Al2009: <HeMateMe>
I definitely agree with you, yes the game has been perverted AND KILLED by computers (you don't need "super" computers, even laptop and "normal" pc are more than enough).
Let's think about what follows:
1) In the past even low-rated players were respected and admired, because everybody knew that it took time, study, etc. to reach those levels. Now even superGM have to face legions of patzers who "find" their mistakes, and have no respect of them.
2) In the past many masters and GM were earning a living through analysis (that were being published by "Chess Informant" or chess magazines), lessons, etc. Now nobody is interested in "human analysis", even from a reigning World Chess Champion - because there are Fritz, Houdini, Rebel, etc.
3) In the past chess was the most honest and "cheating-proof" sport, because cheating was almost impossible (at most you could find someone keeping hidden notes on just openings). Now you have to sign - before an important tournament - agreements with organizers allowing arbiters to make a strip-search on you, as if you were a narco in the airport.
4) In the past, after you had brilliantly won a game, everybody was admired with you, and nobody would have dared to suspect cheating. Now "cheating" is the first idea crossing the minds of many players watching a "too brilliant" win by a player against a stronger opponent.
5) In the past it was normal that a player was gaining and losing elo points, during his/her career. Now when a player is gaining too much, cheating suspicions immediately arise.
6) In the past a tournament room was a fascinating place, you just were watching chessboards, and thinking about moves. Now tournament rooms became paranoid places, where players are scrutinizing each other, becoming anxious when opponents are going to the toilet and staying there more than 5 minutes, etc.
6) In the past media (tv, magazines) were reporting chess results and chess champions. Now they just report "cheating".
7) In the past the most beautiful and admired chess components were HUMAN IDEAS, that is: clever and subtle strategies and brilliant combinations. Richard Reti once wrote: "In chess, ideas are much more important than variations"
Now you just have endless and dry sequences of computer analysis, with dry + 3.1, +7.0, etc.
Chess is dying.
In 1980 a song (by "The Buggles") was saying: "Video killed the radio star".
Now chessplayers can say: "Computers killed chess"
Kibitzing
