On Mar 30, 10:03 am, "J.D. Walker" wrote:
http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2008...op-players-sai...

Any other news about this? Why are the top players refusing
invitations? Is this a boycott?
--

Cordially,
Rev. J.D. Walker, MsD, U.C.

Most of these declines are not surprising. For example, Christiansen
and Benjamin did not play last year. Of course, last year Benjamin
blamed his refusal to play on Sam Sloan. See New In Chess Magazine
4/2007, the issue with Topalov on the cover, where Benjamin blames it
all on Sam Sloan.

Of course, the truth is that I had nothing to do with the things
Benjamin was complaining about. Goichberg had done all of those
things, then found it convenient to blame all the problems on Sam
Sloan.

Now that I am off the board, Benjamin will not have Sam Sloan to kick
around any more.

The person posting is surprised because this is an Olympiad year and
the winner qualifies to the Olympiad.

However, playing in the Olympiad is more of a chore and an obligation
than a privilege, especially since the now USCF pays a much smaller
appearance fee.

Sam Sloan