The First Move
June 23, 2020
ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) asks listeners to consider if chess is RACIST because white goes first - and the extraordinary question they asked a champion about the rules
By LEVI PARSONS for Daily Mail Australia
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...me-racist.html
A former member of the Australian Chess Federation has blasted the ABC for preparing to hold a debate about whether the game is racist.
John Adams says ABC is wasting tax payer money by holding radio debate about whether chess is racist.
John Adams, 38, claims a radio producer from the publicly-funded broadcaster phoned to ask if he would take part in Wednesday's discussion focusing on why the white side always gets to go first under the rules of the strategy game.
Astonished by the request, Mr Adams took to Twitter shortly after to scold the ABC for wasting taxpayer's money on 'irrelevant topics!'
'The ABC have taken the view that chess is RACIST given that white always goes first!' he posted.
'They are seeking comment from a chess official as to whether the rules of chess need to be altered!
'Trust the taxpayer funded national broadcaster to apply ideological Marxist frameworks to anything and everything in Australia!'
But Mr Adams says bringing the game of chess into discussions of structural racism is a bridge too far.
'With all the drama resulting from COVID-19, I am amazed that the ABC is broadcasting on irrelevant topics!' he said.
Hundreds of outraged Twitter users also took aim at the public broadcaster for entertaining the idea that the strategy game is racist.
While Mr Adams has refused to take part in the debate, Australian chess expert Kevin Bonham is set to discuss the matter on James Valentine's afternoon program on ABC Sydney.
'The funny thing is that at social to even lower club level, having white or black makes zero difference to average results,' he said.
'The advantage starts kicking in around middling club level and becomes stronger at the highest levels.'
June 23, 2020
ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) asks listeners to consider if chess is RACIST because white goes first - and the extraordinary question they asked a champion about the rules
By LEVI PARSONS for Daily Mail Australia
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...me-racist.html
A former member of the Australian Chess Federation has blasted the ABC for preparing to hold a debate about whether the game is racist.
John Adams says ABC is wasting tax payer money by holding radio debate about whether chess is racist.
John Adams, 38, claims a radio producer from the publicly-funded broadcaster phoned to ask if he would take part in Wednesday's discussion focusing on why the white side always gets to go first under the rules of the strategy game.
Astonished by the request, Mr Adams took to Twitter shortly after to scold the ABC for wasting taxpayer's money on 'irrelevant topics!'
'The ABC have taken the view that chess is RACIST given that white always goes first!' he posted.
'They are seeking comment from a chess official as to whether the rules of chess need to be altered!
'Trust the taxpayer funded national broadcaster to apply ideological Marxist frameworks to anything and everything in Australia!'
But Mr Adams says bringing the game of chess into discussions of structural racism is a bridge too far.
'With all the drama resulting from COVID-19, I am amazed that the ABC is broadcasting on irrelevant topics!' he said.
Hundreds of outraged Twitter users also took aim at the public broadcaster for entertaining the idea that the strategy game is racist.
While Mr Adams has refused to take part in the debate, Australian chess expert Kevin Bonham is set to discuss the matter on James Valentine's afternoon program on ABC Sydney.
'The funny thing is that at social to even lower club level, having white or black makes zero difference to average results,' he said.
'The advantage starts kicking in around middling club level and becomes stronger at the highest levels.'
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