I am with you I watched it but had to mute the audio. Then I figured out since they showed their pictures while talking I could then just selectively mute who I did not want to hear. Was a pain but worth it to hear the GM commentary and not someone calling Ian, Liam throughout the event.
Watching the WCC
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May 1, 2023
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#3
What's wrong with a squeaky voice? I hardly think that you should discriminate based on "type of voice" given that her voice is not super far from the norm or anything. Sure if someone had an exceptional voice, it may (emphasis on may) be a valid consideration of whether it's a distraction or not -- I don't know the first thing about broadcasting but I'd imagine it's better to accommodate the unusual voice than disqualify someone from commentating based on it.
Would you defer to have a conversation with Tania Sachdev simply due to her voice, which she cannot change?
Regarding accent, I don't know who Kaje Snare is, but Judit Polgar has a non-American/British/Australian accent as well. So maybe you find her easier to understand somehow, but I don't see why the American (say) audience in general would. It's probably something that varies from person to person; I found Tania very clearly understandable.
And Tania Sachdev is an IM, which is, imo, waaay more than "just a pretty face".
I don't really know how to start this, so I'll just jump right in. I don't know who hires the commentators, but please, no more Tania Sachdev. Her squeaky voice and barely understandable accent made (for me) the Chess.com broadcast simply unwatchable. I understand to want to use women and I'm good with that: Jen Shehade, Jovanka Houska, Kaje Snare, Irina Krush, Judit Polgar would be better choices. Our commentators should be more than just a pretty face.