So Will Barela asked me to say a little something on this blog
about the time control on the upcoming Spring Open April 2-3, 2016. He informed me that some of my fellow titled
players down south were complaining that the time control was too short. When speaking to Will, I responded “I’m sorry
I didn’t catch that?” He said, a couple
of titled players where complaining that TC for the is tournament was too
short, and could we change it to G90 +30.
I responded, “I am sorry I still don’t think I heard you correctly?” He
then proceeded to repeat himself and added, some players down say they won’t
play because the TC doesn’t have an increment, and won’t allow you to have
enough time to properly play the endgame.
My response, “What? Will, what in
the heck are you talking about? People
won’t play because they think G90 +30 gives them more time than my duel time
control? Will are you kidding me, G90+30
is significantly less time! Are you
feeling okay?” He stated he was fine,
and that is why a couple of players said they wouldn’t play, because there is
no increment in this tourney, giving players too little time to properly play the
endgame. So help clear up this
misconception about the time control, Will asked me explain how much more time
you will receive in this tournament opposed to a G90 +30. So as an accountant, I did what makes most
sense, I made this visual representation of much less time you will receive in
G90+30 versus the tournament time control 40/2, SD/30, d10.
90% games, sub International Master, last less than 40
moves, 97.4% less than 50. Meaning, in the duel time control, you will
have more time (and in most cases significantly more time about – on average 38
minutes more per game if it concludes within 70 Moves). The only way, the G90+30 gives you more time
is if your game, by some miracle goes over 180 moves. I have never played a game that has even come
close to that, and my bet is neither have the people Will Barela is speaking
too.
So I am calling BS Will, to whomever you are talking
too. When players reach a certain
rating/level (usually experts and above), they become targets, where everyone
they play gives them all they have, and for some players it becomes too much
for them, and they become afraid to play. Granted there are countless other
factors that contribute to this fear, for example, they subconsciously believe
they are overrated and they fear playing will knock them below expert or
master. They will blame not playing, on
not being prepared or in good form.
A message for my fellow titled players:
For me, if you are a chess player, you play chess. I took on a second, basically full time job
six months ago. I have had zero time to
prepare and I have never been close to my full strength in any of the
tournaments I have played in the last six months. I played though, because I figured I am much
better than my rating, and even at 70-85% I should strong enough to best anyone
I should face; and more importantly, if I lose, or I lose ratings points, I
will get them back, and I will get them back quickly. Chess titles aren’t for those who are weak in
the knees. So I have been in poor form
since probably July of last year. What
have my results been, well basically I have won every regularly rated tournament
I have played in, including the state championship.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what happened to the Clash
of the Titans Tournament that was set to take place in LC this past January.
Will Barela, put in a ridiculous amount of time and effort to try and make
chess in New Mexico better. He got the state’s
best players, and even an IM from AZ to compete in a tournament he called the
Clash of the titans. He looked at over 15
places to hold the tournament, he called and solicited every top player in the
area to play, been over backwards to accommodate everyone, made travel
arrangements for some, offered his own home as a place to stay for playing
coming in from out of town, even helped subsidize the tournament. I was excited to play, I took a week off of
work to play, booked a hotel, rented a car, and I was set to play. I get a call from Will Barela, about ten days
before the event is about to take place.
He says he has bad news, the tournament is canceled. I inquire as to why, and his response, “because
one of the players got a sprained ankle?”
Yes, you read that correctly, the tournament is being canceled, because
one of the players withdrew because he got a sprained ankle. Sometimes, I think will hangs out with Kwon a
little too much, and they sit around and think to themselves, what are the most
ridiculous and asinine things I can say to Andrew. Unfortunately, he was serious. I lost in a room and car deposits $180,
because someone got a sprained ankle, so they were unable to play chess.
Honestly, if you take the performance ratings of every
individual in the state of New Mexico or within 10 miles of our boarder for the
past year, my performance rating surpasses the second person by 172
points. So where I may not be the highest
rated player in the state, I am quietly arguably the strongest. So bottom-line, if the conditions of a
tournament are good enough for me, they are good enough for any player in New
Mexico. So my fellow titled players,
there is an old saying “S*** or get off the pot.” If don’t believe you are strong enough to
keep your title, and that’s why you’re not playing, say so; but don’t hide
people behind absurd excuses. One of the
most conceded chess players I know is a master, and he even says “I stopped
playing, because I will probably drop below master if I do.” Guess what, I don’t hassle him, and I respect
him for being honest. But let’s not
waste people’s time and money by acknowledging comical issues and ludicrous withdrawals. A
couple of bad results won’t hurt, so step up and play. Chess is fun, exciting, and thrilling. Don’t make your end all be all. It’s fun, enjoy it, play it.
Next time you see Will Barela, thank that man for all he attempts to do to make chess better in New Mexico.
Will I hope this will suffice.
