"Ivan" wrote:
.... all those chess players that pay $200 are fools. ....

If they are paying because they hope to win money, I agree with you
completely. If they are paying in order to see some great players, have a
good time, and play some interesting chess (the best way to do the latter is
to PLAY UP a section), then they are probably getting what they are paying
for.

In all these tournaments, there are entirely too many of the fools who
regard their entry fees as a short-term investment. It almost never pans
out.

Bill Smythe