Chess fends for itself
www.thestatesman.net
KOLKATA, 12 JUNE: The city’s hero-worshipping ardour manifested itself once again, very recently, when Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly, going by effusively composed eulogistic news copy, returned with a gold medal from the Asian Continental Chess Championship in the Philippines, which was said to have qualified him for a world championship which Siberia would host. Kolkata knew hardly anything about Ganguly’s achievement on 24 May, when he was said actually to have claimed the honour, but that did not stop it from pulling out all the stops on 2 June, when his flight landed at Netaji Subhas International Airport.
Is there a credibility gap anywhere? We had no ~ Indian or foreign ~ news agency copy telling us how Ganguly was getting on in Manila while the battle was being fought. Nor did the usual sources of news the media relies on come up with so much as an alert notice when the crown was placed on the Indian’s head. Ganguly, though, told The Statesman in a recent conversation that everything was fair and square. He added, though, that there’d been very little coverage of the event in the Philippines itself.
“The only coverage,” he said, “was on the Internet, on chess sites and in blogs.” Going by what Ganguly said, the chess sites were “credible enough” to be quoted by news agencies. “Chess,” he said, “was favoured with very little coverage by the media. The game, though, has its own Internet-based news dissemination network giving updates on a regular basis.” Ganguly said Grandmaster Sandipan Chanda had recently won a rapid chess tournament in Hyderabad that the media bypassed totally. And this, in the age of information explosion!
Here is my take:
The problem is not with the general media alone. The bigger problem is with the actual chess media, especially the ones which are controlled by chess politicians. This is not just an American problem. This is a problem with the chess media worldwide.
Last weekend, the SP World Open for Boys and Girls was held at the South Point Resort in
During the closing ceremony, we awarded over $190,000 in chess scholarships and prizes in 3 separate events (SPWO Puzzle Solving, SPWO Blitz, WS World Open for Boys and Girls). More than 400 players entered in these 3 separate competitions. Not one word was mentioned in the USCF website before, during or after the tournaments.
The most ironic part is the USCF Executive Director Bill Hall, and others within the USCF, were at the Las Vegas International Chess Festival. But not one word was mentioned even though many young USCF members won countless chess prizes and college scholarships. Isn’t the purpose of Chess Life and the USCF website to promote chess and inform the members about various chess events? Since when does it become political and only events of the “politically correct” crowd get published?
I am not the only one who complains vigorously about this. Tons of USCF rated events are not being discussed, promoted, posted, or published while the same events from the preferred “politically correct” organizers are getting free publicity and promotion over and over again.
On the other hand, USCF ED Bill Hall had no problem posting false, misleading, and defamatory information about me on the USCF website right before the SP World Open for Boys and Girls started, and kept it as the permanent feature on the main page of the website for more than a week for ALL USCF members to see. This way, I have no way of disputing the trash that was published or defending myself.
This is not the first time this sort of things happen during my major chess events even though ALL my events are only aimed to benefit all chess players, especially the younger players, and I do not make money from them. I do this because I care about chess, chess players, and the growth of our game.
It is one thing to play chess politics. It is another thing to put the whole federation in further legal problems while ignoring the interest of USCF members, especially young players. We are supposed to encourage young players to play and stay in chess. Doesn’t anyone care about chess, chess players, or members of the USCF?
The USCF and its management completely disrespected hundreds of players, parents, and coaches who did their part to support chess by spending a lot of money to play in USCF rated tournaments. Don’t you think those innocent kids who have nothing to do with the USCF dirty political games want to see their names published in Chess Life or Chess Life Online for their exceptional results? Of course they do. Unbelievable! Now we are punishing kids because of chess politics? And one wonders why the membership continues to decline.
Just weeks earlier, I placed a full page ad in Chess Life to promote my new Online Chess Training program (www.PolgarChessUniversity.com). After my ad was accepted by the USCF, I provided the person in charge of ads my payment information. I was told that my ad would appear in the June 2009 Chess Life. Mr. Bill Hall decided to have my full page ad pulled a few weeks later without any logical or sound explanation. I was only notified AFTER the magazine was in print and there was no way for me to appeal his decision.
All I could make of his email is because this blog is very critical of the way how the USCF operates (how it frivolously spends members’ money, how it is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars of USCF members’ money, and the detrimental conduct of chess politicians, etc.), he has the right to censor it.
On the other hand, the USCF provides FREE promotion for countless big for-profit Continental Chess Association chess tournaments which are financially benefited by USCF President Bill Goichberg. This kind of FREE promotion on the USCF website tournament after tournament is worth tens and thousands of dollars and perhaps even much more. Isn’t that a serious conflict of interest?
For example, about a month ago, Mr. Goichberg ran the Chicago Open. Even though it is NOT a USCF national event, the USCF website placed numerous free articles about his event before, during and after the tournament with direct internet links to his tournament website.
This website contains information (right on the main page) about the USCF Executive Board election which is taking place right now, of which he is one of the candidates, along with his political supporters Jim Berry, Ruth Haring, and Mike Atkins, etc. The USCF management is not supposed to take sides in any political election. The USCF management is not supposed to influence an election.
This website contained full of USCF election campaign propaganda which trashed the other well qualified non-political candidates (such as Dr. Hecht, Dr. Korenman, and IM Blas Lugo) and me (even though I am not running in this election), while endorsing his own candidates who will vote for his agenda.
Of course he doesn’t state that the USCF lost hundreds of thousands of dollars of USCF members’ money under his leadership and USCF VP Jim
Of course he doesn’t state that multiple violations of an exclusive contract with a USCF partner caused a major lawsuit against the USCF. This is being hidden from USCF members for election purpose. He wants USCF members to vote for him and his people such as Jim Berry, Ruth Haring, and Mike Atkins, the people who advocate for carrying out these lawsuits which will for sure bankrupt this federation. He wants to control the USCF for another 4 years when he and his supporters caused the USCF to be near the insolvency stage. The USCF will NOT survive another 4 years of political and financial destruction.
I have no problem with candidates campaigning on their own. However, in my opinion, to use one’s official USCF position to influence an election which will affect nearly 80,000 members while using the official website and magazine of a not-for-profit organization is highly unethical. Doesn’t this also put the not-for-profit status of an entire organization in jeopardy? Is it illegal? I don’t know but is sure smells very bad.
It is also unethical to use USCF tournament mailing list to send out letters / post cards with false and defamatory information about other people for personal and political gains. This is what he does every two years as far as I can remember instead of focusing on making chess more popular and the USCF stronger.
This is not the first time when things like this happen. This is why the USCF is losing so much money and it is on the verge of collapse. This is why the USCF’s revenue and membership are shrinking while chess is booming across the country. Too many people simply walk away because the USCF no longer offers them what they want or need. Many simply can’t stand this kind of destructive chess politics.
But the same people who fight to control the USCF for 30-40-50 years will continue to use every tactic to hold on to their political power instead of doing things to benefit chess, chess players, or young people. They simply don’t care about following the mission of our own federation.
I sympathize with GM Ganguly and many others about the common problems in the chess world. I discussed these same issues with my fellow GMs Lajos Portisch and Vishy Anand yesterday when they asked me about this issue.
This is also why former U.S. Champions GMs Onischuk and Shulman and others are speaking out here. This is why we must work together to promote chess the right way while throwing all the corrupt chess politicians out the door. Chess is too great to allow a small group of chess politicians ruin it.
Please help me fix the long time pattern of destruction of the USCF. Please help me save this federation. Thank you!
Here are some of the important links:
https://chessdailynews.com/i-am-voting-for/
https://chessdailynews.com/the-dirty-hidden-truth-additional-evidence-added/
https://chessdailynews.com/very-important-facts-about-the-uscf/
I absolutely agree with you. The USCF is corrupt. Bill Goichberg has done this going back to decades. It is a very serious conflict of interest to use his position as President of the USCF to benefit is company CCA. He also makes the USCF members pay for the legal fees of his private company CCA.
He should be thrown out the door along with Jim Berry, Mike Atkins, Ruth Haring, Brian Mottershead and Sam Sloan. In fact, the USCF members should go after these guys to recoup our money
The USCF legal defense is being paid for by the insurance company. Goichberg and Berry are spending this money to go after USCF members, volunteers, delegates and even board members.
What Hall and Goichberg claimed is a bunch of BS.
As long as Goichberg, Berry, Hanken, and Hall are in charge, the USCF will continue to suffer. Now they’re dragging in Mike Atkins and Ruth Haring. Both of them are associated with Goichberg.
Since Susan has her own website which oovered her Las Vegas events, why should USCF duplicate the coverage? Did Susan send something to USCF website? Will Susan send a report for CHESS LIFE?
The tournament website has lots of information.
Also a bit hard for USCF to give publicity to someone who has lawsuits going against USCF.
Russell Miller Camas WA
PS: Thank you Susan for posting the material I send you once in awhile about events in Washington and Oregon.
1. Susan’s event IS the official qualifier for a USCF national event. Goichberg’s tournament is not. Since Goichberg’s website covers his tournament, why did the USCF give him 3-4 write ups for each tournament?
Are you telling me that Goichberg sent in articles before, during and after his events? No. They USCF usually assigns Jerry Hanken, Jonathan Hilton, or Jennifer Shahade to write it. Why not the same for other organizers, especially when they are USCF events?
2. Goichberg is costing the USCF over $600,000 and caused the USCF to be sued, so why does the USCF promote his event?
Please don’t troll here. I read enough BS on the USCF website already.
Susan – You are doing a great job. Use the stones thrown at you by the petty politicians to build a solid wall that cannot be penetrated!
I follow your blog regularly and do not get deterred by anything.
Promoting chess is the vision, mission and goal! Go Susan.
We have sent in many pictures and features in the past. They were often not published while other similar events were. This goes back to a while ago, not just now. The same thing happened before any lawsuit took place.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
“Susan’s event IS the official qualifier for a USCF national event”.
Where did this idea come from? I found nothing about it any where yet.
Russell Miller, Camas WA
http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-sp-national-invitational-for-girls.html
The Polgar Committee will also award three automatic qualifying spots at the 2009 SuperNationals Chess Championship to the top finishing girl in the open division of the elementary (K-6), of the junior high (K-9), and of the high school (K-12) sections. Further, the Polgar Committee will award automatic qualifying spots to the reigning winners in each section of the annual Susan Polgar National Open Championship for Girls, the annual Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls, and all current qualifiers of the Susan Polgar All-Star Girl’s Chess Team (must meet age requirement).
Please don’t defend the incompetence of the USCF. They’re wrong on this one.
What Bill Hall and Bill Goichberg did to Susan on the USCF website and Chess Life is despicable. They show NO CLASS whatsoever. They don’t do a damn thing to promote chess and they’re out to destroy the best chess promoter America has.
Haven’t Goichberg and Berry destroyed the USCF enough? This federation is months away from bankruptcy and they want another 4 years with Ruth Haring and Mike Atkins? None of them have done a damn thing for chess other than their own pocket.
We need IM Blas Lugo, Dr. Korenman and Dr. Hecht. They have no history of corruption and they have the experience to save the USCF.
1) The annual Denker and Polgar national tournaments are parallel USCF-events, so both of them should get the coverage in Chess Life and USCF web site. But the Polgar’s events don’t get the coverage they deserve – obviously because of shady political motives.
2) We in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho) are fortunate to have our own rating system NWSRS (http://whsca.org/) for scholastic tournaments so the rating fees from us don’t get wasted on unnecessary legal bills by USCF. When we do send our players to the national tournaments every year, they do remarkably well – check out the many K-3/K-5 championship teams from Washington state in the last five years!! – if USCF does more what it should be doing promoting chess, I’m sure more kids from our area will become members. But that’s unlikely unless major changes take place at USCF.
“if USCF does more what it should be doing promoting chess”
The USCF is not just the headquarters in Crossville. The USCF is all it’s members everywhere. Get out and promote chess in your area. Attend events to play and to help run events also. Over the years I have run all kinds of events in the Pacific Northwest. My latest event is CHESS NIGHT at PGE Park for the Portland Beavers vs Las Vegas51s baseball teams. http://www.nwchess.com and check the calendar for July 28, 2009.
Russell Miller Camas WA
This is not the point Polgar is making. Don’t defend the incompetence and corruption of the USCF. If members don’t put pressure on the USCF to change, things will never get better. Russell, be the solution, not the problem.
As I said I have been the solution for years. I have organized simuls for Jude Acers around the USA.,simuls for other top players in Washington State, tournaments in a lot of county seats in Washington State, a number of tournaments in Yakima and other cities in Washington and Oregon over the last 40+ years. I have attended a number of US Opens. When there were USCF Regional V-Ps I was one. I also have been President of the Washington Chess Federation and Editor of NORTHWEST CHESS.
Russell Miller, Camas WA
That’s not a solution. That’s a part of the solution. The USCF IS this official national organization. They’re the only one who can send players to FIDE events. You’re not helping to fix the USCF. You’re not calling them out on their incompetence. You’re still defending the inexcusable. The corrupt chess politicians must be thrown out the door. Otherwise things will never get better.
Some people reading this will be happy to know I did NOT vote for Bill G. Do not feel he needs to be on the board any more plus he is going to work to promote chess on the board or not.
I also have been trying to get people to vote. One fellow told me he tossed his ballot away. I hope we get a much larger voter turnout this year than in previous years.
Russell Miller Camas WA
PS: Why don’t more people sign their names to their comments? It was fun to meet in Las Vegas some of the USCF forum posters in person.
Goichberg and Berry should be sanctioned for their action. They’re the cause for the destruction of the USCF.
Susan,
Have you considered that it is time for the USCF to fail and be replaced by something better, an organization that is truly dedicated to promoting chess in this country and in our schools? Your organization certainly comes to mind in this capacity. 🙂
IMHO, hopefully the USCF will continue to hemorrhage members and help pave the way for such an important and positive change.
USCF MEMBERS: Stop paying your dues and participating in their events. Play at your local clubs, organize more informal tournaments and help be a part of supporting REAL CHESS in the US!