Chess is actually quite cheap. I think it's one of the reasons such a vast amount of people play.
Yes, books can be expensive but the internet is a huge source of information. There is free training material, videos, websites (like this) all over the place.
You have a point about tournaments, however, most local tournaments are really cheap from what I've seen online. I'm sure there are some expensive ones, it is not really something I can comment too much on since I have never been to one.
As a golfer, I can attest to that. Your talking about £340 a year for a membership (more for bigger clubs). Travelling back and forth, £1000 for clubs (and golfers always say to themselves,'Ah, I know I don't need it but I want a new set of irons.') That can be £6-£700 easily. Golf bags, shoes, attire. We've almost all had some lessons as well (all the ones I know)
As a golfer, I can attest to that. Your talking about £340 a year for a membership (more for bigger clubs). Travelling back and forth, £1000 for clubs (and golfers always say to themselves,'Ah, I know I don't need it but I want a new set of irons.') That can be £6-£700 easily. Golf bags, shoes, attire. We've almost all had some lessons as well (all the ones I know)
You must be pretty good, you don't mention balls. I gave up because I couldn't afford to replace all my lost balls, lol...
rooperi wrote:
Genghiskhant wrote:
As a golfer, I can attest to that. Your talking about £340 a year for a membership (more for bigger clubs). Travelling back and forth, £1000 for clubs (and golfers always say to themselves,'Ah, I know I don't need it but I want a new set of irons.') That can be £6-£700 easily. Golf bags, shoes, attire. We've almost all had some lessons as well (all the ones I know)
You must be pretty good, you don't mention balls. I gave up because I couldn't afford to replace all my lost balls, lol...
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I'm definitely better without a ball.
Chess seems relatively inexpensive compared with other hobbies.
Hobbies. Trying to become a professional at any of them can be very expensive and time consuming. And there is no guarantee one will get there.
(from a golf addict)
Approximately 17 grand is a hell of a lot of money to spend on a hobby. Unless it's a small dent in your disposable income, in which case, I would say, keep having fun!
You must be doing it wrong.
Yearly subscription for club, KNSB + magazine:
Little under 100 Euros.
Occasional book: 30 Euros.
Occasional tournament: 10-20-30 Euros.
I don't count the clock, since you don't buy them every year and you don't even need one in a normal club.
Total: 160 Euros if I'm generous.
@Shadowknight
Sounds like that whole being young and talented thing may not be so wonderful after all. Oh who am I kidding; we're all almost infinitely jealous. Any chance of you getting a college chess scholarship out of all this?
@Shadowknight
Sounds like that whole being young and talented thing may not be so wonderful after all. Oh who am I kidding; we're all almost infinitely jealous. Any chance of you getting a college chess scholarship out of all this?
I can vouch for the we're jealous thing.
They looking to adopt?
As a golfer, I can attest to that. Your talking about £340 a year for a membership (more for bigger clubs). Travelling back and forth, £1000 for clubs (and golfers always say to themselves,'Ah, I know I don't need it but I want a new set of irons.') That can be £6-£700 easily. Golf bags, shoes, attire. We've almost all had some lessons as well (all the ones I know)
Mate,.. you want to try windsurfing. No club membership, but worth it for public liability insurance. Boards, minimum 2 (unless you live in an ideal location where the wind never varies), probably 3 or 4 at $2000 each. Sails from your smallest sail on windy days to your largest. At least 4, at average $700. Masts to suit, at least 2 at $500- $1000. Booms, carbon at $1000 will last a few years, or aluminium at $250 break every year from corrosion or metal fatigue. Masts break in waves as well. Sails suffer from UV radiation and also from the crashes that learners suffer (you get thrown into the sail, sometimes through it}
Then there is your car or van, which gets used to carry wet salty gear around, so gets rotted away. And employment can usually be ditched on a windy day.
Long distance travel with all of the above if you want to compete
Then again, it's cheaper than yachting, or motor racing.
A chess board expensive? It depends on your perspective
Let's see my expenses from last year (includes airfare with parents):
local tournaments - 10 tournaments, approximate cost $1000
Reno tournament - hotel, gas, tournament entry - ~ $500
Nationals (Nashville) - total ~$1200 (won back $500 scholarship)
Las Vegas National Open - total cost of around $700
Pacific Coast Open, Agoural Hills - ~$600
Central Coast Open, Fresno - ~$600
World Youth - Slovenia - ~$9,000
Las Vegas North American Open - ~$900 (won back $68)
chess lessons - ~$3,000
teaching - got back ~$600
not to mention books, a new DGT clock, etc.
in fairness, unless he mistyped most of it was one expense,
"World Youth - Slovenia - ~$9,000"
The expense there is the travel, which is not necessary to play chess.
Any sport is expensive if you travel the world to play it...
I think if I spent that amount on chess the missus would explode.
She puts up with golf, but $9k to go to a chess tournament? Pffft, not a chance.
We're going to NYC and Washington at the end of the year and she has been told we are going to spend a bit of time getting hustled in the chess parks though. Seems ok with that. I'd better build the losses into my budget.
Out of golf, kitesurfing (similar to windsurfing but way cooler
), and chess I'd say chess is the cheapest however I'm not running off to tournaments (too much of a rabbit to play chess in public) nor am I a member of a fancy golf club.
Over 9 years kiting has easily set me back $20,000 (AUD) but the cash is nothing compared to what I've gotten out of it... I aint rich but I'd happily spend it again.
BTW ShadowknightI downloaded a cool chess clock app for free of googleplay... probably wouldn't meet tournament rules though...?
Where are you from Genghis? Well it depends on how much money you have to invest, plus the benefit of traveling. So it is not that bad actually.
He's from Scotland, so must of his money goes on Irn Bru, heroin etc.
He's from Scotland, so must of his money goes on Irn Bru, heroin etc.
lol and of course you are english.
The books, lessons, tournaments, they really cost tons of money... why?