New York Times: Ann Arbor chess master Ben Finegold earns long-sought title
Posted: 8:53 a.m. October 5, 2009
It’s taken a long time, but Ben Finegold finally holds the title of chess grandmaster. Finegold’s accomplishment was chronicled in The New York Times this weekend.
Finegold, 40, became an international master 20 years ago, but until recently had not been able to attain the level of grandmaster, the highest title awarded by the game’s governing body, The World Chess Federation.
Finegold attained the title by tying for first in the B section of the Spice Cup Chess Festival in Lubbock, Texas. Finegold also has information on his own blog.
Source: http://www.annarbor.com
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Is GM the last title one can earn? What comes afterwards? What’s the motivation to play on?
This is a question for the fide beaurocrats.
The motivation is rating points. But – that sounds stupid, doesn’t it?
In the last decade there has been a phenomenal growth of chess within the educational community.
The popularity of chess is no accident: in an era of compulsive zapping of TV channels, violent gaming and mobile chatter, learning chess means improving basic skills (like analysis, decision making, strategic thinking, stamina, and dealing with stress) while interacting meaningfully with other pupils. A great job for motivated teachers and coaches.
But how do you teach chess? What material do you use? Is there a particularly successful method? How do you sell a chess curriculum, how do you motivate your pupils and monitor their progress?
The motivation to play chess at that level should be the same motivation to play chess at any level – to have fun!
‘to have fun!’
That’s a joke, man, don’t be stupid. People have to make a living to survive.