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MatPlus.Net  Forum General ISC Frequency |
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| | | (1) Posted by Ian Watson [Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 15:10] | ISC Frequency
What does everyone think of holding the ISC more often?
It's a popular event worldwide, and for many people their only opportunity to enter a major international solving event.
My suggestion is to have two ISC events a year, perhaps January and June.
| | | (2) Posted by seetharaman kalyan [Friday, Jan 31, 2014 13:27]; edited by seetharaman kalyan [14-01-31] |
I agree wholeheartedly. A few of our Indian solvers( who had never competed an international event) have done well finishing within top 100. Karthikeyan Murali the Indian winner (28 overall) is an active player (I.M.) and takes keen interest in solving too. Arvind Chidambaram another active player (an IM with GM norm) is also a keen solver. He could not participate in this event due to some other commitments.
I think holding it twice a year will be a good idea.
| | | (3) Posted by Kostas Prentos [Friday, Jan 31, 2014 19:18] |
Earlier this month, a few weeks before the ISC, a similar solving competition took place in Greece. It had the same rules as the ISC and about 120 solvers from 15 cities participated. It can be described as a very successful event; it was going to be annual, but now there are thoughts about repeating it in 2014. Why not do the same with ISC? If there are people who are able to do all the hard work, I am sure the solvers will enjoy it.
| | | (4) Posted by Kevin Begley [Friday, Jan 31, 2014 22:27]; edited by Kevin Begley [14-01-31] |
Holding major solving events can not be a bad idea, but holding a World Championship more than once per year seems quite dubious.
I can think of no serious sport/contest which has more than one annual championship event (save the world cheese contest, held in Wisconsin).
Perhaps the event needs an alternative title (e.g., maybe stage a Grand Slam solving event, annually, which coincides with a popular chess tournament -- to get better exposure, and encourage crossover participation).
I'd normally say it's best to let solvers decide the matter, but in this case, obviously, solvers have an inherent conflict of interest -- the majority of solvers would benefit from an increased frequency of opportunities to win this coveted title, whereas previous winners (a much smaller set) may prefer to preserve the traditional value of the title (an argument which is not so easily dismissed).
My two cents: think carefully, before making such a major change.
[edit: err, shows what I know -- my above comments reflect a poor presumption: I always thought ISC stood for Individual Solving Championship. I respectfully submit that my propensity for error, in this case, serves to demonstrate that International Solving Contest constitutes a very poor acronym. It is also a poor choice to use the word "contest" in describing a solving match -- this carries a false connotation that solving (which is an objective sporting competition) is within the category of subjectively graded activities (like a chili cook-off, or a problem composition tournament).]
ps: I wonder if you could structure a major solving event such that the audience could enjoy active coverage (e.g., one problem at a time, with digital solutions entered, such that the audience could follow the participants in real time).
The sport would benefit greatly from having a live audience (even if this would heighten the annoyance of kibitzers with computers).
It would be entertaining (and highly educational) if an audience were treated to live commentary from some solver host (especially if at least one composer guest hosted, to discuss construction of their own problem, within the set)!
If possible, this would not only benefit the sport of solving, but might greatly promote problem composition.
If only more "elected WFCC representatives" showed some vision (to match their passion for this endeavor)... perhaps I wouldn't have a soapbox.
| | | (5) Posted by seetharaman kalyan [Saturday, Feb 1, 2014 11:00] |
International Solving Tournament is perhaps better name.
| | | (6) Posted by Neal Turner [Saturday, Feb 1, 2014 13:41] |
Of course maybe it would be nice to have more of these competions - but an event like this is REALLY HARD WORK.
Let's see:
- problems need to be chosen - this is not a trivial task!
- solving sheets need to be made up
- the event needs to be promoted
- local controllers need to be identified and contacted
- materials sent out
- results & solving sheets received once the solving is complete
- more than 400 solving sheets checked!!!
- provisional results published
- protests handled
- final results published
And this is just for the central organisers - there's also plenty of effort involved at the local level.
We're talking hundreds of hours of UNPAID LABOUR for an event like this to succeed - is it really feasible to have it more than once a year?
Nowadays the calender is quite full of national championships (which are usually open to outsiders) and meetings having solving competitions - if solvers are really keen they can attend those.
Kevin's idea of a competition happening on the Internet with spectators following tha action in real time sounds exciting - but whose going to organise that?
The very existence of our problem scene is down to enthusiasts working in their spare time for no financial reward.
How could these people - even if they had the technical skills - be expected to set up such an event?
Of course we could hire professionals but that would cost some multiple of the entire WFCC budget!
| | | (7) Posted by Kevin Begley [Saturday, Feb 1, 2014 16:07] |
@Neal,
Coverage of such an international solving tournament could easily (and cheaply) piggy-back with some FIDE event.
It would serve as an invaluable test for websites, just prior to a major chess match.
No serious development (or expenditures) should be necessary.
| | | (8) Posted by Steven Dowd [Saturday, Feb 1, 2014 17:05] |
It doesn't even happen once a year in the United States. I shouldn't care, as I could not participate, but it does bother me that we have apparently no one interested in solving in the US.
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