Knightfall Chess Association??

[Nigel Hanrahan]

Kick 'em when they're down!

Bob's advice is sensible. Don't send them any money, find out the facts, if they're simply bumbling so-and-so's then push them in the right direction, &tc., &tc.. If they've got a brain between the lot of them, then they have to know that they're now under serious scrutiny and better get their "ducks in a row".

Mind you, I understand that many people, chess players included, get immense schadenfreude from kicking others when they're down. Don't let me stand in your way! :)

[John Coleman]

Re: humility precedes greatness

I'm just getting ready to advertise my next event... $1,000,000 prize fund, free champagne, and a free Maserati to all players over 18. Sponsors to be named later. To reserve your place, please send a $100 cheque made out to the "John Coleman retirement fund", P.O.Box 911, Cancun, Mexico.

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: humility precedes greatness

Why would anyone go to this tournament? It sounds like they are taking different information from already posted tournaments and creating a scam.
Kitchener March 11-12 is a far better venue to attend.

I would suggest anyone who has paid their entry fee to Knightfall but would prefer to play in Kitchener, request a refund.
If you do, please send me an email and tell me if you were successful.

IMHO, changing the date should be reason enough for a full refund, no excuses.

Seriously, I want to hear from players. I am trying to get a read on these new organizers, can we trust them or not.
Feedback please, good or bad.

My recommendation remains unchanged: At this time, do NOT send them any money.

[John Brown]

Re: humility precedes greatness

Why would anyone go to this tournament? It sounds like they are taking different information from already posted tournaments and creating a scam.
Kitchener March 11-12 is a far better venue to attend.

[Mathieu Cloutier]

Re: humility precedes greatness

Definitely sounds like a scam, or my understanding is way off on that one.

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: humility precedes greatness

Okay, I just got home, and an email was waiting for me.
They will be contacting registered players with new arrangements.
I find their website has been updated as such:

Bobby Fischer Memorial Open -------- March 12, 2017
This tournament will be held on sunday March 12, 2017. This event will be held at the Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre (to be finalized tomorrow). There is a 160 (90% confirmed) person limit on this tournament, We are no longer accepting anymore registrations. However you can still sign up for our newsletter and we will analyze the data to rent out venues near you to hosts events there. Apologizes for the people who are not able to come to this tournament.

Status: Closed

http://knightfallchess.com/events

[Nikolay Noritsyn]

Re: humility precedes greatness

Exactly. Perhaps they're idiots, perhaps they're scam artists, but perhaps not. Let's not be smug assholes, be cautious of course, but it's stupid to disdain the promotion of chess when we're not able to do a complete job ourselves. The unpleasant truth is that we need the help wherever we can get it.

Are you serious about this? What do we have here..scamming, lying, assuming identity of other people. There was plenty of evidence. I do wonder how many people paid an entry fee and wont get their money back. This is a crime, criminals..lets support real organizers.

[Nigel Hanrahan]

humility precedes greatness

I'll cut this guy some slack.

Hope he does well, makes a solid contribution to organized chess in Canada.

Exactly. Perhaps they're idiots, perhaps they're scam artists, but perhaps not. Let's not be smug assholes, be cautious of course, but it's stupid to disdain the promotion of chess when we're not able to do a complete job ourselves. The unpleasant truth is that we need the help wherever we can get it.

[Kerry Liles]

Re: Knightfall Chess Association??

Sounds like one of the Nigerian "send me money" scripts. I recall a saying we used to use in High School, "BS baffles brains!" Yes, a LOOONNNNNNGGGGG time ago!

Send an e-mail to the address on the CFC file for the name you have been given and see if it is really him!!

LMAO - Bob, I could use $500 - can you send me the money? I would like to start running CFC events but I just need a little seed capital to get going. I promise, promise, promise, with Neil Frarey as my witness that I will repay your money just as soon as little billy gets over his latest operation.

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Knightfall Chess Association??

Abdishakur Omarhassan CFC# 153679 played in several scholastic CFC-rated events from 2013 to 2015 without being a CFC member.

http://www.chess.ca/players?check_rating_number=153679

[Ken MacDonald]

Re: Knightfall Chess Association??

I have received another email from the organizer this evening. The tournament is being rescheduled to March 12. The organizer is hoping to secure a new site tomorrow and has promised an update by this time tomorrow. He has given me permission to post his previous email on chesstalk, so here it is below. I am happy to report his email today was much more coherent.

So here it is:


Hi,
I believe we've spoke before on the phone a while back, i just wanted to give you a quick email regarding updates on my tournament. In the spirit of full transparency, i want to justify to you why my results have been in dissonance with my actions. I want you to understand that i have been a long time CFC member, and i've been running tournaments in St.catharines. This will be my first time running tournaments in Toronto, as it is probably apparent with the chess community. Now, the question people are wondering is probably why my overheads and traffic has been so much, but i have not been producing results. The reason is for this is, i have sacrificed everything to do this and i am a risk taker. Usually when big companies are starting out, they have this kind of controversy because they are led by one risk taker who is stubborn and unwilling to hire anybody. I realize that there is way too much demand in Toronto, and i have to start saying no to some people. I have been reflecting about this for two days now and within these two days, i have not slept, even now i still have not slept. I have made myself go through a profound mental change so i can fully be into this. I just want you to know that all i want is for this to succeed, and all i want is the chess community to trust that i am doing my best. I will not heavily edit this, cause it's coming straight from the heart. I have money to back me up, and that's why my association has been gaining so much traction, even though i have just started up. I am saying all this because i really need all the help i can get, and i realize that one person cannot do this all alone, even though there are people in my staff, i am mainly doing the majority of the work. I know you have the power to influence the chess community and i want you to let them know that i have changed in terms of my ability to seek help. I am generally an intense guy, and a bit of a control freak. I can no longer leave this to chance and speculation, i have spent the majority of my money creating a model that is based on what other corporations have done and now realize that chess is not a corporation, chess is a community. Starting tommorow i will be setting up meetings with everybody to make sure everyone is happy. And if they want their money back that is definitely an option, in fact since i have money to back me up, i will even offer a free next tournement to anyone who feels they have went through profound difficulties with this business model. If you have stuck through this paragraph and you can see even a glismp of the struggles and the mistakes i have went through. You will know i am the rightr person to go into business with. So if you have anytime to speak i am available to meet you at my office or your office anytime. Please also note that a lot of what inspired this change in my approach is from what i observed on your website and what i have learned. I don't want to wait any longer to say this message, cause i want to come from a place of true sincerity. And if you still feel like the mistakes i have made were to large, please still feel like you can trust me enough to go into business with me, i want you to know that this controversy is a result of my leadership and risk taking ability. I have trapped myself in a corner for these two days i've benn up for, and when times get tough all my mind and body knows is to make it the absolute best of the situation. With that said i have come up with a bright bright idea to completely revolutionize the chess industry, and this is another risk i will take. But, i will use what i learn now to ensure the risks are mitigated as much as possible. The basic premise of this model is using data collection software to create great chess games with the community that . Sorry i have to cut th e email short, this computer is extremelyslow, but i would appreciate setting up a meeting.

Sounds like one of the Nigerian "send me money" scripts. I recall a saying we used to use in High School, "BS baffles brains!" Yes, a LOOONNNNNNGGGGG time ago!

Send an e-mail to the address on the CFC file for the name you have been given and see if it is really him!!

[Neil Frarey]

Re: Knightfall Chess Association??

I'll cut this guy some slack.

Hope he does well, makes a solid contribution to organized chess in Canada.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Knightfall Chess Association??

This is a very obvious scam...

Yup.
It also shows that there are not enough chess events in Toronto, if people try to jump on every opportunity like this.

[John Coleman]

Re: Knightfall Chess Association??

..anyone else here think they are capable of writing this much...coherent text? :)

Wow, this guy is really giving Paul Bonham a run for his money.

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Knightfall Chess Association??

This is a very obvious scam..but its like someone is really trying to make us, chess players, look very stupid.

I posted his email to give everyone the opportunity to judge for themselves.
My recommendation remains the same: I would advise members NOT to send them any money.