Years ago, one of my brothers and I spent many a weekend evening right on thru to the morning playing. Played more than a few "club players" over the years as well. We anxiously awaited the newspapers updates c/w moves and positions of the Bobby Fischer - Boris Spassky world championship match in 1972 ... and followed them closely. Still have quite a few books of famous matches from most of the greats detailing each move that allows you to replay them and analyze. But my favorite memory in regards to the game was when my youngest was in the 6th grade ... and she "volunteered" her dad to be their school's chess coach for the year ... lol I actually loved every minute of it during their lunch periods and sometimes after school. They came within a 1/2 point (a draw) of winning the county outright (they weren't even on the chess map prior to this) and I ended bringing 5 or 6 of them to the provincial championships in Toronto that same year. Now ... that's where the game is taken seriously ! Too much so, actually. There was even a young boy in the 7th grade at that tournament (with his personal coach ) that had just returned from Europe playing a tournament with masters. I kid you not. I felt like I went to a gunfight with a peashooter ... lol But all in all, they fared quite well. My youngest beat a young Chinese boy her first game ... and the poor kid was crying because he had lost to a girl. Turned out that his loss to her was his only loss ... and cost him a chance in the finals. But the pressure on the kids was immense ... and I would never recommend it become that competitive at that young an age. Might pick up the game once again in my retirement years
