Competitions in Chess

I have just taken part in the third Bideford Chess Congress .Very enjoyable but poorly attended (18 players) . If there is anyone out there who is thinking of playing next year Use it or lose it .

Numbers are an illusion numbers at chess compititions doubly so!

You, Harry my friend, can talk yourself out of a cul-de-sac!  BUT I agree about the necessity for contestants

It was a shame that Bideford clashed with Portsmouth. I have always enjoyed Portsmouth and so went east, but had Bideford been a different weekend would definitely have come to it.

How about starting a council sponsored chess school so everyone who wants to play chess can learn ?

Council sponsored or government sponsored chess will never happen now in this country because competitiveness and excellence is discouraged. Mediocrity and equality are favoured lest anyone is upset by being discriminated against for being an also ran. Thats why the government are soft on cannabis for example, because they want a society vegging out at home. Promoting chess? That would only encourage people to use whats between their ears- the State is against people thinking for themselves. What is strange is that whenever I mention chess to friends, acquaintances, etc I am always astonished to find that 'I am really good at that', 'Never lost a game yet'- the whole country it seems to me either knows how to play or thinks it does. I believe that Chess is due a massive resurgence in this country- It will happen in about ten years when people finally get bored with playing computer games, which are easy peasy. Other fads like facebook and twitter will die out as well when the novelty has worn off. I have racked my brains as to why these things are so popular and can only conclude that it proves that mediocrity loves company.