Diamond membership titled player

While it might be slightly embarrassing that the World Correspondence Champion would not get a free membership, in fact it is very likely that they would have _some_ OTB title, be it CM or NM.

I'm a little bit like Reb - when I see a correspondence article in Chess Life, I find it very curious about how the players go through great pains to explain how much skill it requires, even though the interviewers usually phrase the question like "some people say that correspondence is just a battle of who has the better computer - what do you say to that?".

I would guess in current correspondence chess it must be hard to improve your rating once you get to the 2500 level because of all the draws?

I too tend to stay away from unbeaten players...but what does a large amount of draws mean?  Does that also betoken a (possible) cheater?

I was wondering why all titled players were diamond

They're not.  Look at me.

@AndyClifton you didn't prove this, so at the moment it's only words, but yes all approved titled players here receives diamond membership for free

AndyCifton is a titled player and has once already on here proven it. Its his choice if he wishes the title and diamond on this account too.

If that's the case, why not just give him back his old account?

Who says he wants to use it?

By the way Correspondence titles do not mean anything as far as receiving a free membership here.  For those who are interested here is a personal ad running in the local Kankakee Illinois newpaper right now..

Veteran Chess Player Inquirey

There were 2 US Chess Federation rated chess tournaments in Kankakee in the year 1973. Both tournaments were a total of 4 games in 1 day.

Kankakee chess player who played in these two tournaments wishes to contact the tournament director or any person who played in either tournament.  If you played in either tournament or know anyone who played in either tournament please telephone  David C Taylor at [gives my phone number]

One strange ad.

I thought the very same thing myself.

It is the key to get my over-the-board title as correspondence titles do not count for free membership at chess.com.

I'm afraid that key was lost long ago.

Well, the ad was to find the key but of course you may be right that the key is long lost.  My guess is about one chance in six it will work.

I thought you said you don't care about the membership anyway...

I said it is not all that important to me but I am willing to take one chance out of 6 for a perpetual membership.  If it does not work--well with chances of 1 out of 6--I did not have high expectations.

I have noticed over the years that quite often certain potential situations come up where someone has maybe one chance in 100  or one chance in 33 or 1 chance in 243 and if the award is say 300 then it is usually worth it to take the small chance and then do not worry if it does not happen as sometimes it will happen in the long run.   

Sorry. I did not explain very well. Here is an example.  You are playing poker and the pot is $1000.00 and you are the last to bet you have to  put in $50 or quit the hand.

You expect to lose and your estimation is you only have one chance out of ten to win the pot--a good poker player will put that $50.00 in the pot

And what I said earlier is that at the time [39 plus years ago] not receiving my title which was due to me was not all that important to me.

Now, 39 years later it is more important than it was but still I can live without it.

You're saying you should have gotten a NM title but didn't?

I am saying I should have gotten a NM title but did not due to some very unfortunate circumstances.

I am not saying that I am all upset about this but right now I am spending a little money on a gamble to redress and if it does not happen -- well, the chances were against me anyway.