For further boredom...i was actually discussing Marmite in a thread with someone a few weeks ago (because reasons...)and discovered that it is actually banned from sale in certain countries, Canada and Denmark amongst them if I recall. Anyway, all the twitch streams and blitz/bullet sessions, Pogchamps etc is making the game more accessible IMO and caters for an audience that wants entertainment and funzies rather than serious chess content. A bit like Test cricket vs 20/20 cricket. Only the very interested have the time/inclination to watch a stream of classical chess for 5 hours, most of which is the commentators chatting and analysing potential continuations.
Marmite characters
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boyd4891 wrote:
(For non UK people marmite* is a term for something that people either really like....or really hate - nobody has a neutral opinion!)
Chess seems to be having a bit of an explosion at the moment, maybe lockdown driving some tournaments online is responsible , maybe lockdown is causing more people to take up the game. One thing is clear though, you have Hikaru, you have the Botez sisters, and maybe even Levy Rozman who seem to be characters people either adore, or love to criticise.
Are some of these characters partly responsible for some of the surge in popularity of the game? Do people like the fact that the game is becoming more popular?
HIkaru can be big headed at times, but maybe you have to be when you are near the top of any game - to be fair to him, I have seen him be supportive of other players, sporting and self effacing in many of his streams - but I do know many people just out and out dislike him.
*[Boring bit: Marmite is a French word for a cooking pot, it is also the name given to a savoury substance that people spread on bread or toast; it's either your favourite thing in the world, or the thought of it makes you ill...in Australia that have a similar substance they call vegamite.]
I'm not sure Hikaru, the Botez clan and Levy Rozman would enjoy being compared to a yeast spread.
But they are certainly part of the attraction of the chess.com site.
Nov 26, 2020
0
#4
Strangemover wrote:
For further boredom...i was actually discussing Marmite in a thread with someone a few weeks ago (because reasons...)and discovered that it is actually banned from sale in certain countries, Canada and Denmark amongst them if I recall. Anyway, all the twitch streams and blitz/bullet sessions, Pogchamps etc is making the game more accessible IMO and caters for an audience that wants entertainment and funzies rather than serious chess content. A bit like Test cricket vs 20/20 cricket. Only the very interested have the time/inclination to watch a stream of classical chess for 5 hours, most of which is the commentators chatting and analysing potential continuations.
Yeah I get your point - I find the match content is like that; but then because my playing level is below that of the streamers, I often find that some move or other in a blitz or rapid game they are playing will pique my interest and I will take it away an experiment.
I'm getting back into chess after a gap, so when I hear Hikaru going off on a "he has pawn e5, then I have knight h6, queen a6, bishop f7, king to ether f7 or g8, then bishop d6......*" I'm not really following the logic, but it makes me want to have the positions in my games (or puzzles) burnt into my brain like that.
boyd4891 wrote:
(For non UK people marmite* is a term for something that people either really like....or really hate - nobody has a neutral opinion!)
Chess seems to be having a bit of an explosion at the moment, maybe lockdown driving some tournaments online is responsible , maybe lockdown is causing more people to take up the game. One thing is clear though, you have Hikaru, you have the Botez sisters, and maybe even Levy Rozman who seem to be characters people either adore, or love to criticise.
Are some of these characters partly responsible for some of the surge in popularity of the game? Do people like the fact that the game is becoming more popular?
HIkaru can be big headed at times, but maybe you have to be when you are near the top of any game - to be fair to him, I have seen him be supportive of other players, sporting and self effacing in many of his streams - but I do know many people just out and out dislike him.
*[Boring bit: Marmite is a French word for a cooking pot, it is also the name given to a savoury substance that people spread on bread or toast; it's either your favourite thing in the world, or the thought of it makes you ill...in Australia that have a similar substance they call vegamite.]
The only reason chess is becoming "popular" is because xqc played chess with hikaru. Also, some other big streamers tried it out... not to mention the release of the queen's gambit. Chess will fall from this peak when people remember why they didn't like chess in the first place. Sad but true.
Nov 26, 2020
0
#6
Marmite is ok. I didn’t hate it, but I wouldn’t go out of my way fit it.
I used to think Nakapookie was fine until he started calling pawns juicers. Dude, you’re in your 30s. It’s like my mom talking about her friend “flexing.”
🙄
I used to think Nakapookie was fine until he started calling pawns juicers. Dude, you’re in your 30s. It’s like my mom talking about her friend “flexing.”
🙄
Nov 27, 2020
0
#7
NikkiLikeChikki wrote:
Marmite is ok. I didn’t hate it, but I wouldn’t go out of my way fit it.
I used to think Nakapookie was fine until he started calling pawns juicers. Dude, you’re in your 30s. It’s like my mom talking about her friend “flexing.”
🙄
I used to think Nakapookie was fine until he started calling pawns juicers. Dude, you’re in your 30s. It’s like my mom talking about her friend “flexing.”
🙄
Haha! Yes, actually I think that is my point, I think he is creating some terminology and trying to build a brand - some people are going to love it, some people are going to hate it.
To my mind, when I listen to him for more than a headline few minutes, he seems to be quite a self effacing (yeah, I do mean that!) and quite instructive. I think his brash attitude is more bourne out in clips that really representative of his streams overall.
I like the prominence chess is getting now on Twitch, divisive characters like Finegold or Hikaru, but also IM Rosen, Anna Muzychuk, Fionchetta, Anna Cramling et al.
Nov 27, 2020
0
#8
Hikaru is developing his merch as well. Yours for only $55.55 + shipping.
Nov 27, 2020
0
#9
It’s funny how juicer is slang for someone who uses steroids.
Nakapookie’s buddy xQc started using the term randomly for something good. The irony is that he was banned for cheating (using an aiming bot). Or electronic doping. Or electronic juicing.
Naka really needs to steer clear of cheaters for his own reputation, but I doubt he will. He loves all the free attention it gets him.
Nakapookie’s buddy xQc started using the term randomly for something good. The irony is that he was banned for cheating (using an aiming bot). Or electronic doping. Or electronic juicing.
Naka really needs to steer clear of cheaters for his own reputation, but I doubt he will. He loves all the free attention it gets him.
Nov 27, 2020
0
#10
Strangemover wrote:
Hikaru is developing his merch as well. Yours for only $55.55 + shipping.
Yeah, but he is doing is making hay while the sun shines. He has prominence now - and lets be fair, he is a top chess player....but like all streamers, the jig might be up by next weekend.
(Actually, forgive me for being meta, but when it comes to chess 'immortality' it comes in many forms - I seem to remember asking a few questions some time ago and among the best replies were those from a certain Strangemover - I am going to be playing chess for the rest of my life, and I will always remember the people on this forum who gave me good advice.)
Nov 27, 2020
0
#13
(For non UK people marmite* is a term for something that people either really like....or really hate - nobody has a neutral opinion!)
Chess seems to be having a bit of an explosion at the moment, maybe lockdown driving some tournaments online is responsible , maybe lockdown is causing more people to take up the game. One thing is clear though, you have Hikaru, you have the Botez sisters, and maybe even Levy Rozman who seem to be characters people either adore, or love to criticise.
Are some of these characters partly responsible for some of the surge in popularity of the game? Do people like the fact that the game is becoming more popular?
HIkaru can be big headed at times, but maybe you have to be when you are near the top of any game - to be fair to him, I have seen him be supportive of other players, sporting and self effacing in many of his streams - but I do know many people just out and out dislike him.
*[Boring bit: Marmite is a French word for a cooking pot, it is also the name given to a savoury substance that people spread on bread or toast; it's either your favourite thing in the world, or the thought of it makes you ill...in Australia that have a similar substance they call vegamite.]