During the club evening Markus recounted his experiences as a chess player. He used to be an active club player and play in tournaments, too. According to him, chess players tend to have much worse manners than go players. Some of them tend to do idiotic things like disturb their opponent, say disrespectful things to their face during the game and things like that. I've heard similar stories from a Tampere go player who started out as a chess player. I think it this may have to do with the fact that while go was invented in China about 3000 years ago, it was the Japanese who took upon spreading go to Europe, America and the rest of the world outside East Asia. The Japanese etiquette has somewhat stuck with go players and it is an absolute faux pas to verbally put down your opponent or otherwise harass or disturb them. Before the game you're supposed to wish your opponent a good game and thank them afterwards. Even if you think your opponent is wasting time playing a lost game, you should NEVER tell or ask them to resign. If this happens on a go server on the internet and I'm busy, I will simply resign. If the opponent is delaying the game on purpose, I'll resign and make sure not to play that person ever again.

In games such as go, respect for and gratitude toward the opponent should be based on the simple fact that they are under no obligation to play you. According to some chess players at Lahti City Library at the Game Över event, chess has been declining in Finland for quite some time. I'm not terribly surprised.