"(which is retarded and shows utter incompetency) "
utter incompetence.
I conclude that you cannot speak english.
Best regards,

@fnarrfnarr: yu are ridikulus

Interesting observations, CalDaniel. If it's anything like you describe, I'm sure I would be annoyed too. (At Corus, with the whole chess top playing, there is no searching let alone turning in of personal property) Are there any other spectactors with the same (or totally different) experiences?

It would be nicer still if it had a few Americans in it...

Who counts for two? Ten players are America's top 12.

Aha yes, the order was wrong, corrected now.

CAL|Daniel, I'm not sure what you mean by "worst spectating conditions". You make this assertion without elaborating.

True, spectators must be electronically searched before being allowed into the playing hall, nor are they allowed to bring in cameras or cell phones, but this I should think is de rigeur and totally appropriate! Where else could you find so many top GMs in such a small tournament in the U.S. and why shouldn't we as fans respect their playing conditions - conditions which will allow them to create great chess! All the top players are here, players who skipped many previous championships due to poor funding.

The admissions fee is only $12 for the entire 10 days. You can stand within three feet of every game and you can go down to the press room and listen to great commentary, ask questions to GMs and even see notable personalities like Susan Polgar, for example. There are also free food and refreshments.

What more could you ask for? I think the organizers have done a great job and will do an even better job for the U.S. Women's Chess Championship this October.

I would urge any chess fan to make it to St. Louis and watch some great chess!

There's nothing wrong with 'incompetency' as a word. Save your purism for real issues.

Nice pictures !
St Louis Chess Club is actually the more beautiful chess center I've ever seen.
Look like a chess heaven ...

@fnarrfnarr
"incompetency" is correct. English is capitalized. I am a native speaker. You clearly aren't.

@Glenn: They do have games from earlier rounds on the website - go to the live games link (given above), then click on "replay games" [finished ones from the current round and all from earlier rounds]

it does have 8 American born citizens participating (ie 1/3 the field) I guess now 9/25 truly since Doug is also American born.

However, one must not this is anything but a dream setup for the fans! Worst spectating conditions.

Some nice photos here: http://chaoschess.blogspot.com/

note*

Great event. Although, there are no games on the official website. Why don't they gives the games of each round?

I would urge fans against not going at all. I regret making the trip. I had planned to stay round1&2&3. Due to the poor conditions, my friend and I left after round2. Spectators were clearly an after thought to the organizers.

You cannot get 'within three feet' that is a load of crap. I would estimate it was more like 10-12 feet but perhaps it was 9 feet.

You are forced to turn in your personal property camera and phone (which is retarded and shows utter incompetency) a good policy would be force us to turn the phone off, no flash, no sound any infraction just removal - no leniency. Most of us came all this way for pictures. But as if that wasn't bad enough, they pat you down and wand you multiple times as though it was an airport. They treat you like scum. You can't even see more than 4 boards at all due to the poor setup of boards. In fact the top 2 boards are setup so the players have their back to you (ie you can't see the board at all!). No one even thought about parking issues. Just to make sure they are playing favorites "VIP" take as many flash photos as they want can get within an inch of the board and have even had their cell phones going off in the playing hall... so the policy was not created with the players in mind. I could ramble on the bad conditions but needless to say most people will run into them if they go.

CAL, do you find it ridiculous to be searched when you get on a plane? or when you go to any other sporting event?

I think that chess players and enthusiasts will just look for anything to complain about. The event organizers provide live commentary and analysis (which is certainly not for the players), free food and drink, and the ability to watch all the games on closed circuit television on the main level if you don't want to check in your cell phone. All of this for an average of just over a dollar per day if you attend all the rounds.

And the security check you speak of amounts to 5 seconds of a security guard waving an electronic wand around you. It's not a very intrusive security measure.

Your point about the top two boards is fair, but that is the setup that the arbiters wanted. The Chess Club attempted to rotate the boards 90 degrees after round 1, but were told that they could not because of the arbiters wishes.

This event, more than any other chess event i've ever been to, is magnificent for the spectators. I've been to every round, and I haven't heard a single complaint about the club, the commentary, or the free food and drink (which is very nice, not cheap).

I guess the vocal minority ruins it for everyone.

P.S. No one, and I mean no one, is allowed to have their phone on the main hall. Cameras are allowed if you turn the flash off.

Also, there is valet parking for any guests. parking? thought of.

CAL|Daniel~

I would have to disagree with your observation. Not sure why you seem so bitter and angry with the event and the tournament, but I am sure you are definitely in the minority. I came down to St. Louis from Chicago and it was definitely worth the trip. I am staying in the same hotel that the players are in and it's definitely plush and luxurious! But back to the venue and event, this Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis is arguably the best chess club I have ever stepped foot in, from the decorum to the location and to the staff! They are very knowledgeable, kind and extremely helpful. The spectator section is set up the way it is so that you don't intrude on the players personal game space, but you can get a clear view of the games and the boards. They have the games broadcast on the website and have analysis and post-game player interviews in the commentary room with WGM Shahade and GM Sutovsky. If that's not enough, they provided free food and drink throughout the entire event. I am happy that they scanned me and provided a safe and efficient phone and personal property check in service because that ensured that noone would forget to turn their phones off, which happens a lot. And we could take pics, just no flash!

So, again, not sure what your issues are Cal, but they can't be solely based on spectator conditions.

I definitely recommend people check out the last few rounds and the closing ceremony! I can't wait!

@ that Daniel lad:
Stop bitching about being searched for electronic devices etc. If cheating in chess (or cheating allegations) is to be stopped and playing conditions to improve, that's a compromise we got to live with. You can't have it both ways. And in any chess tournament, the client no 1 is the PLAYER, not the spectator. Best conditions are meant for the player. The spectator must be satisfied with whatever is left and I'm sure good organizers will try think about them too the best they can. But way too often we have seen events in which the players' conditions were sacrificed for the sake of spectators: that often leads to horrible events in which players refuse to take part the next year/edition. Myself as a player playing in such an event, I wouldn't want either to have my space invaded by smoking chimneys with cell-phones and flashy cameras all the time. Let's give the players the respect they really deserve: after all they are the ones who create stuff over the board. The rest of us - spectators - are just watchers. Don't expect to be treated like a King and bitch about tighter security and all that.

@Chessking I can tell you're lying because you obviously haven't been there.

@Marlowe you raise good points. If it were for the cheating concern then they should put up the conditions on their website so would be spectators know just to stay home and watch on the internet. Still if the players are their main concern (as they should be) then so called VIPS should not be allowed their phones and cameras. I will say I don't see anything wrong with a nonflash photo from a distance but they don't allow it. I was perfectly happy to leave my cellphone in the car. I certainly wasn't expecting to be treated like a king just a human being. They treated us like scum. Hence, we left.

I am always wondering about this so called 'the player is king' statement if it leads to such draconian measures as searching visitors for electronic devices. It seems hard to reconcile with the sponsor's wish for more spectators.

CAL - It seems like you want to be able to sit in the lap of a Grandmaster and feel the love. I spectated for 4 days in a row and took my kids to see the GMs play and we also played some skittles games outside the club. Had a wonderful time. I personally know the organizers and some of the players and my experience is a complete reversal of what you are describing... not negative. The pat down and checking for electronic devices/guns etc I think is warranted due to the nature of what societal threats we encur in todays world. This also minimizes the possibility of using hand held computers to assist the players in a tight position.

Games can be viewed live (Live Coverage - launches pull down buttons... wait a few seconds) by picking Live Games or Games played (for those games no longer in progress.)

CAL - I really don't know what problems you are going through but it is very clear to the rest of us that if you can't enjoy yourself in this environment... I think you will be hard pressed wherever you go. Not everyone is going to be happy but... I ask of you not to regurgitate your negativity in public because it is a misrepresentation and abberation of the truth. We are trying to BUILD a POSITIVE CHESS ENVIRONMENT here in Saint Louis and we do not need the trash talk here. If you are so displeased, get your $12 back and go home... wherever that is...

">> I am always wondering about this so called ‘the player is king’ statement if it leads to such draconian measures as searching visitors for electronic devices. It seems hard to reconcile with the sponsor’s wish for more spectators."

Interesting point. Electronics & computers are only getting smaller & stronger. Imagine the situation in 50 or even 100 years from now. Just don't bother with it anymore? That would clearly leave the door wide open for cheaters.
The sad thing is that most people would probably never consider cheating, but it only takes one in a hundred... to ruin it for everybody else.

I went for a couple of days this week and was blown away.

#1 Free food and drinks. Are you kidding? For spectators? Unbelievable.
#2 They did ask that electronic items be checked in, which I had no problem with. They were very respectful and courteous, and in fact when I didn't want to be carrying my backpack around anymore I checked it into them for the convenience.
#3 The wand wavers were very apologetic and respectful, and again I completely see the reason for doing it.
#4 the actual playing area was beautiful and setup so that you could get close but not too close to the players. I took multiple pictures with my no-flash camera, and at no point did anyone stop me or look at me funny.
#5 I actually didn't spend much time in the playing area, as I found it much more interesting to hang out in the commentary room, eating free food, drinking free beverages, listening to 2 top players give live commentary on multiple games at one time; more interesting was listening to the players after they came down and gave there own analysis on their games (Hess, Nakamura, and Krush were all quite entertaining and informative in this manner).
#6 After most of the games were finished, I used the one-month membership that everyone must purchase to enter (a mere $5 for students) and took some nice weighted pieces out onto the sidewalk outside, played on the stone tables underneath the trees with my friend while the beautiful people walked by in one of the nicer areas of st. louis.

All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Unbelievable club, unbelievable event. So much so that if the chess scene in St. Louis starts to blossom (which is must with a club like that), I would have to consider St. Louis for a permanent place of residence.