Topic inspired by a USCF Issues post that suggested Susan Polgar might no longer be a good role model because of her lawsuit and her behavior around it.
Suppose you have a child (or a student) who’s interested in chess. Whom would you point to as a strong chess-playing role model? Preferably living; dead OK if there’s something particularly compelling about the person which puts him or her in a league above and beyond today’s players.
Kamsy and Nakamura come to mind, though I’m sure someone may cite something in their bios that might be less than great for a role model.
(The danger with role models is that they may fail to live up to other’s expectations of them. Remember when Michael Vick was a positive role model, or Elliot Spitzer?)
Interesting question, and yet I agree with the previous poster that we can’t insist that people in a certain profession (or hobby, sport, etc.) accept the implied responsibility of “role model”. Certainly Bobby Fischer never wanted any part of that, for example. Another good (non-chess) example could be Pete Rose. He was possibly the best all-around ballplayer many of us had a chance to see, but not someone we’d want our kids to emulate (off the field). Similarly, in chess, with Fischer.
That important caveat aside, I suppose my first choice would be Garry Kasparov. His keen awareness of world events, and willingness to immerse himself in the center of them for the betterment of others, while taking on obvious personal risk and adversity - is perhaps unparalleled in the chess world. While many, many great GMs of the past, present, and future will display chessplaying skills that most of us could only dream of, Kasparov also embodies these “off the board” attributes - namely, breadth of awareness and personal courage - that I would certainly want my children to aspire to… and aspire to myself, as well.
Kasparov is probably also the best marketer of himself of any chess player in recent memory. (And I don’t mean that as a negative.)
Kasparov, Krush, Elisabeth Vickery, the current Women’s World Champion Kosteniuk, Nakamura, Joel Benjamin, and a host of others. Maybe, just maybe, like in the case of my brothers and sisters, and me, “Mom” and “Dad”, is the best role model, or at least they should be! Just my take on it.
My favorite chess role models are the club players who remain active in the game, play in tournaments and have gotten to be better players (some to A, expert or master level), while still holding down non-chess jobs in interesting and challenging fields.
These kinds of players model a “Chess Life” that’s balanced and accessible to just about any young player. They’re the kind of people who will never be nationally famous for their chess, but they’re the people I want young players to see and get to know.
If this sounds like a description of you, forum reader, make sure some young person sees you playing your game, and knows something of your life’s work.
Don’t remember his name offhand, but there’s a master that lives in Tuscon, Arizona that does alot with kids. His teams have won some national tournaments.
He made the cover of chesslife a few months ago, but can’t remember offhand which month. I don’t have that issue anymore.
Even though his name isn’t so commonly known, he seems to fit the bill as a chess role model.
“A few months ago”? Are you thinking of Kaidanov, from Lexington, Ky.?
Perhaps he was thinking of the April 29, 2009 article on FM Daniel Rensch?
main.uschess.org/content/view/9342/525/
Other good current role models could include:
Past role model:
Dr. Emanuel Lasker:
The coach’s name is FM Robby Adamson. He coaches the Catalina Foothills HS team. Most definitely one of the most enthusiastic and well-liked players in our community.
Danny Rensch is also an excellent role model.
Thats who I was talking about. Took me a while, but finally downloaded the correct PDF file.
When I teach HS kids, I often get the question what are the chances of being a professional chess player. I tell them it is a hard life as a player. If they want to work at chess, they should consider becoming a licenced teacher, HS or elementary.
A solid income with extended vacations, and there is always a place for a chess coach in the school. More and more schools are including chess in the curriculum. Best to teach a subject you love, and have mastered.
All the best, Joe Lux
Wish that were true in my state. It is actually forbidden in almost all public schools during class hours; maybe available before or after school in a chess club environment.
Here is an interesting list of celebrities who play chess. http://www.monroi.com/chess-info/44-in/446-celebrities-play-chess.html
Not sure all would really be good role models.
Russell Miller, Camas WA
I was surprised to see John Wayne on the list but not Bogart. Bogart was a decent (not great) player and a TD.
I was also surprised to see Gates – I thought Bridge was his big game.
Just the other day I stumbled upon a recorded game between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall!
It’s not a bad game. Bogart plays classically, Bacall rather aggressively but without an obvious strategy. I wonder what the occasion was, and who recorded it.
Now that the focus has shifted from role models within chess to celebrities from the “outside” world who happen to play chess, I hope we can avoid the Dustin Diamond debacle of a few years ago.
Alex Relyea
Was this for real, or was it joke?
What was that all about: the debacle? I know he did a teaches-chess gimmick dressed in different costumes.
One of the parents at my tournament this past weekend was Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Nebraska), whose daughter was competing (and won a Gold medal.)
I knew him (through Rotary) before he was elected to Congress, and spent several minutes talking to him about chess on Saturday.
This gives us another contact in Washington.
I’ve heard that Obama plays chess, too, maybe this could be something that the two parties find they can agree on. 