Couple of years back there were tournaments like luo ming see cup and more team competitions that requires 3 to 5 players. Why aren't there anymore competitions like these nowadays? The only team events i participated in was the Singapore Malaysia Cup last year and the yishun south 4 players team competition. If you don't mind me saying, i feel it's more meaningful in a way that there are more rounds and this gives the players a higher sense of competitiveness and aim, players take into account their teammates scenarios and can improve team bonding better amongst competitors. More importantly, i feel it adds value and helps promote the sport. I believe funding should not be a top priority because as a player myself i do not expect to receive any or very little prize money for the team competitions(not to mention certain players). (This is in comparison to the recent 9 versus 9 team events)

I feel that it is important to let organisors know the views on promoting the sport and maybe from a different approach can help promote the game better.

the main problem lies in politics and funding. I heard of some that request to be paid even
before they win the tournament and in most occasions I do believe they get paid. If these people that are willing to pay them actually step up to sponsor for tournaments, than we probably would have a brighter future in promoting the sport. Furthermore, some that actually used to sponsor tournaments (due to some personal reasons) have decided not to do so in future. There should always be a line between their own personal feuds and promoting the sport although in most cases they are correlated.

There are people be it ex chess players, chess enthusiasts, or even friends of chess leaders that are too much involved in politics that they actually derail the main objective of the chess association today. There should always be a balance between the two. Like a specific example recently, has caused lots of hoo-ha in the chess circle that is totally unnecessary. Specific players think that they are underpaid to represent the country. On the other hand, the management does not think so because not many people get the opportunity to represent the country and hence look at it as a privilege. Anyway, This is my opinion. It is easier said than done and I hope I did not offend anyone. If I did, I sincerely apologise.

you could put it this way, it still falls between the two. With more money, people would be willing to organise more competitions when they get paid more and also search for places to organise them and the ones with the money has the say it's tht simple :P

吴贵临先负吴宗翰(beidou jan08)

许银川先胜吴宗翰(macau indoor games nov07)

吴宗翰先胜黎金福

阮武军先和吴宗翰

谢靖先负吴宗翰

吴宗翰先负孙勇征 (shanghai 2006)

吴宗翰先胜林宏敏 (shanghai 2006)

对黎金福84步他走的是马6退5不是马退7

in the first place i don't think we can find many so called "donations" and every year it's pretty obvious that the usual people are the ones making the donations but is that sufficient? That is also one of the main reasons why chess cannot be a professional sport. Because we do not have many rich people playing the sport. If there are, everything would be different. People would be more willing to do it if they're paid. Of course if you're talking about doing it for free than it's probably different. But mainly the driving factors are money and people that have the ability is usually people that are either more well to do themselves that desire to manage the commitee or has someone behind them to support them. But i totally agree that you'll have different organisers organising and deciding who to take part but ultimately, it is money's fault you can't blame organisors not inviting some teams though it is not very fair. Most of the time, i believe they are more like the middleman being manipulated. The fear that in future these so called "donations" would not be donated again.

Firstly from 几度's post, Team Singapore Won 2 medals from the Xiangqi category not 3 medals. One Silver from IM Kang Derong, one bronze from IGM Zhang Xin huan and 4th place for me. Secondly to 碧山's post of volunteers, i believe most of them are volunteers however people like wang xing nan being referee i believe get paid, or perharps tuan seng. Please correct me if i'm wrong as i heard this from someone so this information might not be correct. I'm just saying that if they get paid, they would be more willing to organize competitions although they volunteer. Treating it more like an incentive.

The sport would surely be promoted better if we have the government's support. That is very true i totally agree. However, can u guarantee that we would get silver or bronze in the next competition. Lets be realistic, the competition would be stiffer.(5 players in woman's category)(4players in speed chess category)and lastly(5 players in individual category, All of them are IGM I'm the lowest rank as an IM) the only person that has the highest possibility to get a medal again is IGM Zhang Xin Huan(top 3). In order for the Government to support us currently is a secondary issue in my view. Reason being the results we produce. How long can we sustain this results? Currently i feel our greatest priority would be to promote the sport better internally so that we would be able to attract more youngsters to take up the sport and to spot for more talent thats why i added that events like 团体赛 would help. At the same time from a macro perspective, as China becomes more prominent and chess becomes more popular amongst youngsters than we would have a larger ocean to manipulate with. At this point in time the government wouldn't help much. Well, at least for the next couple of years.

It is also true that less people sponsor the competitions due to politics. Thats why i mentioned earlier on that the chess circle evolves between money and politics. However, how can the chess association promote the sport? From my view would be to have a strong national team to attract new talent, organize more competitions as well as higher prize money(to increase competitiveness between ichess and xiangqi). Without these sponsors, how are they going to make it work?

If we notice, it is usually the few people making the "important decisions" and these people are either people with money that sponsor or they are good friends with these people. (please pardon me for being straightforward :P) Ultimately, steps they make are crucial for the future of the sport.

It would be good for people to volunteer and volunteers are actually very important people as the play a big role in promoting the game. Speaking about paying them for 车马费is the minimum amount they should get paid. Basically the chess association is really not much of an association without chess players and people that volunteer to organise chess competitions. Hence the chess association should probably try to market and advertise in a different way to get sponsors.

The Governement works like a bank. No results, they sack u. They're very realistic people. in a competitive society like ours espiecially how are u going to market yourself to make them feel that you would make it unless u produce results? Maybe u can hire some 特级大师come to singapore conduct courses constantly? but that would mean the opportunity cost would be high this narrows down to where do we find our cashflow "again".
i'm just trying to state my personal views on promoting the game. As a chess player, i feel there is a need to constanting look for new talent and to improve the standard of the natinoal team.