Firing duds.

Ref: Here. R4

I was not surprised with the Sumant/Yit San draw. Let me explain why. I don't know what opening they actually played but if my knowledge of their profiles is still current Yit San would have played Sicillian Close against Sumant's Sicillian. Sumant may have the superior knowledge but Yit San is hungrier. But more. Wrong weapon. Too drawish.

That is another problem we have with our training culture. You will see that with our senior players too. That was why Li Tian could beat Mas when he played e4/e5. And Mas didn't want a draw. It takes time to build a full repertoire of fighting and drawing weapons.

And that was why I brought in the thematics. To practice new weapons on the side. That is also why I caution against putting too much emphasis on ratings. It's a trap. We do not have the culture of the stronger chess nations. We only just brought in selection.

So why is ratings a trap for us? 

Playing to protect or just to inflate a number instead of playing to get you the results to win a tournament like you will need to do if you are trying for a GM run.

I always encourage playing to win first with fighting weapons. Forget the numbers in the beginning. When you are strong and can win or draw as part of your strategy then you are ready for that big run and big numbers. But you cannot go with only blunt drawing weapons and "hope".

So that is why I have great respect for Mas and Yee Weng. They fight in strong fields with limited weaponry. Our seniors all fell into this trap except for maybe Yee Weng with a wider repertoire. Look at Jimmy's and Mok's weaponry.

That is also why Li Tian will have a tough fight in NJ and National Close. His weapons are too drawish. And at 2200 now, he will probably lose rating points if he plays in those tournaments. So he can only play select tournaments. That may be OK for now. But he will hit that ceiling fast with no weapons to take him past. Ref: Here.

So how did we get to this sorry state? I have explained before. Our trainers teach what they know; the technicalist approach. I am a strategist, a Coach. I urge you to learn what you need from the best sources to win at high levels.

That is why they need the back doors and try to use ratings as a basis. Because they can only "win" in select tournaments. So why dont we do it the proper way? Selection. Forget the numbers for a while. Let them learn how to fight with real weapons. Win or lose first. Then only learn to draw.

The ego gets in the way when you are older and you have done it in reverse doesn't it? If you are already 2200 or an IM, then you will lose till you get new fighting weapons to work. After trials and testing. So that is the trap. Start young, lose first then win later.

And so they will abandon Li Tian too when the time comes. Wrong road. So really, who is the "enemy"? Is there one or are they trying to cast another illusion to hide their nakedness?

Note: This was what I wanted to prove slowly and quietly without embarassing anyone at the outset. And why I always urged to prove ideas on the table. Best way. But all the public attacks on FGM and our players have forced me to argue this out on my blog. I ask for your understanding in this.