Before I made the announcement to run for the Executive Board election, many good friends warned me about how dirty and nasty chess politics can be. Many chess politicians do not want to get their hands dirty so they do the dirty deeds anonymously or have other people doing the dirty works for them. What are they?
– Spreading vicious lies, misinformation, confidential information and dirt to harm anyone standing in the way of their pseudo power!
This has been the tradition for years. Instead of doing the right things to help US Chess and the USCF, they focus on destroying their opponents. Because of this kind of disgusting practices, many good people decided to stay away from the USCF instead of helping. This federation lost countless sponsors and supporters for the same reason.
In the last delegates meeting, it was told to the members that the USCF tried to give away FREE ad space to various large reputable companies only to have them turn down the FREE ads? Why? Because these companies did not want to get involved with the USCF! And yet our chess politicians continue their “business as usual” way instead of fixing the real problems.
Knowing this, I decided to set up traps to see things with my own eyes. I asked my business manager, other friends and I even took part in the tests. A number of us engaged in various conversations, discussions and asking questions to some particular individuals. No one else could possibly even know about these topics.
Guess what? Within a few days, the information we sent out in this test ended up on various chess forums, including the USCF forum. The worst part is various supposedly “confidential” information was leaked to some people who have a long history of lies and deceit. These are some of the same people who have been posting garbage as anonymous on my blog.
Welcome to the world USCF destructive politics!
I am not interested in the “gotcha” game. I am not interested in taking part in the long time feud between chess political parties. I am not interested in wasting time going backward. I am only interested in making sure that US Chess and the USCF will grow and prosper.
There are too many problems with the USCF. This federation has lost a lot of credibility in recent years. The level of destructive politics has risen to an all time high. We lost a lot of good supporters and potential sponsors because of incompetence and unprofessionalism. We have various membership groups going against each other instead of working together for the benefits of chess and this federation. The level of bureaucracy and inefficiency is unacceptable.
This is the question you have to ask yourself. What is in the best interest of US Chess and the USCF? Do you want to continue having the same old thing or have you had it and want positive changes now? Do you want to see this kind of corruption and destruction continue?
If you are happy with how the USCF is in recent years then vote for the same chess politicians and do not vote for me or the people I recommend. We do not like the state of the USCF and we want to change things for the better. USCF members will have a choice.
I will not discuss much more about the upcoming USCF election until after the new year when I know exactly who is running. At that time, I can tell you a lot more about what is going on. As of now, I have completed my election petition and I will send it to the USCF in the next few days. I am moving forward with this. The more lies and destructive politics I see, the more motivated I will be to make positive changes.
I gathered from going through the USCF posts that the problems you refer to boils down to this: Sam Sloan says or does some outrageous thing and the rest of the Board over-reacts. I don’t see anybody taking SS’s side.
Is that pretty much it, or is there more?
Oh, and BTW, I read about the trap you referred to in a Tom Clancy novel “The Hunt for Red October” years ago. Spys call it “the canary trap”. You tell the same story to each of your suspects but change just one detail in it. Each suspect gets his own unique detail. Then just sit back and wait. When the story leaks, you look for which detail made it into the leak and bingo! That’s your singing canary. Love it.
You have a lot of supporters Susan….. keep fighting!
Personally, GM Susan Polgar…I think it may be too late for the USCF. It’s wonderful you’re willing to take on the corruption all by yourself but clearly…you can’t do it all alone.
Ultimately…I think the best option you really have is to encourage good longstanding USCF members to leave and join a completely new chess federation…preferably NOT in cooperation with FIDE.
Right now, for instance…the USCF does NOT actively support women playing chess. If it hadn’t been for you…the US Women’s Team wouldn’t have even been in medal contention during the Olympiad back in 2004? Hopefully you can change this sad state of affairs. I don’t know the current makeup of the board members of the USCF…but I suspect its almost overwhelmingly male. I believe that’s part of the problem.
If you’re really serious about bringing change in the USCF…I suggest a radical solution. Overthrow the current USCF board and replace them with REAL US chess players who have had a long history of trying to promote chess in the US. Players like Irina Krush and Jennifer Shahade should become USCF board members by fiat simply on the basis of their long standing commitment to chess and it’s promotion in the US. That’s for starters.
Bottom line, GM Susan Polgar…you’re dealing with a boy’s club that doesn’t like newcomers playing on its turf. The fact that the USCF board is “probably” almost overwhelmingly male is as big an issue as anything else.
I am really impressed with your desire and determination to have honesty and integrity in the USCF. If only all of the organizations/companies with these problems could have someone like you fighting for respectful politics. Thank you!
I’m really looking forward to the specific things a Polgar administration of the USCF will do to improve the state of chess in the United States.
Incidentally, to the poster who suggested overthrowing the present USCF and establishing a new chess federation. It might work but we tried it here in the Philippines a few years ago. The Philippine Chess Federation was overthrown by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. Players were ecstatic for a while until a year or so later, it was the same old stuff but with a different name. Not saying that a “new” USCF would be as bad as the old one but don’t hold your breath.
I dont care what anyone says. I dont care what Susan’s position on USCF becomes. I know Susan is the best thing to happen to chess in my lifetime. I will vote for Susan and all her good friends no matter what happens in this election.
In fact if Susan does not get on the ballot, I will write in her name.
I am a USCF Life Member for 35 years and I have waited a long time for someone like Susan to come along. She is a bright star in Chess. We all need to support her in this election.
I became a Life Member when Bobby Fischer was all the rage in USA.
I intend to visit all my local clubs and hope to hand out fliers. I will be there to talk to everyone about how important it is to vote this election and to vote for Susan.
I hope everyone here makes the same committment.
By the way. I have never personally met Susan. But I dont have to meet her to know what a good person she is. I dont know what votes will come up for her to vote on. I do know that Susan will make all her votes be the best vote possible for chess. I can ask for no more than that.
So I dont worry about some detail. I KNOW for over 35 years that we have to get rid of the old guard and we need new blood in USCF.
I ask YOU as you read this to please commit to helping chess in this very important election. Please vote and help get all your chess friends to vote for Susan. If everyone will go talk about the election at their chess club we can change and improve chess in USA.
Go Susan Go.
You really should give more detials on your “test”, Susuan. I am an impartial observer and all this sounds very fishy without the details. Until then, I will have to side with those who are accusing you of playing dirty politics.
Ok here is real proof:
I hope Susan won’t delete it ..maybe now you can see Susans point an confiction about this ..
If you are just as outraged as I am about the USCF Executive Board Election, you can do something about it! You can call or write to your state delegates and let them know the truth about Mr. Sam Sloan.
In order for Mr. Sloan to take office, he has to be certified by the delegates of the USCF. I strongly believe that a sexual predator (by his own
admission) and a convicted felon should not be allowed to serve on the Executive Board of a non-profit organization with tens and thousands of young members.
Mr. Sloan lied about his criminal record. He told the members of the USCF
that he has no criminal record while the chess community clearly knows that
he spent a considerable amount of time in jail. Mr. Sloan also publicly admitted that he had inappropriate sexual relations with minors. He also publicly admitted to other illegal and criminal conducts. He lied and attacked other members, sponsors,supporters and partners of the USCF. He spares no one
well, it’s great that a chess pro runs for presidency. But… a very big question arises about the team which will come together with new President.
My personal view is that chess players alone (no matter how skillful they are in chess) are quite unskillful in administration and management of public and business projects.
Only strong team formed by professionals with wide experience in different aspects of entrepreneur life may change situation to better.
A weak team becomes a hostage of old system. If a weak team tries to change the system, then a system may collapse and end up in chaos.
As recent elections of FIDE President showed. Role of mass-media is relatively small. Main target for a candidate consists of convincing the main voters. Which, usually are unknown to real public and who’s name appear only during the voting… And, sometimes their vote is more significant than the opinion of all Grand Masters of the World.
Changes are not always leading to better. Sometimes its better to leave things like they are, than to begin a process which may go out of control and ruin stability. If you want changes, then you have to dismiss people who are sitting right now in USCF Board… Leaving someone from old team is almost always a mistake…
I hope that GM Susan Polgar has a clear and solid plan backed up with a strong and professional team.
Good luck!
I still haven’t seen any comments to the fact the USCF is unfairly biased in favor of male chessplayers. GM Susan Polgar has to change that pronto.
This day and age there is NO excuse for not letting women be a part of the everyday process…and that includes chess. She should do whatever she feel s necessary to implement long overdue changes to allow women chessplayers the freedom and encouragement to play the game. It serves no one to leave the current status quo as it is.
Susan Polgar is a super wonderful person who has proven her committment to chess. She is dedicated to help chess. She is an honest hard working person.
I know that the secret to success for businesses is the key people who run the business. When big smart money comes into a new start up company they are not so interested in the company or the product. They are interested in the people. With the right people they will invest mega millions of dollars.
Susan Polgar is the kind of person that the smart big money would invest in.
I want to make it crystal clear. Susan Polgar is a winner in whatever she undertakes. We are lucky to have her be interested in helping chess in America. We all need to support her to make changes. Without her chess in the usa will languish.
The worst case might be that Susan is unable to help as much as I would like to see. But things will continue to go down hill without her. At least with her we have a chance for a new and brighter chess scene in america.
I will not pass up this opportunity to help in every way possible to make sure she gets elected with her entire slate so we can have some positive change finally in american chess.
This election is a no brainer. Status quo and keep going down hill. Change with Susan and have a bright future.
Really nit picking over some minor details is silly. Lets just look at the big picture. The big picture says we need Susan.
What worries me is what happened in the last FIDE election. Dirty Politics won over Bessel Kok who I felt was going to do a lot better for international chess and grandmasters. USCF is not different and I hope Susan’s team succeeds against the politicians but of course they will do any dirty deeds because in their eyes the ends justify the means, so Susan, it is only going to get nastier as election time comes closer and watch out for traitors and spies in your camp.
Bravo! Great job with the “tests”. However, I hope that you take the next step: publicly release the names of the USCF stooges who improperly leaked details of private correspondence!
Re. mayanking’s fears of a repeat of FIDE’s unfortunate election, I don’t think it’ll happen with the USCF. In the case of FIDE, Iljumzhinov/FIDE were able to bribe numerous delegates. But USCF is effectively insolvent, so the “powers that be” don’t have the wherewithal to bribe! And the vote is more widespread (all USCF members, vs. select international delegates).