REALITY CHESS

By OCA Patron Member Chuck Unruh

Fact or fiction, real serious chess players (RSCPs) throw water on their old friends, file lawsuits against financially distressed single women with children, create fake tournament results for the Oklahoma vs. Alaska Annual Chess Match, exile other chess players of dissimilar thought, champion chess civil wars, proclaim omnipotent chess political authority, misidentify chess players with small furry mammals, push “freeloaders” off fences and demand acknowledgement for monetary contribution. OK, you caught me! At least one of these statements wasn’t true. Also, I’m not sure that RSCPs have any loyal old friends.

The end of the year is a normal time of reflection and resolutions as we plan for the upcoming 2005 chess events. A quick visit to the Internet Chess Forum Site (link on www.ochess.org) gives us an insight that fact, once again, is stranger than fiction. I point out the essay a Guest writes on the reality of Oklahoma 2004 Chess Politics that sets forth names, times, places and events. The Forum Guest primarily calls for the chess public to ignore the “new chess law” espoused by the financial backers of the OCF Grand Prix. Of course, the new rules make you ineligible for some OCF prizes if you participate in an OCA 2005 tournament or become an OCA Patron Member. I truly think this is a bad political idea for the OCF and they should rethink their strategy. The strategy of “pushing people off the fence” for their perceived own good still results in injuries when they fall to the ground. Perhaps, a good OCF New Year’s resolution should include a statement that welcomes all furry small mammals and USCF chess players, both serious and unserious, to spectacular tournaments hosted generously by the Berry Brothers and other reputable tournament directors. The current idea of rewarding USCF chess players for not playing in USCF (OCA) tournaments is definitely a setback for their goal of obtaining the USCF Oklahoma State Chapter Affiliate.

When passing out fault or underachieving, there is a boatload of things that could improve the OCA. New volunteers are helping fill the gaps, but it will take time to train and implement our plans. I reflect that my personal mission to preserve, professionalize and grow the OCA is not the favorite theme of many senior tournament directors that lost an election a long time ago. Unfortunately, some of them feel the need to use harmful written statements and twisted memories to lash out at chess players and volunteers. I don’t see how the comments about “incompetent minion” or the barrage of “blurry-eyed children” attacks are helpful in the chess community. Each OCQ edition that mentioned these children has them getting younger and younger. By their own most recent OCQ assertion, the children were only four years old but somehow managed to dethrone the competent senior leaders of the day. The election movie (on video) is entirely different than this OCQ book, but the showing would only serve to potentially embarrass many OCF folks that are doing great work for Oklahoma Tournament Chess. Yet, our detractors continue to spew forth attacks and ugliness toward chess volunteers, the OCA staff and the OCA mission. These vicious actions are unprecedented in my previous thirty-five years of political chess experience and unjustly absorb resources and attention.

The only Oklahoma USCF State Chapter Affiliate (OCA) desires that all Oklahoma Chess organizations prosper, but cannot condone the ongoing recent discrimination or literal violence against USCF players at USCF tournaments. Hence, in the New Year the OCA resolution continues to encourage adult, junior and scholastics chess players and will keep the welcome mat out for real serious chess players that have a change of heart and attitude.

The reality of chess 2004 has been a watershed of great events, record prize funds and a revitalization of chess activity and volunteers. Let’s not turn back the clock on the renaissance! You can do the 2002 to 2004 cost benefit analysis of all this reality and reach your own utilitarian conclusion.

The OCA thanks all of the sponsors, organizations and clubs for their time, effort and financial contributions. I look forward to your participation in Oklahoma Chess and a wonderful 2005 chess reality!