One million dollar prize fund!

Originally posted by woodypusher
Again. One more time. It's not about protecting or enforcing "amateur" status. Amateurs don't have to play if they perceive that to be the most important thing. It's not about "perspectives", "jealousy", or involvement in golf.

It's about publicity, raising interest, and increasing the popularity of the game of chess. I think "throwing huge money at [ ...[text shortened]... ually make a living at it, like they do in poker. We need more Morphys, Fischers, and Nakamuras.

Actually, if there are many more tournaments like these, people who are not good at chess at all will be able to make a living at it.

And it will most certainly attract people into the game who are not interested in chess, or what is in its best interests long-term.

Oh, and poker is an excellent example of how you can dumb down a game so that people with relatively little skill and experience can have a shot at big money.

Originally posted by Rank outsider
Actually, if there are many more tournaments like these, people who are not good at chess at all will be able to make a living at it.

And it will most certainly attract people into the game who are not interested in chess, or what is in its best interests long-term.

Oh, and poker is an excellent example of how you can dumb down a game so that people with relatively little skill and experience can have a shot at big money.

Alright. You win. They should cancel this tournament and eliminate all cash prizes in the future so that amateurs can keep their status, people with "relatively little skill and experience" won't beat our grand masters and rob them of any prize money, and of course we don't want to "dumb down" the game of chess!

🙄

Originally posted by Rank outsider
Actually, if there are many more tournaments like these, people who are not good at chess at all will be able to make a living at it.

And it will most certainly attract people into the game who are not interested in chess, or what is in its best interests long-term.

Oh, and poker is an excellent example of how you can dumb down a game so that people with relatively little skill and experience can have a shot at big money.

Poker is a game that is based on chance as well as skill. You may get dealt better hands and you wouldn't need to be as good as your opponent to win. You can also "bluff" in poker as your hand is hidden from your opponent. Chess is different. You start out on equal terms and you and your opponent can both see each other's pieces.