I am wondering how much the economic decline will hurt over the board chess?
I just returned from the Rochester Chess Center today. (I went there to invite a few master level players for the upcoming Jeff White Memorial Tournamnet this December.) The monthly Jennifer Woods Grand Prix Tournament there had only 11 players participating. Now some might argue that this low turn out was due to the wonderful weather today. ( Why not enjoy our "Indian Summer" weekend doing something other than a King's Indian Defense?) However, today's limited numbers has become more common both there and elsewhere.
While playing chess can be rather inexpensive compared to many other sports or hobbies-a standard plastic can cost less than $10- the cost of travel and entry fees for over the board events can become burdensome.
I hope this downturn in participation is temporary. I wonder what we can do to turn it around? Certainly we can not expect any form of government or corporate bailout.
Does anyone have any other bright ideas?
Posts
Mark,
ReplyDeleteI don't know how many participants
they have normally, but I do know
they had a benefit tournament
for Matt Parry last weekend to
raise money for his expenses as
he participates in the World
Youth Championships in Vietnam.
Perhaps that in combination with the
nice weather contributed to a
lower than usual turnout. On the
larger question of keeping
turnout locally up, I think
that's beginning to be addressed
by the lower entry fee for the
U1600 and Scholastic sections.
Let's hope.
--Vic.
As a person who has been to most tournaments in Rochester in the last few months, i can say that the turnout has been less than stellar...that being said they were able to raise 510 dollars from donations for matt parry for vietnam. (available at wycc2008.vietnamchess.com) There were 27 players there for that between the two sections.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I was also there the past two months when the grand prix sections have had around 10-12 players...total.
I would reccomend for the grand prix's in buffalo a cost reduction for the open section...obviously this runs into a problem though because the prize fund is going to be reduced...however if we get enough people to come...the prize fund will remain intact and we will have more players paying less. Its about economics at this point.
I have been working to bring more rochester players to buffalo...its difficult though.
I believe the weather could have some effect on the turnout...come winter we may have a different picture as to how many players we have.
Unfortunately i will not be able to make it to buffalo this coming weekend for the grand prix, but it is not for economic reasons. Unfortunately you probably will not see any rochester players this weekend at the grand prix.
-Josh Rofrano
(From Rochester)