Happy 70th. Birthday Ulf Andersson

https://en.chessbase.com/post/swedish-chess-legend-ulf-andersson-celebrates-his-70th-birthday

Ulf Andersson is the best Swedish chess player of all time and at his peak he was the world's number four. Andersson is also a correspondence chess grandmaster and one of the best correspondence chess players in the world. Yesterday, 27 June, he celebrated his 70th birthday.

Some people admire Tal for sacrifices.

Others, like me, admire Andersson for his unique approach (known for strong endgame play).

Happy birthday Ulf!

If youre 12 and trying to impress people with your chess knowledge, you go with Tal. 

Us old farts go with the classics.

Happy birthday to the legend Ulf

I couldn't imagine being good at endgames :/

I have an old soul. 

Its better than being an old sole, or sol.

You mean youre not a shoe diva?  You dont collect $200 high tops?

I have one pair of tennis shoes, running shoes, and slip ons.

Its my topic.  I dont care if it veers.  It will soon enough.

"By group" ?

Chess had the Fischer surge.  I believe the last surge due to a chess player was when Anand won the title.

Oh, like average age of beginners, average age of masters, that sort of thing.

Swedish chess players just have cool names such as Pia Cramling, Gosta Stoltz, Gideon Stahlberg or Folke Rogard.  

Years ago there was this old man that always showed up to play in Reno twice a year.  He must have been a pretty good player in his younger years, as he was at his floor, and played in the A section.  He was not even close to being an A player anymore though.  Someone asked him once that he should petition the USCF so he could play in a lower section like B, or something like that.  His reply?  I know im old.  I know im not the player i was.  I know i will will never be the player i was.  But i enjoy chess.  I enjoy meeting people.  I leave the rating, money, and results to the young people.  I play because its a fun game, and it keeps me young.

I havent seen him for some years now.  I would imagine he has passed away, but if not i hope he is ok.

Kinda sounds like our local chess club.  There are many of us that have been members for DECADES.  I have known some of these guys for 40 years.  Anyone is welcome.  But we do get the occasional "bad seed" that shows up with an attitude of some sort.  Fortunately they dont hang around long.

Its actually a pretty close knit group.  We get good kids and they and the parents are made to feel welcome.  We get the occasional knucklehead, and its either straighten up or dont come back.

And that is part of the fun of the game and friendships.  If the club member acted like people act here?  The club would have died years ago.  But theirs a reason they dont.  They have to be face to face with each other.  Its a shame what being anonymous does to some people.

Yep...but 99.999999% of the people here that act the way they do wouldn't act that way in person.  Which is why many of the online player dont last long at clubs.  They have no clue how to act in person.  My pet peeve is the "slammer"  The guy that feel slamming the pieces/clock down somehow makes them "aggressive".  I gently pause the clock and ask them if they have $400?  I get the usual blank look.  Then i explain to them about respecting other peoples property, and that this is what the set, pieces, and clock cost me.  So if you break anything you're paying for it.   Never have gotten an apology, but they do stop.

Its wherever someone left it.  None of which i will be eating.