Luc Winants I knew, and I thought Gurevich was an Import, but the IMs I obviously did not know...

Remains that Belgium seems to lag behind compared to the Netherlands, although Ireland is a bit further from the fire, their number is quite low. I can not see a logical explanation, as I can't explain why Belgium produced Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin in Tennis, as well as Ireland produce insanely talented POP bands as opposed to Holland...

Usually these things are explained from the youth activity at certain sports and arts... E.g the number of Danish top Badminton players and squash players is enormous...

Small Sweden was booming at Tabletennis at one point in the 80s and even toppled the Chinese wall in that respect... This was unprecedented and unexpected!

Comparisons are always difficult, for various reasons, I guess...

These things can change. In the 1970s Ireland seemed about 30 years behind everyone else in pop music terms - a couple of obscure psychedelic bands, plus showbands in suits doing country songs in dancehalls. But the showbands also produced Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison, and Joe Dolan -- who died a couple of weeks ago and was seemingly a megastar in Russia.

The ups and downs you describe with the English players is mysterious to an extent, I agree, because the fluctuations should be less contrasting, assuming the Chess Federation is an active one-- and the number of members (youth-) staying roughly the same over time...

But chance/predictability/distribution only gets you that far... In general the size of a certain sports federation in a country accounts for the level of play, along with tradition and popular rolemodels who excel in the top echelons internationally, right?

Switzerland producing both Hingis AND Federer were quite an exception in that regard... No predecessors for them from their country, although you can argue that Boris and Steffi were an inspiration to some degree...

I remember myself being inpired by the likes of Borg, Edberg etc...

Perhaps in Team sports it is a different matter, and mostly the same countries will keep appearing at the top at a competitive international level...

And I have just been rambling on a subject of little interest, although I feel that the Irish are long overdue to produce a few decent 2600+ players.

(Ion O'Sphere: an obese Irish-Romanian Grandmaster)

Would I *really* turn you in? Hand you over to the Feds and their ridiculous 'chair'? Actually, you'd probably be given a medal, but that's another story.

I wouldn't *want* to turn you in. Every thistledown whisper of rust on my synaptic girders would revolt against the idea. But I've seen those Bogart movies, and I know the iron templates of noir. You killed Fischer, Bridget, and you're going down.

Oooh. That's what foreplay looks like in print.

You may be right, Joe, but it's also just an ageing roue routine ... I think I first used those particular words in 1979. Before I even had any rust worth mentioning.

<Dear Sir,

I have been thoroughly enjoying your discussion of alcohol advertisements, but am surprised that the fine Guinness TV ads have as yet not been mentioned. These advertisements have everything one might wish for: stylish cinematography, stirring music, exceptional acting and not one ounce of sentimentality. My only gripe is that the ads fail to mention that Guinness turns your @#$% to treacle.

Yours, etc...>

Actually, I don't even have the 'fast-improving juniors' excuse' -- I managed to concentrate and beat a couple of those. And then I blundered in good positions against older guys with negligible ratings.

Ok, ok, <dom> it's a fair cop...

I'm genuinely sorry to hear about your most recent "cross" table from the tournament.

FEAR is an unavoidable part of chess unless one doesn't care if she wins or loses. And that is not chess.

"One must make a friend of horror..."

Must one? Sounds awfully dramatic. Perhaps as true OTB as in the jungles of Cambodia, however.

Well here's some more from a gal who almost certainly will never reach the rating you currently possess.

(it's a great idea to take chess advice from weaker players-- really)

FEAR.

If you're too afraid to lose, you won't "play your game" and you will lose.

If you're not afraid enough to lose, Patzers can suddenly play like Kasparov and you will lose.

I struggle with this all the time.

I don't have an answer, but fortunately, <Chairman Mao> does.

The strength of his advice on this point is its total incomprehensibility:

<There is great <<<chaos>>> under heaven and the situation is excellent>.

I hope this has been of some help.

I've missed you.

Regards,
Cathy.

"It's me, It's Cathy, I've come home now... Let me into your window..."

WHOOOOOOOOOOOO (ghost sounds)

You'll be pleased to know I'm holding an election in my forum for the <COOLEST MAN OF THE 20th CENTURY>.

The nominations are closed, for obvious reasons.

Be the first to vote!!

Oh, right, the 'man' thing. Well, demonstrations available, strictly by appointment only.

Voting for oneself may be uncool-- however, a la <Huey Long>, voting for oneself 7 or 8 times is WAY COOL.

OK- <tautalogous premise or not>?

The answer matters, or perhaps anti-matters, since it is the first premise in the book:

<The World is all that is the case>

(translated by Benny Hill, all rights reserved).

Tough to argue this one.

BECAUSE IT'S A FREAKING TAUTOLOGY AND AS SUCH APODEICTICALLY TRUE.

Notice that the word <apodeictically> has the word "God" in it.

How does <Richard Dawkins> feel about this?

Do you think we should email him?