Ashley's Million-dollar chess tourney - but bring your own clocks - Chess Forums - Page 45

Doggy_Style

Aug 4, 2014

0

#881

SilentKnighte5 wrote:

Doggy_Style wrote:

SilentKnighte5 wrote:

535 registrants now.

That picked up quickly.

I'm guessing that the organisers are now beyond the point of no return.

They've been at that point since they first announced it. No one wants to announce the chess tournament to end all chess tournaments then cancel it before it's even played. At least no one that cares about their reputation, which Ashley seems to.

Fair enough. He said it, and it looks likely now that it will happen. More power to his elbow.

Irontiger

Aug 4, 2014

0

#882

SilentKnighte5 wrote:

Doggy_Style wrote:

SilentKnighte5 wrote:

535 registrants now.

That picked up quickly.

I'm guessing that the organisers are now beyond the point of no return.

They've been at that point since they first announced it. No one wants to announce the chess tournament to end all chess tournaments then cancel it before it's even played. At least no one that cares about their reputation, which Ashley seems to.

None wants to go bankrupt either, but some people still do.

If two weeks before the event there had been 50 registrants, they would have volens nolens cancelled it, unless they are insane.

But now that it looks like there will be 700-800 or so by October (late registrants weren't discouraged by $1k->$1.5k, why would they be by $1.5k->$2k?), the financial loss is not so huge and the tournament can be held proudly. It does not fall so short of expectations.

SilentKnighte5

Aug 4, 2014

0

#883

Irontiger wrote:

SilentKnighte5 wrote:

Doggy_Style wrote:

SilentKnighte5 wrote:

535 registrants now.

That picked up quickly.

I'm guessing that the organisers are now beyond the point of no return.

They've been at that point since they first announced it. No one wants to announce the chess tournament to end all chess tournaments then cancel it before it's even played. At least no one that cares about their reputation, which Ashley seems to.

None wants to go bankrupt either, but some people still do.

If two weeks before the event there had been 50 registrants, they would have volens nolens cancelled it, unless they are insane.

But now that it looks like there will be 700-800 or so by October (late registrants weren't discouraged by $1k->$1.5k, why would they be by $1.5k->$2k?), the financial loss is not so huge and the tournament can be held proudly. It does not fall so short of expectations.

Only 50 people registering had as much chance of happening as 50,000.

EricFleet

Aug 4, 2014

0

#884

SilentKnighte5 wrote:

535 registrants now.

The haters will have to find something else to be happy about.

EricFleet

Aug 4, 2014

0

#885

maskedbishop wrote:

>One problem with this world is the high hater-to-doer ratio.<

This is the current fad in non-argument. It's an attempt to chill criticism by calling anyone who disagrees or criticizes something a "hater."

It's a silly and stupid tactic that will fortunately play out in about another six months. Mr. Fleet, if you have something constructive to offer, please offer it. This wasn't it.

I just saw this response. Basically you have folks who aren't doing anything to promote chess who disagree with the methods that others are using. Nothing Mr. Ashley is doing is unethical and is doing smething to promote the game. I think he should be commended and those who sit on the sidelines and criticize should be ridiculed.

ashikuzzaman

Aug 4, 2014

0

#886

The number was 76 when they decided to unconditionally move ahead! Read this -

http://millionairechess.com/blog/mc-decides-to-move-ahead/

So 50 is out of equation although they made up their mind I think 6 weeks before that announement (baguely remember Maurice talking about Mid February in an interview). I guess the number was closer to 50 at that time...

rishabhr2002

Aug 4, 2014

0

#887

I wonder if Ashley's ever gonna do this again after seeing what some people think of him and his god-awful tournament...

ppandachess

Aug 4, 2014

0

#888

maskedbishop wrote:

Well, there truly is a sucker born every minute. If you take a quick gander at the already-entered lists, hopeless patzers have ponied up their $1000 entry fee (no typo there, folks) for the thrill of playing in the same room as such chess stalwarts as Alex Fishbein and Gregory Kaidanov.

A cool grand would buy you about 6 hours of private instruction with any grandmaster in the country, which seems to your ever-lovin' TMB a much better way to spend your chess dollars.

Sure, someone will win something...but after you factor the flight, rooms, and, uh, expenses of lovely Las Vegas, this is a sucker's play like chess has never seen. Anyone know what Maurice Ashley is making off this? At least he'll go home smiling.

Oh yeah...bring your own clocks. Despite all the promises of top-level staffing, dress codes, and elegant playing conditions, they couldn't manage the clocks. CHEESE.

TMB

now it's 1500 USD for the fee!! My God!

http://chess-teacher.com/1632.html

johnmusacha

Aug 4, 2014

0

#889

Volens nolens.

Pretentious much?

colinsaul

Aug 4, 2014

0

#890

I took volens nolens as a legal expression like what Judge Judy would use.

Organisers can cancel a thing if not enough people register to take part.

Scotchy

Aug 4, 2014

0

#891

Why does everyone assume they will lose money on the MC tourney?

Scotchy

Aug 4, 2014

0

#892

god-awful tournament what???

SilentKnighte5

Aug 4, 2014

0

#893

Scotchy wrote:

Why does everyone assume they will lose money on the MC tourney?

I expect them to lose money this year and I'm far from being a hater.

blueemu

Aug 4, 2014

0

#894

Irontiger wrote:

If two weeks before the event there had been 50 registrants, they would have volens nolens cancelled it, unless they are insane.

Not true.

When you originally organize the tournament, you take out a $1,000,000 insurance policy against the possibility of <150 people registering for the event. The premium would only be a few thousand dollars, and if it happens, all your expenses are covered by the pay-out and you still make a bit of cash.

Think outside the box, people!

EricFleet

Aug 4, 2014

0

#895

blueemu wrote:

Irontiger wrote:

If two weeks before the event there had been 50 registrants, they would have volens nolens cancelled it, unless they are insane.

Not true.

When you originally organize the tournament, you take out a $1,000,000 insurance policy against the possibility of <150 people registering for the event. The premium would only be a few thousand dollars, and if it happens, all your expenses are covered by the pay-out and you still make a bit of cash.

Think outside the box, people!

I cannot imagine any such insurance (even if it does exist) being only a few thousand dollars. Can you tell me which companies take such bets? And how do they deal with the moral hazard of the insured just not trying...

blueemu

Aug 4, 2014

0

#896

When a former pupil of mine was organizing the World Chess Festival in 1988 (which included two Opens, the Candidates Tournament, and the World Blitz Championship), he found that after budgeting for all expenses and prize money he still had a few thousand dollars left in the kitty... so he took out a $1,000,000 insurance policy against the possibility of anyone winning all three Opens (including the Blitz Championship but excluding the Candidates)... and used it to offer a special $1,000,000 prize if anyone could pull a triple-win.

It only cost him a few grand.

Tal won two of the three.

MrDamonSmith

Aug 4, 2014

0

#897

Scotchy wrote:

Why does everyone assume they will lose money on the MC tourney?

----------------------------------------------

I think it has to do with Ashley having already put together one big money event & apparently it lost a lot of money. So he's 0-1 & people are simply looking at the math & track record. Of course that doesn't mean don't try again, if he can learn from his losses maybe it can be successful this time.

Edit: Uh, well, not actually his losses. It appears it was other peoples losses since the money wasn't his, it was other peoples. But maybe this tournament will be profitable & it will springboard the idea to repeat it. I hope the publicity is being handled right, that would make or break the whole plan.

Scotchy

Aug 4, 2014

0

#898

silent night 5 6 or 7 you are a hater

Bulla

Aug 4, 2014

0

#899

MrDamonSmith wrote:

Scotchy wrote:

Why does everyone assume they will lose money on the MC tourney?

----------------------------------------------

I think it has to do with Ashley having already put together one big money event & apparently it lost a lot of money. So he's 0-1 & people are simply looking at the math & track record. Of course that doesn't mean don't try again, if he can learn from his losses maybe it can be successful this time.

Edit: Uh, well, not actually his losses. It appears it was other peoples losses since the money wasn't his, it was other peoples. But maybe this tournament will be profitable & it will springboard the idea to repeat it. I hope the publicity is being handled right, that would make or break the whole plan.

Sorry but your information is incorrect. The HB Global Chess Challenge did not lose money.

MrDamonSmith

Aug 4, 2014

0

#900

Oh, so the financial backers of the tournament, the HB Foundation, didn't lose money from the tournament?