Josh Waitzkin's resignation from competitive chess

Josh Waitzkin never blamed his leaving chess on Dvoretsky. He mentioned Dvoretsky in his book "The Art of Learning" to make the point that when teaching you should not give cookie cutter instructions to the pupil but rather a teacher should tailor the instruction to fit the needs and style of the student. Dvoretsky was trying to get Waitzkin to think and play in a way that didn't suit Waitzkin's style and so in the book he said it essentially didn't help him to have this kind of teacher. That's all. Waitzkin threw heaps of praise on the other chess coaches in his life and said the reason he left chess was because the fame from "Searching For Bobby Fischer" changed the intimacy he had with the game and the new public expectations and distractions separated him from his love of chess.

I think it is ridiculous that a rank amateur demeans an IM title.

Try obtaining one. Even with all so called the rating inflation and increase in titled player, an IM (or even FM) is a very impressive achievement. Josh was a very strong player--perhaps not world class but very strong. He left for other interest. But to say he has little or no talent because he only reached IM status is a horrible mis-truth. 

Burn out is common among many talented juniors in many fields--not just chess. Josh was a class act as a player and a very strong and talented player as well.

Plus one. Simple, excellent comment.

For the record, I agree with this. I just think he was being too hard on Dvoretsky, when he repeatedly implied that his style of coaching was one of the factors that damaged his strong relationship with chess.

(this post is changed due to gbidari's request for correction.)

You're mistaken about this. I challenge you to cite one sentence with page number from "The Art of Learning" that implies Dvoretsky's coaching was an important factor in his decision to quit chess.

 Remember Tal Shaked? World Junior champ and GM at 18. Stopped playing then (virtually) and went to work for Google.

I wonder what Robson does when he comes to that fork in the road.

I agree with the original poster about not blaming others for your own decisions. To say someone killed your joy for something is a statement for a much weaker minded person than Josh. Burnt out on giant expectations, content with being 'just' an IM badass, or just seeking out another life path, cool, but don't be lame and say that others made something miserable for you. 

Perhaps, he's into other pursuits, to wit:

(1) At age 11, he and prodigy K. K. Karanja were the only two children to draw with World Champion Garry Kasparov in an exhibition game where Kasparov played simultaneously against 59 youngsters^[1]. Two years later, he earned the title of National Master, and at age 16 became an International Master. His focus has since shifted to the martial art Tai Chi Chuan, in which he has won four pushing hands tournaments.

(2) Waitzkin announced the formation of the JW foundation on April 8, 2008.

"The JW Foundation is dedicated to helping teachers, parents, and educational institutions nurture the unique potential of children and young adults. Our mission is to help students discover a creative, resilient passion for learning while embracing and overcoming challenges".

(3) Writing: Joshua Waitzkin is the author of Attacking Chess: Aggressive Strategies, Inside Moves from the U.S. Junior Chess Champion (1995) and The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance (2008). He is also the spokesperson for the Chessmaster computer game series, and is featured in the game giving advice and game analysis.

(4) Waitzkin is active in the fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. He does not have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; however, a close friend of his, Jonathan Wade, suffers from the medical condition.

From what I saw of his annotated games, he seemed amazing, and I think with more work he could have become well into the GM level. As good as an IM title is there are higher levels and I think josh had the talent similar to bobby's. He was a huge prodigy. I think he reached 2000 before turning 12. But then his rating barely went up. Still though, it would be too harsh to blame him if he really didn't want to give up what he did best and simply enjoyed most: attacking and he did make IM after all. I guess unlike the very best, who could play every style extremely well or could adapt to one, he had too much trouble. But I was still disappointed to find out he was quitting.

Did you even read his book? Waitzkin didn't blame someone for his quitting chess. He didn't blame any individual for taking the joy out of chess for him. The OP is dead wrong about this and should retract what he's saying or back it up if he can. It's totally irresponsible to say those things about Waitzkin because they're not true. The reason Waitzkin gave for leaving chess was that his new found fame from "Searching For Bobby Fischer" (the story about his life) drastically changed his personal relationship with chess as his private life intimacy with the game was gone. If you read the book you'll know there was no finger pointing at all.

I remember the Josh TV story. Also, I played in several OTB tournaments during the Fischer Years of the 1970's. As my 2-sons were getting older I had to spend more time enriching their lives. The duty of parenting is always very important. The many facets of required and elective issues of rounding out life experiences are enormous. At this time Josh may have reached a point where he needed other experiences. Music and playing the Guitar and Cello have added to my life experiences. Now, I am back at playing chess.  but, not OTB. I found chess.com to satisfy the need to use and develop the finer points of chess. He may come back to chess when he learns to really find his own way.  

gbidari, you're right that he didn't point his fingers at anybody. Not even his father, who wrote the book, and probably made contracts with movie producers in the first place. The book was the main reason he quit chess, but he says he loves father and family and says "he's my best friend."

The thing is, I'm certainly not "dead wrong." He does not finger point anyone naming names that's correct, but he speaks very badly of his trainor who tried to "force" him to a more defensive style, and we know that trainor is Dvoretsky.

I have not only read the Art of Learning, I've went through all his Chess Master Vides and a number of interviews, and I don't remember where he hits the hardest punch, but I'm positive that he does hit some.

If I recall correctly, he never combined Dvoretsky's name and the critique in the same area. He probably criticized the trainor in CM courses, and named Dvoretsky without going so hard on him in The Art of Learning, or some other combination. I don't have the time or intention to dig everything he spoke up to provide evidence for you. But again, I'm not making things up, nor trying to belittle Waitzkin or anything. As I said before, I'm very positive about him.

Josh Waitzkin is one of my all time favorite players. I have profited greatly from his well written books and informative lectures ,and I ,personally, am very sad to see him go. I wish him the best of luck dominating Thai Chi. - Gerik

philidor position,

Yes he is critical of Dvoretsky in his book. That part we can agree with. He is critical of him in order to provide an example of what a teacher should not do when dealing with a student. However when you say that he implied Dvoretsky was his reason for leaving chess, that's dead wrong and you SHOUlD take the time to look it up because the way you have erroneously told the story unjustly portrays the facts which is totally unfair to Waitzkin. One poster who apparently didn't read the book, but saw what you wrote, echoed your sentiments saying those implications you said Josh made are for weak minded people. Trouble is, he never implied those things at all. I wouldn't want people putting words in my mouth, and I'm sure you wouldn't either.

Hi gbidari, I think you're referring to my second post here (in the first post, I just said he was being too hard on him etc.), where I said "For the record, I agree with this. I just think he was being too hard on Dvoretsky, when he repeatedly implied his coaching was an important factor in his decision to quit chess."

Well, I guess I'll stand behind this one. Of course I'm no one to think Waitzkin is "a weak mind" since he is obviously one of the most brilliant minds ever. If having an amazing talent to teach and spread the love of the game weren't enough, being world champion at Thai Chi in just 2 years is simply unbeliavable. I admire him for all those.

Besides, I'm convinced I'm accurate with my telling of the story, and people can come up with their own opinions after reading my posts and yours, so I won't hold any responsibility for misunderstandings.

Have we gotten that lazy? You have been informed that you have maligned and misrepresented someone's character by misstating a portion of his book and you won't take the time to open the book and check? Unbelievable!

gbidari, for your information, I don't have the printed book, I had bought the e-book online and my pc had several formats, so I'll need to dig up my emails, find the link, and apply for a request to download again.

and as I told you, I don't remember where he hits the hardest punch. it could be somewhere in his more than 24 hours of video lectures.

But I'm going to change that phrase to anyway. Now it says

"For the record, I agree with this. I just think he was being too hard on Dvoretsky, when he repeatedly implied that his style of coaching was one of the factors that damaged his strong relationship with chess.

(this post is changed due to gbidari's request for correction.)"

I hope that's fair enough.

Is this the guy who is on featured on the chessmaster PC game series???

philidor _position, Your local library has a copy. So does your major bookstore. The Dvoretsky sessions were merely a learning setback for Josh at that moment in time as Dvoretsky was trying to pull him in a direction that was against his nature and therefore was counterproductive. That was all it was. Waitzkin got over it. He then compared Dvoretsky to his other teacher who didn't force instruction but designed the lessons that suit the nature of the student. Dvoretsky had NOTHING to do with damaging his relationship with chess or his leaving chess, and if you can show where this is implied I will not only apologize profusely I will also send you a Dvoretsky book.

All right, you're now pushing it. My local library doesn't have a copy, nor my major bookstore. And I'm 100% sure that he repeatedly accuses his trainor for damaging his relationship to the game.

I was just listening to an interview, and he actually says the movie and the approach of his trainor combined made an effect on him. it's around 1(hour):15 here: http://odeo.com/episodes/17192723. And as I said before, he does this in various platforms.

I already have all of Dvoretsky's books except maybe for one, but thanks anyway.