It Looks Like The Russians Are Coming To NYC

[Allen]

@mkoganov

@billbrock

Is the FIDE training session at the Marshall coordinated with the match times? A friend offered me an apt in Midtown during the match…but I think Allen is right that going to the site itself is not going to be much fun.

FIDE session ends 1:30 pm on Monday (11/14) and Tuesdays (11/15) and around 6:00 pm on Wednesday (11/16). While WC games starting time have not been announced yet, I do not expect it to start earlier than 2:00 pm.

If you already in Manhattan, I see no reason not to go to the site at least once and check “fun” or absence of it for yourself, rather than rely on what Allen thinks.

I never said it would be “fun” or not.

All I said was that Agon appears to be pushing on-line viewing much harder than any in-person packages and that the Agon president indicated they were pushing the VIP packages for on-site viewing.

there may well be a wonderful inexpensive in person experience. And there may not be. That is beyond any control of US Chess because, unlike any other such event, the national federation did not bid to host the event and is playing no role in it organization.

[ChessSpawn]

@Allen

@mkoganov

@billbrock

Is the FIDE training session at the Marshall coordinated with the match times? A friend offered me an apt in Midtown during the match…but I think Allen is right that going to the site itself is not going to be much fun.

FIDE session ends 1:30 pm on Monday (11/14) and Tuesdays (11/15) and around 6:00 pm on Wednesday (11/16). While WC games starting time have not been announced yet, I do not expect it to start earlier than 2:00 pm.

If you already in Manhattan, I see no reason not to go to the site at least once and check “fun” or absence of it for yourself, rather than rely on what Allen thinks.

I never said it would be “fun” or not.

All I said was that Agon appears to be pushing on-line viewing much harder than any in-person packages and that the Agon president indicated they were pushing the VIP packages for on-site viewing.

there may well be a wonderful inexpensive in person experience. And there may not be. That is beyond any control of US Chess because, unlike any other such event, the national federation did not bid to host the event and is playing no role in it organization.

One could sit in a bar with wifi anywhere and follow the games for the cost of libations. It wouldn’t matter where the games are actually played.

[mkoganov]

One could sit in a bar with wifi anywhere and follow the games for the cost of libations. It wouldn’t matter where the games are actually played.

This of cause makes perfect sense. Technology made it possible to view any kind of high profile sport or cultural event without leaving your home and in high definition. When it comes to chess, not only you can see moves, but also get high quality commentary from top grand masters like Y. Seirawan and Peter Svidler and I am sure there are many others who can deliver entertaining and quality content.
Yet, if event is virtually in your backyard (like in my case), or you are by chance or business located in a close proximity, I see no reason to not visit and experience it. Nothing is going to prevent you from relocating to nearest bar with wifi if your expectations are not met.

[karchad]

Some people seem to say that watching it on the internet is as good as watching it live. I may be old-school (I am 60 years old), but I can assure those people that it’s not even close. I think the organizers are really dropping the ball if they hold a match with hardly a live audience.

[Allen]

@karchad

Some people seem to say that watching it on the internet is as good as watching it live. I may be old-school (I am 60 years old), but I can assure those people that it’s not even close. I think the organizers are really dropping the ball if they hold a match with hardly a live audience.

Well they are offering a "virtual reality: experience. Get your Google cardboard 3-d glasses and watch it on your screen with 360 degree camera angles.

No I’m not making this up.

They seem to think this is the next big thing is viewing chess. I guess we will see.

[mlanger]

We already had it in New York in 2003 when Kasparov played X3D Fritz.

[ChessSpawn]

@karchad

Some people seem to say that watching it on the internet is as good as watching it live. I may be old-school (I am 60 years old), but I can assure those people that it’s not even close. I think the organizers are really dropping the ball if they hold a match with hardly a live audience.

I agree. I enjoyed going to Boston Blitz matches at Harvard with a friend. Nothing like the feel of being there. Boxing is the same way. My grandfather and I used to watch the Friday night fights on TV in the early 60s. Then he got us ringside tickets for boxing at the old St. Nicks arena…quite different.