The 2006 US Chess Championship will commence soon. In my opinion, this year’s format is the most unusual in history. There are 64 players dividing into 2 sections. Players in each section will compete in a 9 round Swiss system pairings in standard time control.
The overall winner of each section will then face each other in the final to determine the 2006 US Champion. This in itself is different but acceptable. However, the next part is where I am quite puzzled. The Championship match will be in rapid format and not the standard time control. The top woman of each section would have to do the same.
It is like after determining the finalists at the French Open on clay, the organizer would then bring the players to Wimbledon to play the final on grass. Imagine after four rounds of golf, the top two players will compete in a putting contest or a driving contest to decide the Masters. Huh? I thought I misread it when I first read it but I did not. It is true.
Standard time control and rapid time control are two totally different types of chess. I like both time controls. So do many other players. Both are good but you can’t change it during a National Championship.
Kasparov never lost to Karpov in all of their standard time control matches. The only match he has ever lost to Karpov was few years ago in rapid chess in New York.Many players who are very good in rapid are just adequate in standard time control and vice versa. This is not a playoff in case of a tie. This is the US Championship match.
Just look at my sister Judit for example. She was the number one seed and clear favorite in both the Women’s World Rapid and Women’s World Blitz Championships in 1992. But I ended up winning both World Championships.
I understand the logic of making chess exciting for the mainstream. I think it is a great idea to make chess exciting. However, I do not agree with putting the integrity of the national title on the line. What would be next? Isn’t that what the fans are complaining about the FIDE Knockout World Championship? You can mathematically tie every match and win the FIDE World Championship Crown if you are good in blitz. That is why the public has a hard time remembering who the Knockout World Champions are.
It seems that the USCF board members are concerned about this format as well. They just voted 2 weeks ago not to automatically give the 2006 Olympiad spots to this year’s US Champions. The overall and ladies’ champion will get 30 rating points added to his or her Olympiad invitational ratings. This was the official statement from the USCF:
USCF ANNOUNCES OLYMPIAD QUALIFICATION POLICY OF 2006 US CHAMPIONS
At the meeting of the USCF Executive Board at Parsippany, NJ last weekend, the Board approved the following policy regarding the qualification of US Champions from the championship tournament to be held March 1-12 in San Diego (see http://www.uschesschampionship.com)
This year, the US Championships will be held in two separate sections followed by a speed playoff between the winners of each section. The Board considered the implications of this new format and decided that the overall champion and women’s champion will not be automatically seeded as they have been in recent years. Instead, any player who comes in first or tied for first (or best scoring woman or tied for same) in either section will have 10 points added to his or her Olympiad invitational rating. In addition, the overall US Champion and overall US Women’s Champion will each have an additional 30 points added to his or her Olympiad invitational rating. http://www.uschess.org/olympiadqualificationpolicy2006.php
What do you think? Do you like this rapid US Championship match to determine the standard time control 2006 US overall and female Champions? Who will be the overall US Champion and who will be the US Women’s Champion? 
Now that Gata no longer plays the role of a marionette due to an overbearing father, I’ve gotta root for him. I didn’t dislike Gata back then, but his dad and all those antics, and the constant whinning, just rubbed me the wrong way.
As for the women, I hate to say it but I’m not familiar enough with this group to objectively try and pick a winner. Another sorry reason why we need to promote women’s chess in this country. That being said, I really would love to see Kelly Cotrell upset someone. (a big upset)
Well, I have to deal with the CFC (Canadian Chess Federation) which is enough of a challenge, but I must say that you are absolutely correct in your analysis (once again!)
Clearly the inmates are running the asylum in the US Championship…
Your analogy with tennis is close, but perhaps it is even more dramatic: standard versus rapid time controls is such a huge difference that they might just as well have the two section winners arm wrestle for the title… Come to think of it, that might work for the women too.
THAT might generate some TV publicity as yet another stupid reality show.
You’ve gotta like Gata’s chances in group B.
You haveto like Hikaru’s chances in group A.
It seems today Hikaru played an open position, crazy stuff, which suits him because he is good and quick at seeing ahead. Double-edged, however, because the position gets so wild, his opponents get opportunties too with the imbalance of material. Hikaru lost today but will probably win group A.
In Gata’s game today it always seemed that Gata’s pieces were always super-coordinated, impenetrable, reducing chess to a game of taking away squares from your opponent rather than his or her pieces.
Susan, I think you are being diplomatic as far as the time control issue goes. Less diplomatic, but more accurate, are words like “asinine” and “moronic”. What were these people thinking about, anyway?
I like the older systems..sorry…quicker time controls deteriorate chess quality and anybody who knows anything about the game knows that so why do it?
Its a little sad…but that said…faster time controls just make a new chess environment that perhaps favor new skills…like seeing faster..etc…its a difficult topic…but in my book…I like the older formats and the traditional 24 game world champion formats…nice..long..and correct chess. Is’nt that better? Chess is becoming like McDonalds or something like that..
Mike
Final matches on TV? When and what channel on TV will this be?
How is this being promoted so that the general public will know it is happening?
If they are willing to bastardize the U.S.Championship with rapid time controls, then I sure hope they are going to make it pay off by making a major promotion on national TV to attract a decently large audience.
I thinks it’s a waste of time trying to make chess an exciting spectator-friendly sport ala football or basketball. If I were of a high enough rating for it to matter, I don’t think I would play in these championships either.
I agree with Susan. The speed playoff is utterly ridiculous. AF4C blew this one big time.
Jon
I’ve always supported the AF4C. They do a lot for chess. Having said that, this decision is dubious at best. No championship match should be determined by rapid chess.
The split time control is crazy. I don’t like that. I prefer one way or the other.
I like the rapid format but not for the final match. That’s very wrong. Why did the AF4C do this? Who made this horrible decision?
Mack