Staunton Memorial Dinner

[Stewart Reuben]

Tolya told me over 20 years ago that the World Championship title was worth approximately $1 million a year.
Korchnoi said over 25 years ago that Karpov's collecting money was most unlike the Soviet way. It was similar to the way in which he collects stamps. He would not have referred to Karpov as Tolya, an affectionate diminutive.

CJ did a wonderful job organising the dinner, but there is no doubt that Ray Keene and Barry Martin also did their bit. e.g., It is very difficult for Russians to get visas these days and apparently Ray did some networking for one of the Ks.

Next job CJ once you are in Siberia. Make certain all the English have our accommodation sorted out. This may however prove to be an impossible task. It may all be perfectly fine, but you may not be able to ascertain that. If there are any local restaurants, also try to find a good one. Two are most unlikely. The full board we will be provided is likely to be mediocre, with those numbers it is hardly surprising.
Stewart Reuben

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I'm gratified to see that Chris Kreuzer has excluded me from the list of suspected millionaires and billionaires. This is quite correct - I am neither. In fact - can anyone lend me a tenner? I'll pay you back on Monday.

The list was only meant to give an idea of who was there, and what can be added to that is the GMs that CJ mentioned, and there are some people posting here who I think attended but have not said so explicitly (I don't want to name them in case they don't want to confirm it for whatever reason, but some more stories about the great time had by those there would be nice - presumably millionaires and billionaires don't use blogs...).

Interesting point by Matthew about Karpov. I wonder if he is one of the billionaires mentioned in the soundbite by Steve Giddins? [I would guess both he and Kasparov are at least millionaires.] The point of that soundbite, by the way, was presumably to get people talking about the event, so the soundbite (whoever originated it) has partly succeeded to that extent, but I still think talking about which areas of English chess were represented would be better than talking about how much money was there!

Were any of the leading female players there or invited, for example? Were there any other visitors from abroad, or was everyone resident in Britain except Karpov and Kasparov (and possibly some of the offshore millionaires and billionaires)?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

The event seems to have been a cracking success rather on account of the money pledged to the other causes, assuming that there are further announcements yet to come.

I wonder if it is worth comparing an event like this to other events in terms of both the wealth of those attending and the amount of money raised? I know some of the top-end charity and "rich list" auction and fundraising events raise millions and millions of pounds/dollars. Obviously this event is not in that sort of league (those events have hundreds of billionaires attending), but I do know that a surprising amount of people in publications like "Who's Who" list an interest in chess. And as Jonathan says, further announcements may yet be forthcoming: the guest and contact list and networking possibilities are one of the major assets of such events.

[Angus French]

... but there is no doubt that Ray Keene and Barry Martin also did their bit. e.g., It is very difficult for Russians to get visas these days and apparently Ray did some networking for one of the Ks.

Gosh, this is intriguing. Stewart, are you saying that one of Karpov or Kasparov, both former world chess champions and both high profile, had or might have had difficulty obtaining a visa to come to the UK? Would visas be granted by a UK embassy in Russia and/or would there be Russian government involvement? In which area did Mr. Keene help out?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

... but there is no doubt that Ray Keene and Barry Martin also did their bit. e.g., It is very difficult for Russians to get visas these days and apparently Ray did some networking for one of the Ks.

Gosh, this is intriguing. Stewart, are you saying that one of Karpov or Kasparov, both former world chess champions and both high profile, had or might have had difficulty obtaining a visa to come to the UK? Would visas be granted by a UK embassy in Russia and/or would there be Russian government involvement? In which area did Mr. Keene help out?

Well, according to Malcolm Pein, Kramnik had problems with his visa for the London Chess Classic last year, and I think the MP that was at the opening ceremony helped sort it out, so it is not that improbable that something similar happened here.

EDIT: As Jack says, I meant Evan Harris MP = Member of Parliament (but I couldn't remember the name, I knew there was an Evan in there somewhere, but thought it was his surname!)

[Angus French]

... but there is no doubt that Ray Keene and Barry Martin also did their bit. e.g., It is very difficult for Russians to get visas these days and apparently Ray did some networking for one of the Ks.

Gosh, this is intriguing. Stewart, are you saying that one of Karpov or Kasparov, both former world chess champions and both high profile, had or might have had difficulty obtaining a visa to come to the UK? Would visas be granted by a UK embassy in Russia and/or would there be Russian government involvement? In which area did Mr. Keene help out?

Well, according to Malcolm Pein, Kramnik had problems with his visa for the London Chess Classic last year, and I think the MP that was at the opening ceremony helped sort it out, so it is not that improbable that something similar happened here.

"The MP that was at the opening ceromony"? You mean Malcolm Pein? If so, why not go direct to him and cut out the middle man?

[IM Jack Rudd]

Well, according to Malcolm Pein, Kramnik had problems with his visa for the London Chess Classic last year, and I think the MP that was at the opening ceremony helped sort it out, so it is not that improbable that something similar happened here.

"The MP that was at the opening ceromony"? You mean Malcolm Pein?

No, he means Evan Harris.

[Richard Bates]

Well, according to Malcolm Pein, Kramnik had problems with his visa for the London Chess Classic last year, and I think the MP that was at the opening ceremony helped sort it out, so it is not that improbable that something similar happened here.

"The MP that was at the opening ceromony"? You mean Malcolm Pein?

No, he means Evan Harris.

Who, as it happens, is no longer an MP, so probably has not got quite so many powers at his disposal any more...

[Stewart Reuben]

It is very difficult for Russians to gets visas to the UK these days. This is due to the British attitude. Because of that the Russians make it diffiicult for us to get visas. The form we had to complete for the visas for K-M was different from that for the rest of the world, apart from the US and Georgia.
As I understand it, Ray Keene helped for one of the Ks by contacting a senior official, possibly who he knew of from university, in the British Embassy and persuading him to help with issuing the visa.
Getting visas for people to come to our events can be a big aggravation. In Gibraltar I have escorted people across the border. In Hastings relied on Michael Forster, at that time an MP. For the Polgars, when we were in Mexico, relied on Jeremy Hanley before we visited the British embassy. I have advised organisers in Mexico and elsewhere and organisers of other sports.
With the shake-up in MPs at the election, we have indeed lost some valuable contacts.
Anybody who knows of an MP, who is interested in chess, should let me know. Such a roster would be valuable.
Stewart Reuben

[Michael Jones]

Party websites give profiles of their MPs, so anyone with sufficient time on their hands could check through those for any mention of chess...

[Sean Hewitt]

The conservative MP for Warrington South plays in the Warrington league.

[David Lettington]

Alan Reid, MP for Argyll and Bute, apparently plays for Oban Chess Club. He was FIDE rated 2205, but is currently listed as inactive. Marsha Singh, MP for Bradford West lists chess as an interest, as does Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East.

[Simon Spivack]

(Evan Harris) ... is no longer an MP, so probably has not got quite so many powers at his disposal any more ...

There is the ancient joke of a veteran MP showing a tyro the chamber of the Commons. "So that's where the enemy sits?" jokes the new man apropos the facing benches. "No", responds the older man, "those are our opponents' benches, your enemies are on your own side".

Actually, there are many friendships amongst MPs and ex-MPs of the same persuasion. I do not know Dr Harris, however, it is entirely possible he is more influential than previously by virtue of his own party sharing power. I know of a former MP who sorted out a passport problem with just one phone call: to a responsible Minister.

I don't get the need for Raymond Keene's involvement.

No satisfactory explanation has been given.

Like a c-rook in a Sicilian drama, the Private Eye star should be sacrificed for the common good.

It is very difficult for Russians to gets visas to the UK these days. This is due to the British attitude. Because of that the Russians make it diffiicult for us to get visas.

There is no question that Moscow does not like Britain giving asylum to Boris Berezovsky or Akhmed Zakayev. The lack of cooperation has extended to refusing to extradite the man accused of murdering Alexander Litvinenko.

[Matthew Turner]

Raymond Keene has a relationship with Simpsons. Don't you get it, Raymond was involved so that the event actually happened. Thanks to that we had a great chess event in Britain and raised a lot of money for the British Championships. Well done to everybody involved.

[Simon Spivack]

So, according to Matthew, C.J. is incapable of booking a venue or organising such an evening without the hand of Keene!