Some states and clubs run websites listing upcoming events, so US Chess TLAs are not the only way to find out about them.
I don’t know if it’s still the case, but only around 20% of the events rated by US Chess had a TLA back before 2020. I think that included free online-only TLAs.
But as I said in an earlier post, the clearinghouse system is somewhat archaic these days. A centralized site with upcoming events (including possible future events that aren’t finalized yet) might be a better option.
Omaha is in the Nebraska clearinghouse, but Council Bluffs is in the Iowa clearinghouse.
So from what your saying is that the clearinghouse is not really worth it and few people care. I know lots of states have overlaps constantly so we are just supposed to battle it out as organizers. I mean I don’t have to because it is myself and two others and we all get along.
No, what I’m saying is that the clearinghouse system is a bit old-fashioned, but in places where it is utilized, it pretty much works. In other places, the clearinghouse slot is vacant or should be (like Georgia.) A volunteer-driven cooperative program only works if people participate and cooperate.
Would I like to see it replaced with a centralized system? I’m a database guy, so the answer to something like that is almost always yes. But I don’t know if organizers, TDs and players would use it and that makes funding the development and ongoing operating cost difficult to get approved.
My state (Florida) uses ChessRegister so while it’s not a clearinghouse, it replaces the need for one. Most TDs in FL just look at the chess “calendar” in chessregister to see if they can schedule some event. A few other states use chessregister as well.
This business model in my opinion removes the need for a clearinghouse.
In NC most folks use the state’s web site tournament page with only two places who regularly post a TLA. I have to know what is going on as I pretty much only do fill in tournaments when nothing that conflicts is already going on and there is no other activity at one of the sites.
I could certainly imagine there are chess geographies where tournament date mediation might be a good thing, but a clearing house without teeth (how would the teeth work) seems to be a solution looking for a problem??
Is scheduling a small 1 day, low EF, low prize tournament on the same weekend of large two day, high EF, Big Prize event a conflict or just a free market choice?? I absolutely know quite a few players who might play in the big tournament if nothing else was happening, but wound up at the small event instead. This hurts the the big event’s bottom line and more importantly future organization of such events. Perhaps this is why side events are considered in some cases at bigger tournaments.
I have had a case where I saw someone was doing a tournament so I did not bother thinking of scheduling one. I was looking for the results of that tournament and never saw them – turns out is the university bureaucracy cancelled it as they considered chess to be gambling and against school policy – sad to see this pov could prevail at university. If that would have happened to me at college I think I would have had a small army of professors willing to support chess<>gambling.
Our state, Alaska, is the physically largest state, with the smallest overall, and I believe smallest chess playing, population. So our results may not be the norm, but we use the TC with much success.
Our state affiliate runs the clearinghouse, and never requires that other events adhere to their calendar. However, since we have so few chess players, spread out over such a large area, it is very helpful for the players to know what events are going on in which part of the state. It is also very helpful for the organizers to know that if they run an event on the same day as another event, half or more of their players will not be present at their event.
As @nolan pointed out, it is a great volunteer system that helps both the players and organizers figure out the best plan for holding or attending events. Even without any “teeth”, so to speak, it naturally helps in smaller chess communities like ours when planning events. I don’t know how well it would work for larger chess communities. Perhaps someday we will find out.
Our clearinghouse also posts and accepts input for chess events from non-US Chess affiliates, so players and organizers know where and when unrated events are taking place as well.
