When I was in Perak chess for many years, I observed this. Fixed matches, winners who's names were "accidentally" missed out when announcing the winners list. This happened so often that in my mind it could not be an accident. But there was no hard evidence. Missing the names were explained away, the injection of a hidden PICA rating system which upsets pairing is just bulldozed through, no cross tables published etc.
I could see the anguish and pain in many people at this unfair practice but nobody spoke up. All were quiet as they feared more repercussions if they protested.
Finally there was an example where this one official that has the "bad memory" called up his daughter to the podium even though she was not a winner. The "purpose" was to embarass her in front of a hall of people. That was how I saw it anyway. But nobody else saw it that way. Thay have "accepted" that this official has a "bad memory". But only when reading the winners list. Sharp in everything else.
Incredible I thought. For 2 reasons.
1. What happened to these people that they can do things like this over and over again with no conscience and against the weakest of our community? Our kids. That person even did that to his own kid. What happened to him?
2. Why did no one stand up to defend their dignity? Why didnt the parents stand up for their kids?
My believe is something happened to them along the journey of life. Somewhere their spirit was broken or damaged. And without that spirit you cannot be a strong chess player or even a decent human being. So the technical is not that important John. A child's spirit is easily broken, dont you think? Their talent in chess or anything else after that will be buried. How many "GMs" did we bury that way?
Furthermore it requires time and nurturing to be able to take more and more pressure. Training and abuse are 2 very different things.
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It is indeed very sad.
ReplyDeleteHowever, all things considered, the problem described is in the system and the environment.
If the system and environment is not good, does that mean we can laze in our preparation? Then blame it when things go wrong? Sounds like the lazy farmer blaming the lousy weather for bad harvest!
It is the duty of every aspiring chess-player to improve himself/herself regardless of the surrounding circumstances. I believe that talent and hard work will always be recognised. If the player is outstanding and wins consistently but is sidelined, there will be commotion caused and this will not go unnoticed. Same with Susan Boyle..she beat the odds to make it, right?
Other injustices will have to be addressed another way - by changing the system, kicking the bad people out, or leaving the system/environment for another one. It is within one's control to introduce change if things do not work out.
My discussion with you does not cover the scope of the system/environment. My focus is on the player. Please note. Try to stay within the context.
Readers of this exchange will agree that being a GM, like being a technical professional, requires the necessary knowledge and skills. Without that, there is nothing to talk about. Once the talent is found, but no work is done to enhance it, it is pointless.
If there are aspiring Malaysian talents who are good enough to take on the challenge, then it is the system/environment that will have to nurture the talent. But let's see the talent and the work put in by the talent first.
I see now what you are talking about. This is a purely theoretical discussion. So we can just imagine that there is no environment. OK. Then please consider that in this theoretical place without an environment that it is still very difficult to manage the emotions without proper training. Try to imagine the type of training an Aikido master has to undergo. Or if that is difficult then watch matrix the movie and then put yourself in Neo's shoe as he tries to jump across the building for instance. Maybe now you will see there is much more than the technical even in this theoretical environment. Try to open your mind and you will see.
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