Coming attractions to this blog

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

APPLIED SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

THE CHESS COACH IN THE ERA OF THE PC

An article that traces the role of chess coach/trainer from the era of the Soviet school of chess to modern times. What impacts have advances in sport psychology had on tournament chess players and coaches? How have the needs of the data-base generation affected chess coaching?

Traditionally, chess coaching has focused on two central aims: helping the player reach his full potential as student of the game and specific tournament preparation. With the advent of the data-base programs the coach is less necessary for tournament preparation, but his role has become even more important in guiding the player in his personal development. What do the world's top coaches and trainers think of the new challenges?

This article explores the difficulties that both players and their coaches face in adapting to the new technologies.

........................................................................................

THE RISE AND FALL OF CANADIAN CHESS

This article's publishing date has been put back to the end of the summer.

This controvertial article is my version of what has happened -and why- to organized chess in Canada these past 20 years. This is a true story. A bird's- eye view, so to speak ,of the incestuous relationship between Canadian chess organizers, special interests and money.

This is the story that will be remembered by future generations of Canadians of what really happened, long after we are all gone.

Divided into 5 parts, the article will be presented as a series:

Introduction

1) The Kevin Spraggett Foundation for Chess (1988-1992) and the FQE

2) Larry Bevand's personal war on organized chess (especially 1996-present)

3) The ChessTalk fiasco

4) The sale of Canada's National Team (especially the Yves Charbonneau saga)

5) The last days of the CFC

.........................................................................

The long promised article on the life and games of Miguel Najdorf is close to completion!

Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf

Najdorf was one of the most colourful players of the 20th century. Born in Poland in 1910, he found himself stranded in Buenos Aires in 1939 when the war broke out, and he decided not to risk returning to Europe. Just as well, as his entire family was murdered by the Nazis.



Having to make his life all over again, he became a citizen of Argentina. His business interests quickly made him the richest chess player of his generation. But his passion was chess. He was a candidate for the highest title for decades, having played 11 world champions in over the board competition.

Najdorf was a close friend of Bobby Fischer. Here we see Miguel having a good time trying to tempt the American genius.