SportAccord 2011, Beijing

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Here you can find all information about this event.

http://www.worldmindgames.net/en/

In draughts there were 3 major events: open 10x10, woman 10x10, and 64 draughts. China got most of medals and was overall winner.

USA team was strong on bridge.

Next WMSG event will be next year or 2013.

Respectfully,

your champ

[George Hay]

Conspicuously missing from SportAccord 2011World Mind Games is
Anlo-American Checkers.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

We declined invitation to play "unofficially" for our (WCDF) own expanse. For Checkers and 64 Sections FMJD agreed to cover only accomodation and food, but not transportation. For 4 people only.

Same conditions were for Section-64. But for 64 National federations covered players transportation + Section 64 added 3,500 EURO for price.

WCDF is not as wealthy to do this for demonstrational event only wthout any status at all.

I do support WCDF decision. None of Anglo-American players had enough free money to pay for their trip to Beijing. Only 10x10 had full coverage and good prices totalling around 150,000 EURO which was paid by SportAccord.

Respectfully,

your champ

[George Hay]

I don't want to be a kill-joy on this. Georgiev won the men's 10x10
and $13,000 in an exciting blitz play-off against Valneris!
I just wish the same opportunity for our checkers atheletes!
--George Hay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9qW7eDE87k

[Ingo_Zachos]

Well, George,

I never thought it exciting if rapid games or blitz games decide who prevails.
I do not share the opoinion of Mikhail Botvinnuik, who called them "cheap prostitues", but a tie break should be with the same tile limit as the event before, or it is simply unfair.

If it is for a title or a the right to challenge say the World Champion we need a tie break (though the merit of winning on it is not that exciting). but what is wrong with accepting that two or more players did the same fine perfpomance if they finished ex aequo in exhebition events like that?

BTW: I prefer tiebreaking scoring systems like most wins, SoS, etc., that are scored within the event and are independent from the result of other games. I do not trust honor points, solkov, sonneborn/berger for that reason. supposeone or two palyers that you played on day one resign, while the other player ex aequo had players that continued to play in the event.
Then you get punished for failures of others, which i think is unfair.

And, yes, I want our game to be in it, but it was not to be this time.
Either we must seek and convince the FMJD not to neglect anything but draughts 100, or we must grow independently.
Let`s work together to make it happen!

Greetinx from cloudy Germany,

Ingo Zachos

[George Hay]

Ingo, thank you for your interesting and insightful comments. I agree totally that most wins is a good tie breaker and most preferable to least losses. I find it distressing that 10x10 sometimes uses a plus or minus in a drawn game to determine a tiebreaker. In effect, getting credit for not being able to finish off an opponent. I have no objection, as a practical matter, to the incrementally faster tie break games using a Fischer Clock. After all, there is only so much time for the tournament.
--George Hay

[George Hay]

Ingo, I just want to add that from a fan and spectator's point of view, a tie is less exciting than a win.
--George Hay