@lovlas Are you aware that a gambling website is being advertised in off topic? The site offers odds on players winning lichess tournaments.
Feelings on this? Once lichess starts offering $ as prizes and a gambling site is promoted in a forum as to the winner, do you not think this opens a can of worms?
People are allowed to post links in forums. Including, naturally, to other chess websites. This is the whole point of the Internet, I think. As long as they don't spam, it's fine by me!
Imo users should be able to talk about whatever they want as long as it's within reason.
I'm not a patron right now (very broke) but have donated in the past.
I think I agree with using some money for an occasional high-profile tournament. As long as it's not a very high % of the total income. It promotes the site and gets strong players on, and in turn attracts lots of other casual players who want to follow them. As for the concern about players coming only for the tournament, then leaving, I like to think many of them will stay when they realize how much better lichess is than other sites :)
I watched the live stream of the tournament and it was awesome. For an entertainment value, if it helps grow this community, and it's what you want to do with the funds, then I'd say go for it.
I can easily agree in principle regarding internet censorship and users privileges to openly discuss topics.
The "worst case" scenario came to mind.
Sometime down the road (sure, it's easy to say the issue will be dealt with when it happens); what if many thousands of dollars are to be won in an online tournament; where collusion is impossible to enforce; members are making bets in chat through a gambling site; I for see possible issues. But then, I suppose most see no issue with gambling mixed with chess.
A wager between participants is one thing. However in years past, I have personally observed on too many occasions, final round tournament players disappear to the restroom and return; throwing games for kickbacks. It happens and the spirit of chess suffers.
I'd hate to see chat in a tournament about how much observers have wagered on games, a tournament winner etc.
But if "anything goes", well then nothing is to be done and the spirit of chess will suffer.
I can assure you that lichess never will become a place for gambling.
My 2 cents.
$ and prizes should be left for the professionals.
$ offered to hobbyists/amateurs leads to a dead end and headaches not worth having.
Yes i agree, wait what if prizes are set private and the tournament Time should only be like 2 hours this is because i want to participate in classical shield but 10 hours woah!!! that is like my school time plus my study time!!!
