Chess Life january-december 1999. [antikvár]

YAZ IS GOODWhile competing in The Rocky IVlountaln Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, 1 had the pleasure of meeting Grandmaster Yasser Selrawan. GM Seirawan is a true Good Will Ambassador of chess. He exhibited a high level of class through his dress and actions during the tournament. "Yaz" engaged in casual conversation with anyone who had questions. His lecture on the ethics of chess was an inspiration to all chessplayers. His willingness to share stories and information about the world of chess with players of all levels sets a good example. GM Seirawan is a positive role model who brings respect and class to the world of chess.Paul Schweitzer Queen Creek, AZDIGITAL IS BADRecently, the USCF sent out pamphlets to TDs clarifying the rules concerning digital clocks and sudden death time controls. Every tournament player should read this resource. But until they do, here's a synopsis: the digital clock with time delay feature is "most preferred" for sudden death time controls. Translation: all you poor souls who spent millions on BHB, Jerger and Master Quartz clocks are now, officially, second-class citizens. The rule that Black may choose from any standard equipment has been replaced with digital elitism.No mention was made of who is responsible for familiarizing us with the operation of these new clocks and each model has unique features but since no tournament with a sudden death control is likely to allow a participant the luxury of casually perusing the operators manual of each digital clock in use, 1 suspect that we are to make do with whatever information the clock's owner, namely our opponent, chooses to provide. Just imagine the delightful misunderstandings in store (''Oh! That little happy face means my time is up? Well, it serves me right for not understanding the manual in Russian.") because the USCF decided to impose these rules.And impose is the right word. 1 have been a member for nearly twenty years, a life member for over ten, and a TD for over five. 1 am active at my club, attend major tournaments, and support scholastic chess. But as far as 1 can tell, nobody ever asked me or anyone 1 know for6 CHESS LIFE / JANUARY 1999input on these new rules. The powers-that-be just decided it was in our best interest to trash the very analog clocks that the USCF hypocritically continues to sell in its catalogue. Did we ever need more convincing proof of the need for direct election in the USCF? What's next guys, binary-numbered scoresheets?Jose M. Fernandez North Bergen, NJTHE OLD DAYS OF CHESSToday, 1 happened to look up at my bookcase and noticed the dust that has begun to gather there. Not long ago, dust never had a chance to gather, for 1 would be searching through an Informant, back issues of Chess Life (every issue from 1980), or an opening/middlegame/end-game book. The search would be for some "idea game" played months or years earlier After gaining that knowledge, 1 would lay in wait for my next opponent next week at the chess club. What happened?Now 1 can search my database of thousands of games, choose a line that 1 like, play guys on the Internet with names like Zaccai, Blgaby Instead of 40 games a year, 1 can play 40 games in one night. 1 can set at my desk and watch live games from grandmaster tournaments, the same kind of tournaments I'd wait months and years for the results and games.It is great to see Chess Life move to the internet with tournament games and information. Keep up the good work, and chess books still look good on a bookcase.David Tribble Modesto, CABOBBY FISCHER STAMPSome time ago there was a discussion in Chess Life about the US Postal Service Issuing a stamp in honor to a great American chessplayer Well, the time has come and the opportunity may be unique! The U.S. Postal Service is issuing a monstrous collection of 150 stamps in order to "celebrate the century." Each decade will have 15 stamps allotted, and one neat aspect of the whole process is that the public actually gets to vote on their favorite stamps! For each decade, the USPS makes a list of roughly 30 "candidate" stamps and the most voted ones actually get printed. The next decade to be voted is the 70s, and if we could simply get Bobby Fischer to be listed among the candidate stamps, then we chessplayers could make sure that he gets chosen by flooding the USPS with votes for him! But we need to act fast before the USPS starts printing the pamphlets for the next voting round! Should the USCF lead the initiative?Frank Siewerdt Raleigh, NC fsiewer@unity. ncsu. edu