes three natural and three archeological monuments, open air ethnographical museum “Torum Maa”, ski complexes “Khvoyny Urman” and “Kedrovy”, ski courses of the Children’s and Youth Sports School of Olympic Reserve “Dolina Ruchyev”, tubing track and the Winter Sports Centre named in honour of A. Filipenko.
A unique Park of Slavic Culture and Writing shines with sophisticated combination of architectural design and historical recollection in the heart of the city. Inside the park small architectural forms on the topic of Ten Commandments appear before your eye.
“The Brass Band of Ugra” was found in 2010 and maintains an active concert schedule, amazing the audience by their enchanting music. House Museum of V. Igoshev, Museum of Geology, Oil and Gas, Man and Nature Museum and Art Galley of the Ugra Generation’s Fund introduce bright ideas of enlightenment in the city’s portrait.
One of the most interesting sights in Khanty-Mansiysk is “Archeopark” – geological monument, archeological monument “Samarov Gorodok” and a whole park of sculptures depicting animals of the Pleistocene time and Paleolithic people.
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Annual festivals of diverse kinds are always held in Siberia.
The City is developing day by day. Khanty-Mansiysk is the place where creative modern infrastructure harmonizes with the progress of thought and responsiveness of the spiritual culture.
Northern corner of chess battles
Speaking of Khanty-Mansiysk it is worth mentioning that the city plays an important role in developing chess as a sport. Schools in Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug organize special chess lessons, internet-centres of chess mastery are constantly opening in the cities. The spreading of chess culture in the Okrug is also encouraged by Championships and Tournaments of the highest level.
The World Centre of ski sport
It was here that the World Cup Biathlon took place in 2000, 2005 and starting from 2007 to 2012. In 2002, 2004 and 2006 the city hosted IBU Grand Prix.
In 2003 Khanty-Mansiysk for the first time in history of Russia hosted the IBU Biathlon World Championships, and in 2011 – the second one. In 2005 and 2010 two Championships in Mixed Relay took place in Khanty-Mansiysk. In 2000 the city held Summer Biathlon World Championships and a year later – Biathlon Junior World Championships.
The capital of Ugra cordially hosted lots of international competitions in skiing. For example, the final stage of Grand Prix “Sprint-tour 2008” took place in Khanty-Mansiysk in April 2008.
Moreover, Khanty-Mansiysk has its own professional hockey club “Ugra”. Twice it became the Champion of Russian Major Hockey League and now represents the city in Kontinental Hockey League.
“Ugra” club became a real discovery for the Russian hockey history, because the achievements of the team are growing rapidly and constantly.
The particular liking of the city dwellers to the winter sports is not an accidental matter: the climate and location have predetermined it historically. Snow falls through one third of the year and its height reaches one meter. At low humidity level (approximately 80%) the thermometer can go down as low as -40 C. The average temperature varies from -20 to -25.
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February 27, 2014, 10:20 pm
By Chess Coach William Stewart (FIDE 2234, USCF 2256)
Will's original article on chess prodigies available here.
Why are some kids so good at chess? How do some chess prodigies that are barely 8,7 or even 6 years old manage to play chess at a master level with little formal chess coaching? How have they managed to accelerate their intellectual development in this specific field at such an exceptional rate? How can we learn from these prodigies and their secrets that we can use to teach better chess to all children? It is difficult to determine exactly which cultural, biological, and/or environmental factor plays the greatest role in this phenomenon.
Samuel Reshevsky, Bobby Fischer & More ...
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8 yr-old Reshevsky dominates simul
In the early 20th century, Samuel Reshevsky began dominating simultaneous exhibitions against experienced masters before he turned 10. In 1958, Bobby Fischer won the US Championship when he was only 14. Yet these achievements have been overshadowed by the increasing number of child prodigies who are becoming the dominant force in the changing face of modern chess. The term chess prodigy traditionally referred to a young master who was competing on equal footing with experienced professionals, however in the 21st century a true prodigy must be a junior that is capable of competing for the World Championship in the near future.
Natural Intelligence or Cultural/Environmental Factors (A look at the Polgar sisters)
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Human's haven't evolved too much in the last 100 years so we must look to cultural and environmental factors to explain this type of elite specialization. Well before having children, Laszlo Polgar wrote Bring Up Genius! where he explained “Genius equals work and fortunate circumstances” and “Geniuses are made, not born”. Laszlo went on to prove his theory by raising three exceptional female chess players - Susan Polgar achieved the GM title at 21, Judit Polgar at 15, and sister Sofia is a strong IM. While Laszlo certainly maintains an above-average IQ, biological predisposition alone cannot explain these results. The Polgar sisters developed their impressive chess skills in a favorable environment conducive to very diligent, hard work.
Lots of Tutoring or Naturally Gifted? - The 10,000 Hour Rule
The article Developing Young Chess Masters: What are the Best Moves? by Kiewra & O’Connor presents a detailed study confirming hard work and a positive environment are necessary requisites to create genius in chess. Referring to young chess masters, they state “These youngsters, on average, practiced chess about 20 hours per week for eight years before attaining master status. Even if they were born with incredible gifts, it still required about 8,000 practice hours to realize those gifts.” That doesn’t quite meet the criteria for Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000 Hour Rule”, however this estimate certainly comes close. Practice alone is not enough, it must occur in a favorable environment to achieve optimal results. The article also discusses the financial investment parents make “Most spend about $5,000 - $10,000 annually on lessons, tournament registrations, travel, and materials.” While it is not 100% mandatory for success, nearly all rising chess masters had been working with titled players for multiple years prior to exemplary achievement.
Effect of Technology on Chess Prodigies
While improvements in genius creation techniques have raised the global Prodigy Per Capita (PPC?!) rate and parents have become more financially and emotionally supportive of their rising stars, there is one more significant factor in this equation - technology. Google Translate wasn’t available in the 50s and 60s, so Fischer taught himself how to read Russian so that he could study recently published games and annotations in Russian chess magazines. Not only does Chessbase 11 with the Mega Update maintain a database of nearly 5 million games, you can use 4 different and highly powerful chess engines (simultaneously!) to analyze technical perfection. The invention of the internet and relevant technologies have made information sharing immediate, and the development of young chess players has been exponentially impacted.
No Substitute For Hard Work
There are a plethora of contributing factors to the development of chess genius at a comparatively young age - and that “young age” is decreasing daily. Biological predisposition and technology have definitely accelerated the learning curve, however an intensively favorable environment yields the most effective results. The true secret to success is theoretically simple yet operationally difficult: Long Hours of Hard Work.
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For the Original Article on Chess Prodigies please visit William's Website
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February 28, 2014, 12:00 am
White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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