Montana Joins the USCF

I don't recall the exact year, but I do recall the incident. In the years up to about 1970 (give or take a few years) Montana was a non-USCF (United States Chess Federation) affiliate. A business meeting was held concurrently with the annual Montana Open. For a few years running Montana's chess players voted on whether or not to become affiliated with the USCF.

I was present at the Montana Open when the vote went in favor of the USCF. The field was divided nearly 50/50. One of the arguments against joining the USCF was cost -- the cost for individual players to join the federation. One of Montana's strongest players (a former state champion) had a limited income and stated outright that he would refuse to become a member for that reason. Then there was the all but useless (in the opinions of many) official publication: Chess Life. Why should anyone have to pay for a monthly magazine (or even a membership fee) in order to play competitive chess?

When the vote was taken the USCF won by a small margin. The strong chess player referred to above never joined the USCF and never played in any of Montana's USCF affiliated tournaments. He continued to play chess on weekends in the back room at Missoula's Hansen's Ice Cream (my next entry will take you to Hansen's), and often showed up even years later at Montana USCF tournaments (at least in Missoula) as a spectator. Over night Montana Chess changed from a small, non-profit, mom and pop organization into an affiliate of the more costly (and therefore more exclusive) USCF.

I had mixed feelings back then, and some thirty years later I remain with mixed feelings. I can't help but wonder if the situation might be better for Montana Chess and Montana's chess players if the Montana Open along with the Montana State Championship had remained independent from the USCF. At present Montana has about 80 USCF members, not all of which are active tournament players. Yet, the state has far more than 80 chess players. In my opinion, with the vote to become affiliated with the USCF, chess in Montana moved into a exclusive 'members only' club that effectively excluded (and still excludes) many who lack sufficient disposable income to participate.

The rural nature of a large state like Montana makes it even more costly for any Montana chess player who doesn't live in or near one of the few cities where USCF tournaments are held. Currently, to the best of my knowledge, no Montana USCF tournaments are held east of Billings. Furthermore, for the past several years all of Montana's USCF tournaments have been in the neighborhood of 100 miles or more westward of Billings. This has left a huge portion of Montana to stagnate in a virtual chess desert.

In fairness, Montana's affiliation with the USCF has had positive benefits as well. All of Montana's tournament players ended up with USCF ratings. Some of Montana's players, after becoming USCF members, have ventured beyond the border to compete in other state and national events. I have many positive experiences with Montana's USCF tournaments and the wonderful people who have made up Montana's modest force of tournament chess players.