Checkers in 2012 - what can we do?

[Alex_Moiseyev]

1) For WCDF: elect new President.

Due to Hugh Devlin official resignation, we have to elect new President on the next General Asssembly. This is very important and responsible step and lifetime decision.

2) For ACF: collect 100+ players in 3-moves National.

It's not unrealistic dream if ACF carefully select best bid and organisers do aggressive advertising.

[Chexhero]

I am with Alex on number 2. I want to see a big increase in tournament attendance. Doing the ratings, it is quite sad to see how many tournaments draw less than 10 players. Personally, I would like to see at least 50 plus people at this years nationals (though 100 plus would be nice) and would love to see at least 20 plus at PA, which normally draws a very low crowd.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Personally, I would like to see at least 50 plus people at this years nationals (though 100 plus would be nice)

50 will be drop, I would like to see increase. Don't be confuse with GAYP - they are on decline for years.

I think if we would have bid this year in south region (TN etc), we should have very good turn. In the past 16 years only my first National in Danville, VA, 1996 was played here.

1996 - Danville, VA
1998 - Hattiesburg, MS
2000 - Toledo, OH
2002 - Las Vegas, NV
2004 - Las Vegas, NV
2006 - Medina, OH
2008 - Las Vegas, NV
2010 - Springfield, IL

TN State tournament usually collects at least 50 players, sometimes close to 60. And IL State tourney collects 20-30 players. We also have alot of players in VA and KY.

Based on all these facts and numbers, I don't think overturtn 100 players is too much fantasy ... depends on bid and people intention to make success !

[Bill Salot]

In response to the above question, I would like to see renewed interest in checker problem composing and increasing participation in free contests to recognize such efforts.

The initial "Unofficial World Championship Checker Problem Composing Contest" between two live participants has just been posted in the POSITIONS section of this FORUM.

Will it awaken dormant talents in other potential future contest winners?

Bill Salot

[tommyc]

My thoughts on bringing more players to the Nationals is expand the conditions from the traditional settings and see what transpires.

On another subject is was very surprised Hugh Devlin has resigned from the WCDF? Altho he lives near to me [but has been pretty much out of the loop in competition terms ].......and is the secetary of the North-West Draughts Federation this comes as a surprise.

PS..........the last time there was 100 plus at the Nationals was a GAYP Ty.

[tommyc]

Its pretty simple itd a thought ..........if you want more peolpe to come yu ve got to give them something that interests them ,simple really.!!

[Danny_Alvarez]

Its pretty simple itd a thought ..........if you want more peolpe to come yu ve got to give them something that interests them ,simple really.!!

What are you talking about Tommy???
free popcorn and the referees and organizers dressed as Star Wars characters???

[George Hay]

Bring in the use of Fischer time clocks, using a 1/1 timer (One Hour, plus
One Minute per move). This could be instituted in the 2012 GAYP WCM,
and/or the 2012 GAYP Women's WCM if all parities agree. This is consistent with checkers history, as in the old days contestants had one minute to move after "time" was called. The first Wiswell-Hopper GAYP WCM in 1951 was the first championship checkers match to use a duel time clock.
--George Hay

[tommyc]

Be postive Danny...............this is a serious business.

[Rainmaker203]

This game is dying, and if we don't do something NOW, it won't be around 50 years from now. When I was a serious player from 2000-2005, there were always more people playing checkers online than chess. I log on to kurnik today and this is what I see:

People playing chess: 3176
People playing checkers: 26

I try to alert people, and all I get is apathy.

The point is, we don't need to be focusing on the already serious players, we need to be focusing on getting new people interested in this game. Look at poker: they focused on getting the general public into the game from 2003-2005 by starting with the rules of how to play and gradually moving on to discussing advanced concepts, and now they have 6000 people playing in their biggest tournament instead of 600. Everything I hear about checkers in the general public anymore is negative ("Checkers is a stupid game", "he's playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers", "scientific checkers? That's an oxymoron", etc.). The best way to grow this game of ours is to change the public perception of our beloved game.

[kiwinurse]

Now im going to focus on the WCDF matches around the world.I cant agree more with rainmaker,hes absolutely correct.
For international matches,they need to be set in plenty of time to give players from around the world time to save and come.
There needs to be more advertizing and promotion of these games well in advance,and im not talking about paying heaps of money for advertizing,but using the internet and the forums to let people know in plenty of time.
Even just to get the cheap deals from airlines,people need to book in plenty of time.You wont get attendance at these matches unless you make it easier for people to come and participate.Have fewer big matches,but organize them better,take the time to get them organized right. regards Jan

[Danny_Alvarez]

Be postive Danny...............this is a serious business.

Although there was an attempt at humour in my post ... i thought you understood my "Gist" Tommy...
you mention that it is pretty simple, but in your opinion WHAT is that people want??
could you please explain?
... and in my book humour is always positive mate. I wasn't being negative.

cheers
Danny
PS rainmaker and Jan make valid points.... if you want them to come, make some noise and give people time.... why not create a calendar 12 months in advance and highlight the major events for the upcoming year???
what our brethren in the international variety are doing is checker schools + (more importantly... a checkers curriculum) ....

[kiwinurse]

Far better planning a decent tournament taking two years and fundraising over that time for excellent prizes,than taking a bid for 6 months time and rushing the result with no prize money,and being badly organized.
.People would be more prepared to come knowing theres a decent time to prepare for it,with respectable prizes for their efforts.
Winners should be rewarded for the study and preparation they put into the game,with decent and good prizes,not paltry sums
And ive said it before,if the organizers cant even get motivated to ring the press about the match and get some coverage,which most sports get,AND ITS FREE!Why should draught players bother to attend! Getting press coverage should be the most important thing to do in any tournament
.When i was in Dublin, Ireland,the international match wasnt even published in any paper in Dublin,and people i talked to there,said theyd have come if they knew it had been on!
If you cant plan it properly,dont plan it at all, i say!It only brings disrepute to the game.

[JR Smith]

Grow new crop of players... Looks like Kim already has her youth program implemented.

http://www.nccheckers.org/NCCA/2012%20K ... a%20HS.htm