There is a major difference between the chess culture in Europe and in the United States. As I mentioned many times before, Grandmasters are well respected in Europe and in other parts of the world. Not here in America!
In Europe, when Grandmasters compete in a tournament, the basic stuff such as boards, sets and clocks are provided. In fact, wooden boards, wooden pieces and DGT clocks are not uncommon.
It is strange to me that in America world-class Grandmasters have to bring their own gears to some chess events. I do not play in Open events so it would make no difference for me. But I cannot imagine asking players like Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand, Karpov, etc. to carry their own equipments 🙂
How much do 5-10 plastic sets and boards cost? $50-$60 total? Should world-class organizers show a minimum amount of respect by providing basic chess equipments to world-class Grandmasters or perhaps the top 3-5-10 boards? 
Chess is just not that big here in the US mainly because American heroes are Football, Baseball, and Basketball players. That’s what gets most of the attention in America. Chess is big like soccer in Europe. Therefore the chess and soccer players in Europe get the same special treatment that American Football, Baseball, and Basketball players get in America. American chessplayers may not want to hear it, but that’s just the way it is. When sponsors kick in the big bucks, then you may see change.
A chess set, board and clock are small things (in fact most grandmasters already own them). Complaining about that is like seeing your steak burnt black and telling the waiter: “I ordered my steak rare.”
Did you ever consider that maybe the tournament organizer is just trying to make do with what he or she has to work with? Sorry, no sympathy here.
Complaining about such trivial details is petty and silly.
Did I complain? I merely pointed out the difference between the chess culture in Europe and in the US. Then I asked a question to get the opinions of the readers.
Please try not to be rude next time.
Thanks!
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
Susan, don’t pay attention to those obnoxious morons. Imagine B. Goichberg asking Kramnik, Karpov, Kasparov or Anand, etc. to carry chess gears around while the organizers paying them nothing and having hundreds of people asking them for their autographs for free. Yeah right!
Obnoxious is being a prima donna when the organizers don’t have an extra knight because you want to underpromote (they did prepare for the case with an extra queen however).
However, it would be blatantly unfair if chess set, board, and clock were provided for GMs in a BILL GOICHBERG tournament. Ordinary people playing in the same tournament as the GMs would not receive such benefits, putting them at the disadvantage of having to lug around chess gear.
Absolutely not, In the USA we do not have the corporate sponsorship to provide such things. Although while in Las Vegas boards and sets were provided for all. This was a nice touch. Besides I like using my stuff.
there is that upper echelon of GM;s like your Polgars etc who shouldnt carry roll up boards and chronos’s but in the american swiss system tournaments, the GM’s are a dime a dozen. I say, “Swim with the fishes you euro trash prima donnas!! “
Chess isn’t big in the US right now because the US doesn’t have the top players. Those us of old enough to remember the early 70s, know how big chess could be in the US with top players and good promotion (whatever you think of Bobby Fischer, he was a media magnet and the coverage here was incredible during the championship match).
The lack of respect for GMs is definitely a major part of the problem. Chess needs its top players to be recognized and respected if it it is going to become a commercial success.
Not providing GMs with equipment at tournaments is a symptom of this problem. The fact that it wouldn’t cost much to provide the equipment makes it even sadder.
Actually, I prefer playing with one of my many wooden Staunton sets and clock over a strange one.
It’s like playing baseball with my baseball mit, or my musical instrament, my custom PC, my favorite hand-sewn shirt…or snuggling up with that one special woman.
I think it is a cultural difference, in the UK intellectual sports are virtually never in the press (apart from tiny columns hidden) however Wayne Rooney’s foot before the world cup filled virtually every single back page in some way or another. The olympiad only made it into the papers here because of Mr Gormally and the Aronian incident.
It’s an interesting point though, the image of Kasparov carrying a staunton set and a clock made me chuckle abit
I couldn’t imagine organising a tournament and not providing everyone with nice boards, pieces and clocks. Definitely no plastic (well maybe the clock..). And not just for the GMs, but for everyone.
Having the boards all set up and ready when the players arrive brings about a sense of occasion. Just like settings the table for a dinner party; asking the guests to bring each their own cutlery just wouldn’t be the same.
For larger events where the organising club doesn’t have enough materials, we borrow from neighboring clubs. It’s not something that requires big bucks from sponsors.
As you can probably tell, I’m European ;->
This is very interesting to me because I have the pleasure of starting a club here in the US with kids and adults alike. I’m no pro, and not even close to much of anything … but I love chess. Starting out, I will have a set for each pair but no extra pieces for promotions. We will do with what we can. And “premium” vinal for a surface. I would love to have wood boards, but even as an adult I just can’t see to afford one even for personal use.
We will also just one one clock. My hopes is to spark interest in chess and not just personalities. Hearing about what conditions are expected and what are good are VERY important to me. I would love to hear more about it. I would also like to see people’s links to their favorite sets because from what I can see there are many out there and a “PERFECT” set would be nice to admire.