US Chess as seen through the eyes of a Kenyan chess player
An article by Peter Gilruth
Most Kenyan chess players would love to have the opportunity to compete in a tournament in the USA, beyond what they might do as regular tourists. US tournaments have bigger prizes, there is a chance to gain ELO rating points, and the level of competition (against International Masters and Grandmasters) gives them an opportunity to measure their skills against titled players. As Kenya has yet to produce a single IM, participation in tournaments with highly rated-players opens the door to travel and titles.
Entry fee – the same problem everywhere!
However, US tournament entry fees are expensive! While Nairobi Chess Club struggles with charging more than KES 2,000 for entry fee, large tournaments in the USA typically charge $150 (about KES 20,000) or more per person. Sometimes, prizes are guaranteed; other times, prizes are dependent on the number of paid entries.
Tournament organizers are running a business and must operate at a profit. If the tournament does not attract entries, the organizers face a loss. I have yet to find any data on how lucrative the US chess tournament business is, but there are local (city chess clubs), regional (for example, Caveman Chess) and US-wide (Continental Chess Association) organizers.
In addition, the US Chess Federation organizes national events such as the US Open, in which I am competing, and the US Championship (Closed).
Changes in chess
I first started playing tournament chess in the USA in 1966 when I remember facing cigar-smoking ‘Wazees‘ who intimidated me with their smoke and their dominating presence. Of course, all tournaments are now non-smoking. Tournaments were usually held in clubs, and it was easy to locate non-paying sites such as churches, schools, or community centres for the venues. Now, any large US tournament is usually held at a hotel, which can easily cater for meeting rooms, lodging, and parking, but at a cost.
Not surprisingly, I have seen two big changes in competitive chess in the USA (and elsewhere) since those early days.
The impact of the internet
First is the impact of the internet on chess, which gives access to massive databases, search engines, and videos to explain openings, middle game and endgame strategies and tactics. Younger players in the USA are generally up to date on opening theory, so it is harder to spring opening traps against them.
Unfortunately, the use of books is not as essential as it once was when Kim Bhari and I were growing up. Being old-fashioned, I still like a well-written classic such as My System (by Aaron Nimzovitch) , Bronstein’s Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953 (by David Brostein), and 2nd Piatagorsky Cup (where both players annotate each games and you compare their analysis), among many others.
Now, improving your chess skills is much more rapid than in the past due to the internet – you can play online with anyone from anywhere at any time. With huge databases and learning software at your fingertips, you can learn as fast as you want if you are willing to put in the time.
Young Asian American players
I also see an explosion in the number of very young Asian Americans in American tournaments. Their parents have settled in the USA, and they wholly support their children by pushing them into chess as they see the game as a means to gain cognitive skills for use later in life. Evidence of the shift toward youth is seen with the next World Championship Challenger, Gukesh D, at age 17! These changes are also felt in Kenya, but perhaps to a lesser degree than in the USA.
Another big difference between Kenya and the USA is that Kenya, at least until very recently, has been in a closed rating pool. When a group of active players, who are playing over the board only among themselves, gain collective strength through study (internet or otherwise), they form a closed pool. They beat each other but do not increase their ratings even though their overall strength increases.
Claude Frizzell Bloodgood III
A notorious example of the possibilities within a closed rating pool comes from Claude Frizzell Bloodgood III (1937-2001), an American chess player who was convicted of murdering his mother, and who remained active in chess while serving a life sentence in prison. He manipulated rated games with other inmates and achieved a rating of 2789!! In 1974, Bloodgood and fellow inmate Lewis Capleaner received a furlough to play in a chess tournament. They overpowered the single guard assigned to them and escaped, but they were recaptured after a few days. Nice tactic, but Bloodgood lost in the endgame!
The future of Kenyan chess
Kenya currently does not many titled players, however I hope this will change as more and more youth are introduced to the game. The recent FIDE upgrade for under 2000 ELO should push up ratings, but the new structure does not yet yield more opportunities for titles which only come when high rated players come to Nairobi or when Kenyans travel to outside tournaments. The reality is that the latter is more likely.
My finding is that although Kenyans are underrated in their closed pool, they are strong, particularly in tactics and attack. Endgame knowledge tends to be weaker. Kenyan players are getting stronger, as evidenced by my worsening tournament results!
However, a Grandmaster is a Grandmaster and playing against them is quite motivating. You get the feeling of being under constant pressure, with one mistake being fatal. Witness the below:
About the author
Peter Gilruth is an American citizen and a long term resident of Kenya. He is an environmental consultant by profession.
Peter has won several events in Kenya over the year including the 2007 Kenya National Championship and the 56th Nairobi Chess Club Championship. He is Kenya’s top ranked player (Elo 2033) according to the August 2024 FIDE rating list.
Links
2024 USA Open Standing and Results.
Khanin Wins 124th Annual U.S. Open, Liang Qualifies for 2024 U.S. Championship.
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