Chess teams checkered by recruiting practice
College: Some complain about grandmasters as old as 40 competing in tournaments.

On the college chess circuit, there are certain maxims: Advance your pawns, protect your king -- and don't be surprised if your opponent has gray hair.

College chess, once the domain of 20-year-old whiz kids, has a ringer problem, players and officials say. Increasingly, the elite college teams -- most notably, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County -- are prospering by offering large scholarships to recruit grandmasters as old as 40 to represent them at tournaments.

"It's disillusioning," said Lubos Pastor, 29, a finance professor at the University of Chicago who played for its team as a graduate student. "You go to play in [a tournament] and say, 'Hey, I saw that guy in Chess Life magazine! I didn't know he was a student at such and such university.'"

Nothing much has changed. This tournament or perhaps it is just chess tournaments in general attract controversy, but probably it is just humans doing what they do best. I remember an incident that occurred a number of years ago at this same tournament. The following conversation is accurate though some names have been changed.

We negotiated for weeks for Phillip to play in the Pan American Collegiate Chess Tournament, but the local organizer was unbending so we contacted the USCF for their help, but although they had said he could play if he was qualified we anticipated problems. We all arrived for registration at 3:30 p.m. The five team members including Phillip, and Lorus who had been the person negotiating with the local organizer during the past month were there. Donald the tournament organizer saw us coming across the lobby and met us in front of the door to the playing room."He's not playing in my tournament!",said Donald. "Where's the Tournament Director," Roger responded, "this is an USCF sanctioned tournament. The USCF has said that if he meets the qualifications to play he can play."the local organizer motions to the security guard who is walking across the lobby towards us."Security, here is the "person" I told you about please remove him from the building. "The security guard motions to Phillip to follow him. "Hold on a minute, there is a lot more to this than what you've heard. There are two sides to this, and I'm sure the hotel doesn't want to get sued!" said Roger. I want him out of here now!" shouts Donald."Just hold on a minute, we need to talk about this," said Roger. A crowd of curious onlooker has gathered. Everyone it seems are attracted to controversy. Mr. Brown the Tournament Director finally arrives and Roger immediately shows him a letter from the USCF."Yes yes," Mr. Brown says, this is the December 19th letter. I've seen this and in fact have talked to Mr. Winston about it. It is also required that a team is sponsored by an affiliate. The University affiliate is apparently not sponsoring this team, so they wouldn't qualify."Phillip and the other team members have an affiliate," said Roger, 'Friends of the University' I paid for an affiliation this morning.""He's not playing, I contracted with the hotel for the rooms and he's not playing," screamed Donald, "You stole clocks and sets at the U.S. Open didn't you Phillip? I won't have a sleazy little thief in my tournament. Well! didn't you? "Roger said, "Don't answer that Phillip! This is a USCF tournament and all the team members including Phillip can play!"Turning to the security guard, Phillip says, "Do you want me to wait outside while you settle this?""Please", said the guard." I'll come and get you as soon as we get this resolved", said Lorus. "I've heard enough," said Dan Brown, "and as the official representative of the USCF I say that Phillip and his teammates are eligible to play in the tournament."Well, It's my tournament and I rented the rooms and he's not playing," said Donald "Our contract is with Mr. Lither, and if he doesn't want him in the rooms he has rented, then we will respect his wishes," said the security guard. So Phillip was allowed to play though not in usual sense. His assigned opponents were not as crazy as the organizer and agreed to play their games with him in the lobby. His first opponent a fellow from New York, if I recall the story accurately, arrived in the lobby. I'm not sure I understand why you can't play in the tournament hall. Do you have some sort of disease or something. No nothing like that said Phillip. Well okay, chess is chess it doesn't much matter where we play the game, he said. Indeed.