Ashley interview on Millionaire Chess, Part 1
The Chess Drum conducted an interview on March 2nd (via Skype) with GM Maurice Ashley concerning the Millionaire Chess Open. The tournament earned its moniker due to its $1,000,000 prize fund and is scheduled to take place in the electric atmosphere that Las Vegas offers.
GM Ashley at the site of the Millionaire Chess Open!
However, the tournament has created a firestorm of discussion due to its trailblazing nature. Ashley discusses the inspiration for the tournament, the entry fee, the sandbagging and cheating issues. He also addressed the criticism leveled by an anonymous Grandmaster that amateurs should not be capable of winning such a large prize. The controversy generated nearly 250 comments including a few chess luminaries who weighed in.
“So as much as I thought on the controversy, I think it really settled around this particular point… the strongest point of all. The amateurs have to be mobilized as a base… get them excited… get them wanting to play more… get them wanting to pay for lessons because they’re wanting to play in more events like this one… get them wanting to buy more books, more DVDS… and who makes that? The GMs. I think that’s the point the GMs missed.”
~GM Maurice Ashley
Of course the grassroots, bottom-up method has been used in revolutions throughout history to exact change. Ashley sees this as nothing short of a revolution and makes an impassioned plea for support. The tournament is scheduled for October and hopes to gain momentum for a March 31st tournament assessment. It is often said that one must become a part of the change they want to see. Perhaps $1,000,000 is a lot of money, but is a small amount for chess players to invest for the future of chess.
presents the Thursday, October 9th through Monday, October 13th 2014 CONTACT: MILLIONAIRE CHESS email address: contact@millionairechess.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/HighStakesChess |
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VERY informative Daaim.
Good Interview Mo and Daaim!!
Controversy? Did you expect anything less? There always is “controversy” when great minds advance new, creative and exciting ideas! That is a given!! I fully support GM Maurice Ashley’s vision and effort. Even if this tournament never happens, it has already changed the paradigm i.e. professional chess in North America. The sport of tournament chess cannot grow and prosper based on such a small, narrow minded base. It must expand! The sport of tournament chess cannot grow and prosper without chess organizers making more money and bringing more money into the “chess arena”. Locally, you should hear some narrow minds complain about the high entry fees and why there should be higher pay-outs regardless of the fact locally based organizers would lose money (much less make any profit). Sorry, fellas, before our sport can grow we need to follow the courageous leadership of men like GM Ashley, get out of our comfort zone, and go boldly where we must go to truly make the sport of tournament chess popular and prosperous.
I believe that the Millionaire Open needs to expand the time for Cancellation closer to June as the tournament came out of no where and costs a lot. I believe that the cost should be reduced to $500 and 3000 participants registry by then would be good or very high. I like the idea as Western Chess is too limited and a new tournament with these stakes will really attract more chess players and expand the game.
Terrific interview. Grandmaster Maurice Ashley is one of the most exciting forces in the world of chess. I think he has done much to advance the cause of chess for professionals and the general populace. In his presentations, Maurice consistently brings to life both the game’s practical value and its appeal to high art. He is one of the game’s great ambassador’s, and the vision he has for the game’s future is right on the money.
First I would like to say that I owe Maurice a lot going beyond the respect of his chess accomplishments . I am not speaking negatively but would like to share a business perspective. I think like all businesses ideals you either must build on an existing models or create a totally new concept. The millionaire chess project is revamping an old model (regional chess tournaments) using a small portion of existing customer base (highly competitive but not necessarily great overall tournament players). It seems that the essential formula for success is the buy in or cooperation of all stakeholders. Stakeholders like the USCF, existing tournament sponsors, the great network of existing chess clubs and potential sponsors who may gain financially. Getting stakeholders buy in or support might take tough negotiations but having it would have made this project a “lead pipe cinch”.