Chess, Diversity and Eco Bags

Diversity is a champions league buzzword. But what does it mean as a chess player in the London area? How does it score on race/religion/age/sex? Women and chess seems to be the hottest potato, so I will start with the cold Jersey Royals and work my way up. Please Note: This blog has not been submitted to the Inclusion Council, and I beseech you to accept a virtual sin offering for any mansplaining.

Chess scores highly on age diversity. Possibly better than any other pastime (I could write sport, but that's another debate). Personally, nothing scarier than playing a young, cherubic opponent who's head only just peers over the board, yet bangs out opening moves like a veteran. Last summer, I played an 8 year-old in a tournament. Major fright for the first 10 moves - till he made a faux pas. Superannuated players regularly feature in the same teams as juniors. Ability is what counts. It is also worth recognizing the many dedicated people, particularly parents, who help with transport and organisation.  

Physical disability is generally not a barrier to participation, particularly at weekend tournaments. Most venues outside Central London have suitable parking and access. However, some weeknight matches are at venues with stairs, and difficulties remain in this area. Blind players and deaf players have there own teams, but also play within the main  leagues. Not  perfect, but seems to be in a reasonable place from what I come across.

Men's clothing and accessories deserve a mention - the Milan catwalk need not worry. Plastic bags have historically been the favoured choice of man receptacle, with scant regard to designer labels (unless you count Tesco and Lidl). Eco bags very gradually grow in popularity - a welcome bit of cap doffing to the environment. Unkempt hair and facial fuzz are optional, as are clashing colours and patterns. The logic: You don't have to look at them, but your opponent does. Hawaiian shirts are sometimes a bit outré. I favour red shirts, but have few disciples. Shorts often make an appearance, particularly when temperatures are warmish and the sun shone  at any point during the day. This practice is by no means confined to the juniors, with some classic Rod Laver's and Bermudas, many of which are clear crimes against sartorial aesthetics. Fortunately, hirsute legs are not visible under the table.

Political and religious diversity is pretty much taken for granted, one of the games big pluses. The unwritten rule is to keep off these subjects as you want to stay on friendly terms with club mates. British Bangla Chess Association (based just off Brick Lane, E1 and meeting every Sunday) deserves a special mention for getting the local community to be proud of their heritage and mix with the wider chess community. Social class and status is less important than ever, and is not a  visible factor in London.

Overseas players are very much welcomed, and perhaps offer a slight psychological advantage in lower level matches, particularly if a player is ungraded. Team order  broadly represents playing strength, but faced with unknown opponent with a not-sure-how-to-pronounce surname causes me some trepidation, based on historic experience.

The days of most evening league chess matches being largely contested by Anglo-Saxon men have not departed, but that is to some extent due to other factors like location or team affiliations.  Things are improving in that regard, but...

...the kyrptonite King Edwards are women playing chess. Grandmaster Nigel Short's remark that women are not "hard-wired" to play the game well three years ago relit the blue touch paper, and still reverberates. There are some strong feelings on his recent election as a Vice-President of FIDE. Garry Kasparov said some very un PC things about women thirty years ago, but has partially recanted. Are women-only titles proof that the chess community wants to encourage women to play chess through affirmative action, or are they sexist? I'm taking the fifth. Where's the fence? Quotas and positive discrimination would not really work and might only make matters worse.

In the UK, it seems that female participation in open events (not including events restricted to females or junior events) is typically less that 5%. That is way too low and does the image of the game little good. I have read some disturbing threads about women being harassed at weekend tournaments and the arbiters not taking necessary action. Tales of name calling (b and c words etc.), grabbing scoresheets, unwanted texting etc. mirror the wider problems in society, and seems to need tougher sanction. 

There are, of course, a few LGBT chess players in teams. A quick search shows T-shirts and online teams, and the US Chess Federation has a sensible Transgender policy.  

Signing off now as my lawyers are getting twitchy.