Chess Scotland Noticeboard

Phil Thomas · King Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 758

The following players will be representing Scotland at World Youth 2009 in Turkey November 11 to 23

U18 Boys Connor Woods and Daniel Maxwell
U16 Boys Andrew Newton
U14 Boys Ian McDonald
U12 Boys Ben He
U8 Boys Kai Pannwitz

U16 Girls Maryann McDonald
U14 Girls Ali Roy

Daniel Rocks · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject:

We saw at the Euro's in Italy that some of the top juniors in age groups were struggling to make it, why are we sending number 8s in age groups? I know I personally struggled to get 4/9 which is not even a 50% score (the highest of the 4 Scots playing in our section, which emphasizes how outclassed we were) and yet we are sending people who have never so much as played in a Scottish weekend Open? I think this is ridiculous and a step too far. I think among others, the examples given on Chandler Cornered show that the vast majority of juniors are simply not ready for tournaments of this calibre and the money/funds would be better spent on coaching and such like otherwise we will just continue to send lambs to the slaughter at these tournaments.

It is alright to suggest that playing in such tournaments will make people stronger even if they do get crushed pretty much every game - however this is completely outweighed by the effect it can have on confidence - I know of at least 1 fellow player in Italy who is now talking about giving up chess altogether.

I hope people do not see this post as being negative and trying to put down players going to the Worlds (after all, I do think there are a few who have more than proven their worth at being among the strongest in their age groups and capable of gaining something from the tournament) - I am just trying to talk some sense and being brave enough to echo what other people are thinking.

(P.S) This is not coming from a personal standpoint as I am unavailable to play this tournament even if I wanted to.
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Daniel Rocks

AndrewGreen · Knight Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Edinburgh

Completely agree with what Daniel said. Looking at Geoff's last cornered article was worrying to say the least. I have said it before after being to these events and now Daniel another top junior is saying it after going to these events. Maybe it is time to listen...

admin · Site Admin Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 1386

Daniel Rocks · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject:

Daniel Rocks wrote:
and yet we are sending people who have never so much as played in a Scottish weekend Open?

Know many 8- 10 year olds who have played in a Scottish Open?

Andy, it is quite obvious that I was referring to the U16/U18 section as you well know. Note the "after all, I do think there are a few who have more than proven their worth at being among the strongest in their age groups and capable of gaining something from the tournament"
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Daniel Rocks

Phil Thomas · King Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 758

[quote="Daniel Rocks"]We saw at the Euro's in Italy that some of the top juniors in age groups were struggling to make it, why are we sending number 8s in age groups?

MY ANSWER
Because I have faith in Daniel Maxwell's ability to work hard,improve his game, behave himself and avoid irreparable mental damage to himself.

Are you planning to stand for IJD at the 2010 agm ?

Daniel Rocks · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject:

Phil,

1. No disrespect but last time you had "faith" in someone's potential/ability it completely backfired with the U10/U12 girls.

2. I believe David Oswald was given a remit at the AGM whereby he would have an input towards all future older junior international selections, he was not contacted whatsoever about the worlds hence you fell back on your agreement you made when retaining the IJD post at the AGM.

3. It is irrelevant who is IJD. The fact of the matter is I support whoever is IJD - what is relevant is that such a person is willing to take on board constructive criticism as I have repeatedly tried to do (as has Andrew Green, among others) and none of it has been taken on board - always falling on deaf ears.. We are juniors, the IJD's role is to listen to the juniors' views and work with their ideas. You cannot always play the "will you stand for IJD card?" It is completely irrelevant.

4. Expanding on point 3, I offered to sit on the newly formed Junior Board which the current administration has spoken so highly of - only to recently find out that such a board has already been formed and I have not been consulted as such.

5. When speaking of how juniors improve, perhaps it is better to listen to people such as myself and Andrew who have been there, broken the 2000 barrier and played in strong tournaments rather than assuming you always know best.

6. "Because I have faith in Daniel Maxwell's ability to work hard,improve his game, behave himself and avoid irreparable mental damage to himself."

The latter part of that comment - again, sidestepping everything apart from the issue at hand - CHESS. In order to be a successful IJD maybe it would be a good idea to actually take on board the thoughts of the people who your position actually concerns - people like me; juniors - instead of dismissing them off hand and consulting a bunch of backroom cronies with a peak rating of 1600.
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Daniel Rocks

Angus McDonald · King Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 162

I don't get this.

Why would anybody wish to criticise the selection of a very capable junior Chess Player who is taking his last opportunity to play in the World Junior Championship? Didn't he do enough last year to earn an opportunity somewhere?

It's not inexpensive to go and I'm very sad that this player now has to feel he has to prove himself to his peers having already proven himself to other impartial observers. You really ought to apologise and wish him well.

regards,
Angus

Daniel Rocks · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:51 pm Post subject:

"I don't get this.

Why would anybody wish to criticise the selection of a very capable junior Chess Player who is taking his last opportunity to play in the World Junior Championship? Didn't he do enough last year to earn an opportunity somewhere?

It's not inexpensive to go and I'm very sad that this player now has to feel he has to prove himself to his peers having already proven himself to other impartial observers. You really ought to apologise and wish him well.

regards,
Angus"

Angus, with the greatest respect I actually had a slight chuckle at the irony in this post (based on your previous rants about selections) - not to mention I hardly think you would be complaining if it was someone outwith the Aberdeen area. It's just typical that when someone on this Noticeboard tries to make a valid criticism, someone somewhere has to twist it into a personal attack. It is sad that when someone puts forward a valid point, it has to be misconstrued and twisted around - I think I will finally stop posting full stop on this Noticeboard after this thread, it is not worth the effort of having to deal with narrow minded, biased, selfish people who seemingly only care about what is best for their family/friends other than the good of Scottish chess as a whole.
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Daniel Rocks

Phil Thomas · King Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 758

Angus well spoken

Daniel

1. Is untrue
2. Is untrue
4. Is a leak of a suggested name from confidential e mails. It didn't happen with the old junior board.

For your information no junior board for 2009-10 has been formed. Business proceeds.

MY EDIT FOLLOWS
For everyone out there not fully up to speed.

Highly Confidential information and libelous interpretation had leaked into Daniels' posting which he has now removed.

Angus McDonald · King Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 162

Daniel,

I'm almost certain that I've never ranted <b>against</b> anybody elses selection and quite certain that I havn't ranted here on selections either.

regards,

Angus

Phil Thomas · King Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 758

Angus,

fully agree with that.

HughBrechin · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:06 pm Post subject:

Hi Phil.

I'll say right away that I'm not meaning to comment on the subject matter of this thread and this is in the nature of an apology.

Re point 4, though the reference to the name in question has (presumably?) been deleted, if it referred to who I suspect it did I'm almost certainly to blame for this. David Oswald asked my advice in confidence in a private conversation in relation to a couple of potential names for the junior board, and after we had spoken and largely as a result I mentioned this conversation to Daniel and asked him if he might potentially be interested in serving. During the course of this latter conversation I mentioned in passing two names to him who had already been mooted as members.

I was not asked to mention any names by David or anyone else, and I'd emphasise that he bears no responsibility at all for my disclosing the information.
I apologise unreservedly to you, David and everyone else involved in the email exchange - and especially those people named in the emails and referred to by Daniel - for breaching their confidentiality without any justification. It was a frankly idiotic and unacceptable individual lapse on my part.

Phil Thomas · King Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 758

Daniel Rocks · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject:

I apologise for that silly breach of confidentiality which I did not realise would have such an impact - I feel that I am the one at fault, not Hugh. I would also like to say I will no longer be posting on this Noticeboard as I am fed up with the siege mentality which so often occurs when someone tries to offer valid constructive criticism. *Andy, please lock my account*. *Edited out* - Don't want to add more fuel to the fire on reflection.

Apologies.
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Daniel Rocks