The Tiger Woods of chess comes to town

The Star Tribune ^ | 2-22-2003 | Peg Meier

[realpatriot71]

How does one accumulate points? I would click the link, but if you can give me "the long and the short" of it . . .

[Cagey]

For a med student you sure are lazy...I thought you guys worked your butts off...

Really, that USCF FAQ link is pretty concise and gives an example of a player earning points. Check it out.

[Movemout]

45 Americans out of 250M people. Amazing accomplishment!

[realpatriot71]

I thought you guys worked your butts of

Don't believe the hype. I'll check the link. :-)

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

This guy was one of the color (no pun intended) commentators during the recent Kasporav/DeepThought match, televised on ESPN. He did a great job.

Also, listening to them really showed how chess players get a "feeling" for whether a move is good or not. Granted, Ashley and the other commentator didn't have time to study the moves as much as if they were actually playing, but they were saying things like "that's the kind of move you just make, b/c it feels good." I thought it was fascinating. Obviously, it takes a lot of practice before that "feeling" is likely to be right.

[Cagey]

Thanks for that link. I had no idea that type of link was on the internet and it's fascinating to watch a game in progress. Way, way, beyond a level I'd understand though.

You might enjoy reading post #20.

[Warrior Nurse]

Finally a Grandmaster that does not have anything to do with Rap Music.

Where is the NAACP on this issue? How about Al Sharpton or Je$$e Jackson?

[Cagey]

Where is the NAACP on this issue? How about Al Sharpton or Je$$e Jackson?

Exactly. This man made it completely on his own so they don't dare hold him up as an example. But, it seems as if he is making his own mark even if it is in a small way. I'll take that any day.

[MHGinTN]

Thank you for posting that, tictoc. I was wondering if we could take a look at a few of his games, to see if he's a Petrosian or a Morphy or a Spassky.

[Mr. Mojo]

watching Tiger realize his dream [at the 1997 Masters tournament in Augusta, Ga.], that convinced me that I needed to change my life and go chase mine. . . . He showed that a person of color could excel at anything."

Actually, a "person of color" was possibly the greatest of all the chess grandmasters --- Jose Raul Capablanca. This Ashley guy didn't even need to look outside his own sport to find inspiration, if indeed racial inspiration is what he desired. (And I have no idea why he needed it).

[MHGinTN]

He's sort of a Paul Morphy. I like the slashing techniques with solid combination threats he employs!

[Wyatt's Torch]

Have to disagree with you here. Tiger is (by some accounts) or will be the greatest golfer in the history of the game. Ashley's accomplishment is outstanding but it does not compare to being the best of all time.

[tictoc]

With apologies for flogging a dead thread (but there's no one here but us chickens anyway!) here is an interview with GM Yasser Seirawan, Maurice Ashley's co-commentator in the recent Kasparov-Junior match.

His gracious comments about Ashley show that these two are classy types. On a side note, I was very pleased to see how well-dressed both were; quite a contrast to the slovenly appearance many top chess players unfortunately exhibit.

Ashley and Seirawan

Gratuitous babe pic:

Anna Hahn, 2003 USCF Women's Champion