Chess Scotland Noticeboard

Jacob Aagaard · Queen Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Milngavie

In the summer I had a second daughter, which has meant great changes for the way I have to live my life. I can now drive a car and we rent an office in the middle of town. Life revolves around nursery opening times and feeding the gremlins.

I have not played a tournament four over a year, and for a moment I thought I was not going to play one again for the next year - then I got an invitation to Politiken 2010, which I accepted.

With two young kids I am not going to the Olympiad in Siberia for two-three weeks in 2010. No matter the team, no matter the fee.

So, I have decided to attempt to change federation back to Denmark. The reason is simple, and pragmatic. The Danish Championship is open for all players who are members of FIDE through the Danish Federation. It is a big event, 300 players usually gather for 9 days. Many of them are my friends, going back to the 1980's.

Having children means that my ties to Denmark have strengthened. I speak Danish to them (on orders from Anne) and go to Denmark more. I have become truly divided between the two nations. I am probably more Scottish now than Danish. I care more about Scotland anyway.

This means that on an emotional level I am deeply conflicted about this decision. I don't like changing away from Scotland, but pragmatically it is a good decision. I get to play a nice well organised tournament with good opponents in the company of many of my old friends.

Financially it is simply expensive. I will have to pay 1200 pounds. I will not be able to represent Denmark for years, and would most likely not make the team anyway, so the fact that they pay better than Scotland at the moment is rather irrelevant.

I will continue to be active in Scottish Chess. I will continue to organise training events, give lectures for the benefit of CS and so on.

Quality Chess has been one of the biggest sponsor of Scottish Chess the last few years and will continue to play a role, although probably in a different way than in 2009. I stress this because I want to be absolutely clear that my decision is not about money or CS policy. I just want to play the Danish Championship.

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Jacob.

A well thought out decision and post.

My two kids appeared when I was at my peak 1980-'82 so I know
all the hassle and things that happen.

(wait till they become teenagers, then the fun really starts)

It's good that you thwarted all the specualation before the rumours started.

Good Luck.

The Danish gain is our lose. (but it need not be a permanent thing).

A Muir · King Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 489 Location: Dumbarton

Jacob , thanks for your contribution to Scottish chess and long may it continue, especially in training.
As a result of your proposed change of federation, I have decided to alter the composition of the selection panel
Selectors for all adult tournaments from now on will be made by a panel of three : myself, John Shaw and Colin McNab.
A rating formula as a starting point for my selections is average of current CS and FIDE grades