On Oct 7, 7:02 am, " wrote:
WHAT INCONSISTENCY?

"Many famous composers of pure endgame studies were weak players
working in splendid isolation who rarely competed in tournaments" --
Larry Evans

Yes, the ever-consistent Evans, who in last month's CL and R featured
such a "weak player's" compositions in his "column" - Smyslov. -- SBD

Dr. Dowd knows as well as anyone else that Smyslov's fame derives
from his play, not his compositions. Evans clearly stated in his Chess
Life column of September 2007: "But few fans realize that his lifelong
passion for composing endgame studies started in 1936 when he was 15!"

Is it fame that is important Larry? Or is it the chess?

To me, there is no less joy in Smyslov's treatment of the Open Ruy
than there is in his 3 bishop promotion study. Botvinnik's little book
on the endgame ("Trousers!") is what I read, not a book that discusses
his fame or whether games were thrown to him..... or FIDE nonsense....

If some of these "famous chess people" would pay more attention to
chess than their own fame, the game might provide them the same joy it
does the real fans.