>Its not the winning that draws people to watch poker <
Also most people know how to play poker and like to watch the hands and think what they would do. Yes, you can do this in chess...IF you are a chess player, which most people are not nor have any interest in becoming, no matter how cute the girl who is explaining the pros and cons of queenside castling.
Faster speed controls do not destroy chess; in fact, they enhance the game. The faster a game moves, the more likely the masses would be interested in it. That means more people are more likely to watch it and spend more money. In fact, all the major sports have changed to speed up their games or have added other, more active ways to play the game. The NBA, for example, has re-introduced the 3-poin shot (from the ABA), and a timer for a player to shoot the ball.
Television is a big thing to most people. And guess what the networks are looking for – things to keep the masses watching. Let’s make chess exciting so we can make money in our chosen profession.
As far as the concern that the quality of one’s game might suffer due to a faster time control, then I’ve got ask, “Why no play correspondence chess?”
“Maurice wants them because he doesn't like ties. The players don't want them because of the security a last round draw offers.
Players will refuse to enter because of the playoffs, they won't refuse to play for lack thereof.”
I don’t think you have the ability, knowledge, or permission, to speak for other players. I personally play speed chess, OTB, Internet, and correspondence chess. In fact I was even an editor of a state magazine. And I’ve got to tell you, if you find two or more players agreeing on anything, you are watching a miracle happen.
Spped up chess all you want, nobody who isn't already a chess player is going to watch it on television. Basketball, football, baseball.....those are easy to follow even if you're not a player. Even if you don't play those games it's easy to tell which side is winning, how much they're winning by. It's easy to tell when a player makes a bad play. Points, touchdowns, RBIs, strikeouts....those are all easy metrics to follow. Chess has nothing comparable. The person who does not play chess isn't going to see how one move is a particularly bad move. They're not going to understand what makes one position winning. They might look at a board and see that white has more pieces and think white's winning while not understanding that white's king is vunerable and is two moves away from being checkmated.
Glitz it up all you want. Make it as fast as you want. Put Hikaru in a Burger King commercial with Tony Stewart. Take the FIDE world championship and boradcast it on the Ocho. None of that is going to give chess the broad appeal that those other sports enjoy. It's just not going to happen. And that's perfectly fine. Chess has its level, there's no need to try to make it something it's not.
I don't think ESPN is the future of chess anyway. It seems the webcasting of events has become much more professional over time. They know that they can cater singularly to a chess-savvy audience without having to teach the audience the game or rely on fabricated hype. Webcasting can dedicate 5 hours a round to the event at hand and can just let the actual games play out.
I don't think ESPN is the future of chess anyway. It seems the webcasting of events has become much more professional over time. They know that they can cater singularly to a chess-savvy audience without having to teach the audience the game or rely on fabricated hype. Webcasting can dedicate 5 hours a round to the event at hand and can just let the actual games play out.
I agree with what you said but you left out the monetization of these webcasts.
You gotta turn that interest into CASH baby, before you can TAKE THE CHEST TO THA NESS LEVAL!
>players deserve to play under certain conditions <
I'm not sure why chess players of any stripe "deserve" certain conditions. Since when does playing chess entitle one to anything?
Of course, it's difficult to evaluate the conditions for MC2 since they have yet to secure a place to actually set up boards. Although they've been happily taking in entry fees for a week.
>Chess has never been a money event. <
Just because something has never been, doesn't mean it can never be. And before you start arguing the point, take a look at history. Many, if not all, of the great thinkers throughout history faced controversy and much resistance due to their radical theories that went against common belief but they never gave up on it. History has proven that things can change.
Poker had a long way to travel before it evolved into what it is today despite all the resistance they got from the players. Chess will most likely have a long road ahead as well but it's not impossible.
I mean for major chess events like World Championships, Tata Steel, London Chess Classic, Sinquefield Cup, etc. They already have sponsors or have deep pockets and they just run commercials during the webcast.
>Chess has never been a money event. <
Just because something has never been, doesn't mean it can never be. And before you start arguing the point, take a look at history. Many, if not all, of the great thinkers throughout history faced controversy and much resistance due to their radical theories that went against common belief but they never gave up on it. History has proven that things can change.
Poker had a long way to travel before it evolved into what it is today despite all the resistance they got from the players. Chess will most likely have a long road ahead as well but it's not impossible.
Bulla is right. It's not impossible, but it'll be a hell of a long road. Society will have to evolve into something totally unrecognisable to today though.
Perhaps in hundreds of years chess can be a big money (or something) event.
Bulla is right. It's not impossible, but it'll be a hell of a long road. Society will have to evolve into something totally unrecognisable to today though.
Perhaps in hundreds of years chess can be a big money (or something) event.
The first step is for MC to make a profit (or at least break even) in the next 3 to 5 years. If they don't, it will be a long time before anyone trys again.
Bulla is right. It's not impossible, but it'll be a hell of a long road. Society will have to evolve into something totally unrecognisable to today though.
Perhaps in hundreds of years chess can be a big money (or something) event.
The first step is for MC to make a profit (or at least break even) in the next 3 to 5 years. If they don't, it will be a long time before anyone trys again.
+1
I thought that was what Amy Lee was (the Sinquefeld figure). I'm not joking.
I thought that was what Amy Lee was (the Sinquefeld figure). I'm not joking.
She's looking to make a profit. She's not looking to be the Whale.
Rex is only looking to hang out with elite players and pay for their dinner. He's already made his BILLIONS compared to Amy's millions.
Okay, got it.
I think you and me should go to the next one though. That would be a gas, brah.
Although Rex is a sugar daddy he is the best thing to happen to bringing a piece of international chess into America
Why else would the top 10 aside from Nakamura wanna set foot in the US?
And he's even secured the next world championship Mach in America
I'll smuggle whiskey in a shampoo bottle to get past the chaperones...
I'll smuggle whiskey in a shampoo bottle to get past the chaperones...
Sounds like the beginnings of a beautiful brahmance.
The only selling point of ashley is that he's the first African American GM
So much for racial equality
The only selling point of ashley is that he's the first African American GM
So much for racial equality
Disagree. I suggest you read through the below 2 links first and see if your opinion changes.
http://www.thechessdrum.net/drummajors/M_Ashley.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Ashley
The other reason for Vegas is that the organizers continue to believe (as do several people in this forum), that all you need is lights, camera, action in tournament chess and suddently ESPN will be proferring a broadcast contract.
Some people can get too close to chess, too passionate about it, and forget that for the rest of the world, it's just another nerdy boardgame.
No matter how many showgirls you hire, how breezy and gee-gosh your commentators are, or how absurdly fast your speed chess time controls are, that's not going to change...you can build it, but they won't come.