Josh Waitzkin's resignation from competitive chess

I agree.

was he scared of the russians?

I'm having some very good home made bean dip with tortilla chips right now. :)

He did get to IM level.

Am I the only non-titled player who doesn't consider himself qualified to judge the talent or supposed lack thereof of titled players?

Yes.

I've never read Waitzkin write such a thing. What he did say was that Dvoretsky's pedagogy and playing style were antithetical to what he needed pedagogically and his play stylistically. This makes sense if you understood what Waitzkin says in "The Art of Learning" and his interviews: he is a romantic and an artist, and Dvoretsky makes chess machines.

Does he have any kids yet?

I know I'm very late to this discussion but it is one that interests me greatly.  I wish Josh was still around enjoying chess, but clearly he lost his passion for the game.  If something isn't fun anymore, then it's best to leave it.  There are likely reasons why he lost that passion, but they don't really matter and I don't know that you can assign blame for something like that.  Humans and emotions are complex and unpredictable.  How could his coach know if he was doing something that would kill Josh's passion and take him from chess?  And Josh is obviously very, VERY bright.  I think he was okay with the path he was on.  I mean he went on to do a lot of great things in martial arts it seems.  Now his life is enriched with that as well. 

I don't buy the economic argument.  The reason being... if you really want to be good enough to make a living at something, I believe passion is required.  Without passion, what would drive you practice and study relentlessly?  And without that... how will increase or maintain your high level abilities?  Fame, success, money.. these things are a product of passion.. I don't see it going the other way around.

Haha Tai chi is basically the number one martial art for old grannys, it is all slow continuous movements with the idea that flowing water never goes stale. Josh waitzkin is the champion of a martial art made for old people over the age of 85.

I think josh should come back. his games on "chessmaster" did more then teach me how to play chess. Those videos taught me how to learn. its hard to find better vids then the one he has made.

After Fischer beat Taimanov 6-0 in 1971, Taimanov said "at least I can still play the piano."  For those who don't know Taimanov was one of the best dual concert pianists in the world then.  Well, Josh is a World Champion at something else too.  Still, he has brought a lot to chess.  He was a great attacking player.  Perhaps he was with the wrong person.  He needed to develop as Magnus did but then again Mangus is Magnus.

This is quite an interesting thread to read. I gather however that a lot of people seem to be mad at Waitzkin because he walked away from Chess after " Only " reaching the IM level. I mean the nerve of that fellow, leaving the World Of Chess ( How could he be so mean ?   lol ).  

Whip_Kitten: Yes I saw that post, very very funny stuff   rofl.

The martial art that Josh was doing isn't quite the same thing as what people do for general fitness in the park. 

J.W. resignation from competitive chess? He wanted to click the draw button.

I think Josh got tired of it, and needed an outlet to center and balance himself.  I do not fault anyone for taking a break, or even quitting.  Chess is a mental exertion. These guys playing now will grow old and their brains will slow down, and they will not be as sharp as the next guys coming up..... and they will have to find something else to do, too. Not saying that Josh is old.

Josh was never a GM? o.O

Do you realize nobody takes you seriously? Like, I mean... NOBODY?

Your's, on the other hand, seems to be quite allarming.