these players careers in jeopardy by negatively influencing their play. That could make some players lose their spo

NEW YORK -- On a dreary, rainy Manhattan night, a huge, happy roar arose in a crowd of chess fans from around the world.Two-time world chess champion, Magnus Carlsen, had just reached for a final, victorious move on Wednesday that crowned him a champ for the third time.He had beaten Russian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin with bold, aggressive moves in a series of tie-breakers capping three weeks of the World Chess Championship that until Wednesday was tied after 12 games.The setting was in a refurbished New York City building overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge that was once the citys fish market.On this night, it became a glittering gathering of hundreds of fans -- adults and children -- from Norway, Russia, the United States and elsewhere. They were riveted as the two grandmasters leaned over in the tense game, barely moving, in total silence and deep in thought.The fans paid $100 to enter, feasting on snacks and drinks as they kept their eyes glued to flat-screens that beamed close-ups of the chessboard in an inner chamber. A panel of soundproof glass shielded the players from onlookers, who could see in but whom the players could not see.Hungarian grandmaster Judit Polgar said the four lightning-quick games played on Wednesday were like Russian roulette.Today, the faster games are a great show even for people who dont know the game, said Polgar, considered the greatest female player ever.On Wednesday, the required mental strategies also played out on chessboards scattered around the spectator lounge. People hovered over them, trying out various combinations of pieces, mirroring the masters.Magnus is my hero because he takes risks, hes really exciting, said Pippa Millstone, a Manhattan 9-year-old who came to watch the tournament for her fourth time.The game is pretty even now, but I feel like Magnus is going to start attacking really soon, she said in the middle of the third of four so-called rapid games, each about a half hour long each, played as tie-breakers on Wednesday.Carlsen and Karjakin reached a draw in two, and the Norwegian won two for the championship.At crucial moments, spectators hushed, waiting to see what the next move would be. At times, one whispered, no, no when Karjakins choice seemed halting, or on the defensive.Even the winner missed a chance in one game, drawing groans and a few happy shrieks, depending on loyalties.Organizers said about 6 million people around the world followed the tie-breaking games, sort of like sudden death play in football.Most fans were in homes and clubs across the globe. Some spent $15 for a Pay-Per-View live transmission, others to watch via high-tech goggles in 3D virtual reality or by tracking moves on various free websites.The prize was $1.1 million divided between the two players, with the winner getting 60 percent.The New York championship did not escape the shadow of East-West rivalry reaching back to the Cold War days when American Bobby Fischer beat Russian Boris Spassky in 1972.This time, a key figure in chess was absent in New York: Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, a Russian businessman and longtime president of the governing World Chess Federation who was accused by the U.S. government of collaborating with the Syrian regime.Andrew Heaney Jersey . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Justin Bour Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/j-c-ramirez-angels-jersey/ . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. 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Brian Goodwin Angels Jersey .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St.Update: Since the time of publication, Marc Merrill has posted a response to the community backlash.After a recent interview by theScore esports with Team SoloMid owner Andy Reginald Dinh, Riot Games co-founder and League of Legends co-creator Marc Tryndamere Merrill took to Reddit to respond to Dinhs complaints about the competitive scene and the impact of upcoming patch changes on the game.Just in case someone didnt read Tryndameres original comment, here you have both side by side. pic.twitter.com/hywCFhy5K5- Rulo Mercury (@RuloMercury) August 22, 2016Although Merrills response was edited, as seen in the tweet, his original response received pointed feedback from other owners within the scene and the League of Legends community, and a lengthy response from Dinh himself. Merrill not only angered the public but also has caused one of the largest Riot Games public relations disasters in recent memory. He has been openly vocal about his opinions in the past, as shown in the SpectateFaker situation in 2015, when he alleged a streamer was e-stalking another players stream.The League of Legends esports fan base has actively opposed those who disagreed with Riots business decisions and propositions, such as veteran esports journalist Richard Lewis, journalist William Turton (who was effectively bullied out) and more. Parts of the fan base have also defended some of Riot Games most mismanaged and opaque decisions, such as the recent ban of Renegades and Team Dragon Knights. But for the first time since SpectateFaker, the tables have turned -- like the Eye of Sauron, the community has shifted its aggressive gaze toward Merrill and Riot.Merrills original response to Dinhs criticism is appalling for many reasons.First, just how out of touch is Merrill with the community that the game has produced? League of Legends most beloved team, Team SoloMid, is at odds with Riot, and though this is one of the first times the rift has become public, that isnt why the tables have turned, as some have suggested. (Recently, multiple teams, including TSM, petitioned Riot to levy punishment at Apex Gaming because Apex was missing visas to compete in the 2016 Summer Promotion Tournament.) This time, the community is at odds with Merrill because of his lack of understanding of the space he oversees and his continued incompetence when addressing the public.Merrills response starts off with, Maybe [Dinh] should spend some of the millions he has made / makes from League of Legends on paying them instead of investing in other esports where he is losing money -- a statement thats not only an arrogant delusion, but a pure fallacy.While League is sometimes profitable, depending on who you are and your investment model, the recent surge of League organizations that have expanded elsewhere is a sign of future-proofing. League will not last forever, and other esports, like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Super Smash Bros., allow teams to promote certain sponsors that are normally regulated by Riot Games.Two examples of this are gambling and daily fantasy websites, such as DraftKings and AlphaDraft. Alcoholic beverage companies like Bud Light recently plunged into the space as well. None of these companies is allowed to be affiliated with League of Legends teams, despite being popular among non-League teams under the umbrella of Team SoloMid and Cloud9.It seems that Riot Games esports department is selling a false idea to Merrill -- that League of Legends is esports. This has been, and continues to be, more false over time. While League of Legends was the focal pooint of an investment boom at the end of 2014, League is no longer the only game investors are interested in, and it was certainly not the first (Im looking at you, StarCraft II in South Korea).ddddddddddddIn fact, investors have taken a heavy interest in Counter-Strike and the recent first-person shooter release, Overwatch. Both of these games market to a different, yet overlapping, audience, a la League of Legends. With the growing popularity of both titles -- Overwatch overtook League of Legends in popularity in PC Bangs in South Korea for the first time in years -- its rare to see a major organization not involved in either game. And if these organizations arent, theyre usually pursuing a way to become involved.Second, Merrill speaks about the market value of a League of Legends pro, which he seems to not understand.There is still a long way to go to help get all of our owners into a better state where the balance of power between players & owners is a bit more equitable, he says in his response. Its not our call (nor should it be) to determine market pricing for players, but when owners dont want to shell out for top talent, thats a tricky problem.While Merrill is right that Riot doesnt directly determine that worth, the limited playing options for a talented esports athlete lead to highly competitive salaries. Ironically, Team SoloMid is reportedly among the top-paying orgs in the game. Criticizing Dinh and his organization for not paying their players enough, in turn, is almost laughable.Yet Dinhs criticism was mainly regarding the competitive patch schedule of League of Legends. The game is set to release a patch in the coming days to be used at the World Championship this year. Merrills opinion is that owners and coaches, such as Dinh, are angry because this will hide certain line up / skill deficits they may have on their rosters.Simply put, that is not what the owners, coaches or players are frustrated about. They are frustrated with the timing of the patch, and with not being included in the process of making large, sweeping, in-game decisions that will drastically affect game play and players careers. Riot Games did not notify the community before the changes were announced, and refused to allow the players the chance to push back on the timing.The solution? Transparency.This is only the tip of the iceberg, but Riot Games needs to do a better job of involving the teams and players in major changes. While the risk is potential leaks of changes, that risk is not nearly as terrible as the potential of putting some of these players careers in jeopardy by negatively influencing their play. That could make some players lose their spots on their teams, which would be a direct result of Riots lack of awareness.Additionally, Merrill needs to at least appear better-informed. His comments, as many have said, make him seem utterly disconnected from the game he helped create. This isnt the Riot that helped push esports forward by offering salaries, arenas and a world tournament tour. To get back on track, the esports side of things needs a massive overhaul. Up the player salaries, have an open discussion on benefits of regulation vs. franchising, start getting competitive with freelance caster rates (and look to treat the in-house talent better), increase the prize pool, start bringing in sponsors ... the list goes on, but one thing is for certain: Something has to change. And change starts at the top. ' ' '