If all goes as planned and the Board numbers connect and play chess with their opposites –
1.The viability of long-distance chess matches between clubs in real time will have been established, again.
(a) Redcliffe to Gold Coast is 111.5 kilometers.
(b) Redcliffe to Tokyo is 7,137 kilometers
The format is the same.
The time is one hour different.
The transmission time could even be the same if it has to bounce off a few satellites.
This idea is not new. And it is not mine. See, you’re sailing over hurdles already!
The first Telegraph chess match - between Washington and Baltimore in 1844. This is just a variation upon a theme.
2.Post Covid, the viability of approaching Coffee Club Australia to have their franchises host online matches
Playing outside their stores in the evening could be trialled. Coffee and mudcake while you are playing Perth. Yum!
Everyone brings their own laptop. Forgot your modem? – use the free shopping centre Wi-Fi.
First couple of matches for free – and then they pay from their entertainment fund.
Online shopping is draining customers from shopping centres, the same as online chess has almost completely drained Australia’s OTB players.
At least try and fight back.
Board One would also be played, in real time, using live pieces with local school chess playing children in costume.
Raffles would be conducted whilst the game/s were on.
Signed copies of the latest Australian chess book would be on sale with the author present.
His/her visit would coincide with local lectures, simuls, private coaching etc.
Eventually, someone would manage these appearances Australia wide, with several players on a circuit.
“When is the next Grandmaster coming to the mall Mommy?”
“Shut up and eat your fish”. (Julia Roberts fans will understand)
Banners for the local chess club and forthcoming events would be on display.
3.Rural Chess Clubs will hopefully see that they don’t have to drive from Rocky to Gladstone to play their match.
Good thing too, because Gladstone closed a while ago. Maybe Townsville v Rocky. Maybe Broken Hill v Byron Bay.
Honestly, you can organise these matches without leaving your house.
You just need Team Rosters, opposing usernames, time, date and rate of play – you don’t even have to turn up – at the moment,
because of Covid, you can play from home.
4.City Chess Clubs may be too far gone to take advantage of this old, successful idea. You need about 10 players.
Should I be doing this? Someone has to.
Should I be organizing State Open, Female and Junior Teams? Someone has to.
Should I be organizing State Junior Training Squads? Someone has to.
Should I be advertising the names of the National Chess Teams? Someone has to.
Should the best players in the country be commenting on these ideas?
Answer - Definitely not. They are making a fortune playing Chess in Australia – never change horses mid apocalypse.
I can fully understand why they want to keep things exactly the way they are.
150-200k per year for playing chess in Australia. Good on ya! Beats making partner by the age of 40.