| GM Robert
Hess; the Great "American" Hope! (Caution: This article may not be politically correct) By NM Leland Fuerstman Perhaps it's a bit disrespectful to use the vernacular, but compared to the rest of the world, American "born" chess players suck?! When one observes the FIDE Top 100 list, the #6 position is occupied by "USA representative" GM Hikaru Nakamura (2771) who was actually born in Hirakata, Japan. When you drop down to #16, GM Gata Kamsky (2741) claims the spot, however he was born in Siberia, Russia. And, finally, you'll need to scroll all of the way down to #77 where Alexander Onischuk (2670) resides. However, he was born in Moscow, Russia. The fact is, there is only one "American born" chess player on the FIDE Top 100 List and that is #7, 20 year old Fabiano Caruana (2767) who was actually born in Miami but plays for Italy?! Now, let's take a look at the USCF Top 10 List!
It is no surprise that there is only one player in the "Top 10" who was actually born in the good old USA! And, that would be #4, 21 year old GM Robert Hess (2718) who was born in New York City. Seirawan was born in Syria. Robson was born in Guam.* The rest are from Russia or the former Soviet Union. Including Stripunsky who coined one of my favorite quotes, “The more you play, the more beauty you are able to see.” Now, I am sure that our American youth are not the only kids around the globe who apply most of their waking hours to playing computer games, Xbox, Wii, listening to music with ear buds, yacking on the cell phone, texting and sexting!? With so many entertaining diversions, who can blame them for not dedicating their lives to our royal game?! When I was studying to achieve the Title of National Master in 1984, I was privileged to use an arcane tool of enlightenment that most kids of today know little about. It was called a "book!" Yet, now that they have all of the necessary information at their fingertips with computers, they don't seem to be taking advantage of it? And, unfortunately, I don't see that trend changing any time soon. I mean no disrespect to the many talented emigres on our Top 100 List who now call the USA home. My grandparents immigrated from Russia and Germany. And, though he spoke no English when he arrived, my Grandfather, Joseph A. Fuerstman, after serving in WWI and attending night school at NYU, became an Attorney at the age of 23! Sometimes, it seems as if our educated foreign friends who come to the US apply themselves a bit more intensely to their work, and their "play," than do our own citizens!? And, unfortunately, the statistics substantiate that. Boy, do we have our work cut out for us...?! ---GM Robert Hess for Mayor!!--- NM Leland Fuerstman Charlotte, NC |