I’ve read some things (from Susan Polgar and by extension Jeremy Silman (can’t find his original comments on the web, so no link). While completely wrong on some of the more minor points (Mr Silman, for example makes much of forcing GM’s to pay for the opportunity to make a living — as in entry [...]

There are days I really wonder why I do this. The following story is true (I have the documentation to support it). But I’m removing all identification because, well, you’ll see why.
The story begins when a friend contacts me wanting a special arrangement for some tournament experience for some of his students. I agree. There’s [...]

It was shaping up to be a real Cinderella story. Young Erik Santarius was standing toe-to-toe with the best in the region, and hadn’t blinked.
Round one saw the top of the tournament in no trouble at all. But then came round two, and the story began. IMs Smetankin and Young handled their opponents (Smetankin beating [...]

The leaders ‘in the barn’ for this year’s Western are IM Stas Smetankin and NM Alex Betaneli, both with 2.5 points. Two other players, including IM Angelo Young have a chance to overtake them with decisive results in this round. NM Steven Szpisjak and Rene Glen Ancheta are the others in the field still playing [...]

Here I sit between rounds at the Western Open, watching the same scene play out once again. Short, quick draws as the players jockey themselves into position to share out the prizes.
It’s a problem in chess, but it’s a problem that really cannot be solved with any practical effect. Banning draw offers simply opens the [...]