tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post3467419632805888..comments2024-02-22T13:53:00.516-05:00Comments on Elizabeth Spiegel's blog: US Amateur Team East 2008 PhotosElizabeth Vicaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04880561980096775673noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-62733064352535859522009-02-19T15:21:00.000-05:002009-02-19T15:21:00.000-05:00Too end all arguements GGGg should of just got pai...Too end all arguements GGGg should of just got paired with da dynasty and we draw them and knock them out of tha first place prize and danny rhodes team would of won itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-23617904915084570642008-04-04T07:19:00.000-04:002008-04-04T07:19:00.000-04:00Man, I would have loved to play GGGg (or any Grand...Man, I would have loved to play GGGg (or any Grandmaster for that matter, its the reason I chose to play first board every year I play). I also have no problems with what they did, any team that makes it below 2200 is a-okay in my book.<BR/><BR/>Rock on GGGg and they should've represented the East. Just because the West has a sad rule doesn't mean East, North, and South should be penalized for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-3132998148602050482008-03-23T22:51:00.000-04:002008-03-23T22:51:00.000-04:00Why a class player has to be afraid to play a GM ...Why a class player has to be afraid to play a GM ?<BR/><BR/>Playing against strong opposition is the best way to improve and on top you can get a post mortem for free! after the game is over.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-85296595552306706152008-02-29T13:27:00.000-05:002008-02-29T13:27:00.000-05:00Just read this long thread, so I'll keep it short ...Just read this long thread, so I'll keep it short here.<BR/><BR/>I have played in the USATE 28 times, been on the winning team twice. (One of those times, we tied with a sponsored-and-stacked team, but beat them on tiebreaks since their board 4 went 0-6. However, they weren't nearly as stacked as GGGg.)<BR/><BR/>The 3-paid-GMs + illegal-moving child team is at odds with the <I>spirit</I> of the event, as I have experienced it since the 1970s - and this event is all about spirit. Fielding a team of mercenary superstars in an "amateur" competition can't be right. If it's OK by the rules, then change the rules.<BR/><BR/><B>Add my strong vote for the 1,000-point rule.</B><BR/><BR/>P.S. I have nothing against little kids playing, as my 6-year-old son did this year. Mr. Fanning making his son the sacrificial lamb on a pro team is just distasteful.Big Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06070711870235631052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-85067575870089876262008-02-28T20:49:00.000-05:002008-02-28T20:49:00.000-05:00I agree with the previous post. I mean who the hel...I agree with the previous post. I mean who the hell is this bitch Jarecki or whatever her name is to ask Eugene if it is o.k. with him to ask the so-called 2nd place team to participate in the playoff. What about all the teams who lost to GGGg and what about the other 5.5 point team, these tie brakes are silly to begin with but to use them in this situation without consulting anyone is just preposterous. Doyle is a genius too, he had a great vision first allowing GGGg to play and then suggesting they cancel these playoffs altogether. Good job StevieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-22786747446751514812008-02-28T19:56:00.000-05:002008-02-28T19:56:00.000-05:00Why d4? They never faced the uber-team GGGg. Nor d...Why d4? They never faced the uber-team GGGg. Nor did No Money. And what about Bobby Fischer who was 5-0 going into the last round. Or any other team whose only loss was the uber-team. Nobody should represent the East if GGGg declines to play. This is too bad as the East has the biggest and best tournament. There are no playoffs for the US Amateur why do they need one for the USATE. The rules should be the same for all four Amateur Teams in the future. Then there can be a playoff....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-69532319240020723632008-02-28T17:29:00.000-05:002008-02-28T17:29:00.000-05:00pff typical chess nerds especially greg he thinks ...pff typical chess nerds especially greg he thinks he could beat all GMs lol people dont careabout some uknown whatever ur title is people dont care whether u could baet someone or not they went there for fun so anyway its just funny haha but well all i can say is the TD for team east screwed up big time lol im sure its for money anywayz just bring back 1000 pt rule and this thing is over really patheticAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-69266487648826426982008-02-28T01:44:00.000-05:002008-02-28T01:44:00.000-05:00No Money For My Chess Honey, lost out to d4 in the...No Money For My Chess Honey, lost out to d4 in the 2nd tiebreak by one point.<BR/><BR/>And that makes d4 the clear choice to represent the East lol.<BR/><BR/>PS: No Money for My Chess Honey has an IM on board 1. <BR/><BR/>LOL @ J. Benjamin warning people in the NY Times.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-27946934159978029742008-02-27T22:49:00.000-05:002008-02-27T22:49:00.000-05:00oh, that gives every chess teacher a warm and fuzz...oh, that gives every chess teacher a warm and fuzzy feeling --oh wait! maybe that's just blood pouring down our forehead....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-1589856999407191592008-02-27T19:35:00.000-05:002008-02-27T19:35:00.000-05:00Christopher Michael Williams was hit in the head b...Christopher Michael Williams was hit in the head by a direct hit from an an incoming beer bottle,(not sure of the beer brand) on Friday night 02/16/08. He fell to the floor and police as well as paramedics were called to the scene. He was taken to the nearby hospital where he got stitches. The assailants name is Rios Enrique, he inittially fled the scene but later <BR/>returned when he could not find a suitable flight out. He is a 400- pound monkey (presumably gorilla)and should have gone to jail as well as paid reparations, of which neither has happened. Thats all I know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-79130074245209109072008-02-27T19:33:00.000-05:002008-02-27T19:33:00.000-05:00He got outta line trying to ACT gangstaHe got outta line trying to ACT gangstaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-81185950591445544602008-02-27T18:40:00.000-05:002008-02-27T18:40:00.000-05:00okay i'll bite (GM Richard might want to withdraw ...okay i'll bite (GM Richard might want to withdraw here...) what's with the stitches on Chris Williams' forehead??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-34717677646404846802008-02-27T15:21:00.000-05:002008-02-27T15:21:00.000-05:00The correspondence between Jarecki and Perelshteyn...The correspondence between Jarecki and Perelshteyn, already published right here, indicates there won't be a playoff to decide who goes to the playoff. She said she and/or Doyle planned to invite d4 (in place of GGGg) to represent the East in the playoff. I'd bet money that's what she will do, and may have done so already.<BR/><BR/>And by the way, d4 wasn't the only team with 5.5 points. The team listed in third place (I think it was No Money For My Chess Honey) actually finished with 5.5 too. The wall chart mistakenly listed the third-place team's score as 5.0.<BR/><BR/>-Jon JacobsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-61695185575738137192008-02-27T11:40:00.000-05:002008-02-27T11:40:00.000-05:00Who should represent the EAST?Playoff between d4. ...Who should represent the EAST?<BR/><BR/>Playoff between d4. and any other teams that went 5-0 and only lost to GGGgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-59319359355051458852008-02-27T00:19:00.000-05:002008-02-27T00:19:00.000-05:00I thought it was an Amateur tournament for a reaso...I thought it was an Amateur tournament for a reason theres nothing amateur about 3 gms on 1 team.I could careless but dont make a tournament with the name Amateur then allow 3 pros to play on the same team. Which brings me to my next point GMs that wanna win the tournament.Team up and having one of their friends that wanna try the game as board 4 vs other gm teams which make the tournament less fun for the teams that dont have gms being the future of the "Amateurs".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-79092309000407835702008-02-26T22:39:00.000-05:002008-02-26T22:39:00.000-05:00To Mr. Shahade and Mr. Jacobs,Let me briefly expla...To Mr. Shahade and Mr. Jacobs,<BR/><BR/>Let me briefly explain the relevance of the quote to the situation at hand.<BR/><BR/>"First, what is the nature of it? how did it come about? what is its constitution, origin, and history?"<BR/><BR/>Specifically, how did the GGGg team form? How did the participants agree to form the team? Were payments involved? <BR/><BR/>"And second, What is its importance, meaning, or significance, now that it is once here?"<BR/><BR/>This answers has less to do with the specifics of the team (examples 1 and 3 below), and more to do with our reactions to what they accomplished. (examples 2 through 5) <BR/><BR/>Examples:<BR/><BR/>1) Is it any of our business to know if payments were involved? <BR/>2) More generally, is it ethical for money to change hands when forming members of a team for an amateur tournament? <BR/>3) Should grandmasters even be allowed in this tournament? <BR/>4) If the GGGg team had not won the USATE, would everyone be complaining about their result? <BR/>5) Should measures be taken to stop a repeat occurrence of this in future editions of the tournament?<BR/><BR/>These issues may have been discussed already, but it'll take me some time to read through 170+ comments already posted, so forgive me if I'm treading down well-worn paths.<BR/><BR/>(Apropos of nothing, we've had profanity and deleted posts in this thread, so references to hors concours and good ole Bill James kinda evens out the scale, doesn't it?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-31243159165607639622008-02-26T18:19:00.000-05:002008-02-26T18:19:00.000-05:00um I just wanna give a shout out to chrissybear cu...um I just wanna give a shout out to chrissybear cuz he's a straight gangsta and like vicary is awesome and all that good stuff...word up chess ppl<BR/><BR/>oh and GM teams are retarded...later.<BR/><BR/>-corey.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-17918659591400015192008-02-26T15:28:00.000-05:002008-02-26T15:28:00.000-05:00I had no idea that the GGGg team would generate so...I had no idea that the GGGg team would generate so much outrage. <BR/><BR/>USATE has always been my favorite tournament because of the relaxed atmosphere. It's not like the World Open where you pay $350 and have to worry about whether or not your opponent is using Pocket Fritz. <BR/><BR/>I was on one of the teams that lost to GGGg, and I thought that our team had a legitimate shot to win the whole tournament due to our 2199 avg rating. <BR/>It would've been really nice to win, but I went to USATE to play against good competition and to catch up with old friends, and I did just that. <BR/><BR/>They didn't break any rules - so cut them some slack! US Chess very poorly marketed anyways, GGGg should give it some much needed publicity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-17280184061345724972008-02-26T15:26:00.000-05:002008-02-26T15:26:00.000-05:00As Peter Winston used to say (with tongue firmly i...As Peter Winston used to say (with tongue firmly in cheek), "Too deep for me." My education must be inadequate - despite the classes I attended in William James Hall. <BR/><BR/>For what it's worth, I never heard of hors d'concourse either, or whatever it was. So I was quite pleased when someone else jumped in and spoofed that phrase.<BR/><BR/>Is it too late to sue my university for a tuition refund?<BR/><BR/>-Jon JacobsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-70907616794709814672008-02-26T13:42:00.000-05:002008-02-26T13:42:00.000-05:00I have the be honest I thought the previous post w...I have the be honest I thought the previous post was spam until I read it very closely and noticed that the phrase (GGGg) was included and that there were no hyperlinks.Greg Shahadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00233341816210357863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-25262068730153319132008-02-26T13:19:00.000-05:002008-02-26T13:19:00.000-05:00A friend of mine told me of the discussion in this...A friend of mine told me of the discussion in this thread, and said that I would enjoy reading it.<BR/><BR/>Reserving judgment on the issues raised in this thread for a later time, I'll simply post the following excerpt, believing that it has relevance both to the issue that sparked this discussion (the GGGg team) and the course this discussion has taken:<BR/><BR/>"In recent books on logic, distinction is made between two orders of inquiry concerning anything. <BR/><BR/>First, what is the nature of it? how did it come about? what is its constitution, origin, and history?<BR/><BR/>And second, What is its importance, meaning, or significance, now that it is once here?<BR/><BR/>The answer to the one question is given in an existential judgment, or proposition. <BR/><BR/>The answer to the other is a proposition of value... Neither judgment can be deduced immediately from the other. They proceed from diverse intellectual preoccupations, and the mind combines them only making them first separately, and then adding them together."<BR/><BR/>William James, The Varieties of Religious ExperienceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-13480197919702448142008-02-26T12:11:00.000-05:002008-02-26T12:11:00.000-05:00It's been pointed out before, but Steve Doyle anno...It's been pointed out before, but Steve Doyle announced before the last round that USATE has *never* had the 1000 point differential rule.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, no comments about the stitches in Chris Williams's head?<BR/><BR/>:)<BR/><BR/>-MattAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-24093273328325839602008-02-26T11:54:00.000-05:002008-02-26T11:54:00.000-05:00I agree with the comment that the only type of tea...I agree with the comment that the only type of team that could beat a team like a GGGg team is a stacked team. Practically there were almost no team that had this 2nd board that was capable of defeating a GM. Of course its not impossible, but I like the chances of a stacked team significantly more than 95% of the teams competing. That much is clear.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-11593301153129522912008-02-26T01:13:00.000-05:002008-02-26T01:13:00.000-05:00They should just bring back the 1k point different...They should just bring back the 1k point differential rule. It's totally fair and avoids this problem, while still allowing a ton of flexibility in terms of team makeup.Greg Shahadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00233341816210357863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-42527385537666001612008-02-26T01:00:00.000-05:002008-02-26T01:00:00.000-05:00Mr. Vigorito, I have no quarrel with what the GGGg...Mr. Vigorito, I have no quarrel with what the GGGg team did. If I found a loophole like they did, I'd charge through it like they did. We played them, and as I remarked in an earlier comment in this blog, I was happy to have the opportunity to play Izoria; grandmasters don't come my way every week.<BR/><BR/>However, I play regularly in a league where there isn't an under-2200 rule. This league has more interesting competition than the USATE. You can't predict the winner at the start of the season. I play opponents ranging from 1900 to Grandmaster, while my lower boards, who are Experts, play opponents closer to their own strength. We don't have Experts playing 500-rated children. I've been playing in this league, the Pittsburgh Chess League, for more than 30 years, and I'm accustomed to the high standard of fairness and sporting competitiveness that it sets. When I see that the largest team competition in the country, the USATE, has a completely predictable winner, and has Experts playing 500-rated children, I'm disappointed. If you are not disappointed, if this is all that your experience leads you to expect, then I'm sorry for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com