Victim mentality

I had a discussion with Greg this afternoon over lunch and a penny dropped. From some of the opinions I read on this blog and others, this is my take. I think the word "should" causes alot of problems. I hear, he should do this, they should do that. If anything is true in life, it's that they will not do what you think they should do.

I hear strong chess players saying if only I had support, I would be GM today. If only Dato Tan were to give me money etc. etc.

With the girl who probably lost the MSSPK championship beacuse of victimisation, I spoke to her mother. Her mum said, thank you, Raymond for what you are trying to do, but if we protest they will victimise my girl even more.

Sigh! The girl is already a victim from the inaction. This is what she will remember through her life. Don't they ever learn? People like this do not stop when you do not protest. I know. I've tried all sorts. Persuasion, explaining what they are doing is not helping chess, bringing the subject up in committees etc. So what can we do? I do not think we are helpless. I think we have a vote that we can use come AGM. We can write in to the organisers and ask, are you publishing the cross tables? And if they don't give you a satisfactory answer, we can stop going to suspect tournaments. There are many properly run tournaments now. We can publicise abuses. That, in my opinion, is the only way to stop abuses. Stop telling them what they "should" do or not do. It's a big waste of time and energy.

We need to take action, not whine and complain in blogs :),by the sides of tournament halls and over coffee or stronger beverages.

For those that want to excel in chess, keep going forward with whatever you have. Don't wait for Dato Tan to put money in your mouth. Eventually you will be noticed by the people that matter and if not you will have learned not to be a victim in life. And to me that is a gift worth as much as a GM title.

More on abuses

Train the trainers in Perak.

Just spent the morning at the train the trainers course conducted by MCF's Greg Lau and First GM Academy's chief trainer Uztaz Rahman. Event was organised by PICA. Quite a few new trainers for Perak now. Thanks Greg and Uztaz. A few of our Academy's trainers also got broken in there.

Announcement for those going to NAG

Just got back from Jax's 10/20/30. Jax has agreed to change his First Saturday's format to 60+30, following the NAG format. This is a great chance to practice before the big event. Go to Excel Chess blog.

There were so many strong players for the 10/20/30 and every round was gruelling. That is fantastic practice. Another great thing about Jax's is the culture there. The kids were all helping each other out and trying new lines and sharing into the night after the tournament.

I expect another strong showing for First Saturday. Last chance to get your practice in. 60 minutes is not the same as 90 minutes. Get a feel of what it's like before the main event.

A fantastic discussion on the women's masters.

I am so glad that Jimmy, Najib and Greg are in a healthy discussion to find a better way to select the women's masters. Somehow I think this is the way it should be. It should never be personal, just a search for better ideas. Very honestly I don't know much about the topic and so I hope to just read and learn. Do follow the discussion on DATCC blog as well as IM Jimmy Liew's. Will be at Jax's for the 10/20/30 so see you guys Monday.

Article on chess

A reader left this link. It's a great article. Read it here.

Thank you reader.

Announcement- First GM Chess Academy

If there is one thing I've learned from life, its that you cannot change anyone. They must want to change themselves. So if anything is important to do, organise it yourself. The First GM Chess Academy is just that. A few friends that share a vision to make a difference. Here's the link

Please call Simon 019 5725925 if you have any further enquiries. I am also arranging for you to meet IM Lim Yee Weng on the 21st March. Finalising details with him. Watch out for the announcement. Thinking of a Simul with him.

More on Abuses- The Perak experience

1. A player has been decimated on the board against a strong opponent. He is being hammered again and again. He looks to his coach, I look to his coach, but the coach tells me that his players are never allowed to resign. I wonder what is happening to the player's self esteem?

2. A player wins her game but she is surrounded by 5 of her school teachers and forced to accept a draw. The teachers are backing a different horse. This player had a good chance to be State Champ that year and had set her heart on it. Will she ever set another goal in her life with conviction? Isn't it proven to her that no matter how hard she tries her dreams can be taken away by another?

3. A player is sent off in the midst of a crucial game to change his trousers causing him to lose 40 mins and the game.

4. A player wins his age group category and his name is missed out when announcing the winner.

5. A player wins 6 rounds and loses his 7th in a 7 round tournament and drops out of prize contention. And there is no cross tables.

6. A State player gets ejected from a tournament because she had a disagreement with the officials daughter in school.

7. A young boy fresh to his first National tournament and loses his first game is forced to suffer the humiliation of staying at his table till the tournament ends.

8. 2 State players are sick with high fever and throwing up. I ask them to go to a room to rest before the next game and an official calls them down to do post mortem and sit downstairs for 2 hours before the next game.

And then we tell them to fight their hearts out. We ask, why no GM? We wonder where have the good players gone? Why are they not playing chess any more? Or if they do, why no more oomph?

These are true cases.

Further insights into MCF

Here are further insights into the running of MCF and its Affiliates by IM Jimmy Liew. Click here

More on children

I just got this email today. I'll copy below.

Dear Mr Raymond,

Hi !!! My name is Ramone and I am currently residing in Kampar,Perak. I am looking for a personal chess coach that is willing to come over to my place in Kampar say 2-3 times a week.I have no idea where to search but realised probably the Perak Chess Association can lend me a helping hand. Is there anyone whom you can recommend? Thanks. I have high hopes and determination in improving my game,hopefully to be a National Master one day for a start.

Thanks.
Best regards,
ramone mikgail kok.

I love this kid's spirit. NM for a start!! Big hopes and dreams. Is he realistic? Maybe not. But how do we know? We don't. He could be our next GM for all we know. I feel our job is to guide this kid. Help him clarify his goals. Send him to tournaments so that he understands the reality of that goal. What it takes. The sacrifices and the sweat. But the most important thing is to protect that spirit. Even if he doesn't become an NM for a start and then an FM, IM and GM, he will be somebody of worth. He may become our Bill Gates. That is an awesome responsibility.

See my other article, The Benefits of Chess.
Another article: Is Chess Just Chess?

Traumas to our children

Some of you may wonder why I harp so much on the way we treat children in our tournaments. I was sponsored to write a piece a few years back called the inner child which reveals some of the problems that may befall our children if we are not careful. It's a few years old and I've learned so much more since. But I think the gist is still there. Here's the link if you are interested. Click here

At that time I worked as a business coach to Internet Marketers, primarily Americans.

So we cannot ignore abusive trainers, coaches or chess officials. Tournaments can bring life or it can destroy a child. So this is not a matter to take lightly if we are serious about developing our first GM.