Thursday, November 16, 2006

Strange Happenings in Tasmania

A couple of weekends ago, the Burnie Shines Weekender tournament took place in Australia's southernmost state, Tasmania. Twenty-five players participated. Locals Andrew Todd and Kevin Bonham shared first place and they each took home $250.

We bring you this obviously belated news now because we've just learned of a very strange condition of entry to this event. All participants were required to agree to this:

All public reporting rights to the event are reserved exclusively by the Burnie Chess Club.

This type of condition is understandable for big events - chess or whatever. But a weekender in Australia's most remote state? What could have possibly possessed the organisers to impose such a ridiculous demand as to prevent people from talking about their experience? Are they making money from those exclusive rights? If not money, then what is the advantage to be gained?

We find this very strange and can only hope that it is not repeated. Meanwhile, we'd like to get some answers from the Burnie Chess Club. An email is on its way to Phil Donnelly.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

0 comments eh? lol

Anonymous said...

Maybe the Rebel alliance doesnt want to be invaded by Bonbot. hehe

Anonymous said...

The wording itself is almost ambiguous enough to allow the posting of game scores in public, but I would not do so if I were an entrant in the tournament without having first cleared it by the Burnie Chess Club. Presumably the club would not object to game scores (in Algebraic notation) being place in public.