Search found 827 matches

by John Townsend
Thu Mar 07, 2024 9:32 am
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13718

Re: ECF Membership Reform

John Sellen wrote: "I think it is ridiculous that someone who is too tight fisted to even join the ECF ( yes you John Townsend ) should have their views given credence on this forum" Such personal attacks against non-members of the English Chess Federation make me more resolved not to join such an o...
by John Townsend
Thu Mar 07, 2024 7:44 am
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13718

Re: ECF Membership Reform

Polite note to Roger Lancaster:

David Lettington used the word "bargain". In reply to his contribution, you said: "Entirely agree".
by John Townsend
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:51 am
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13718

Re: ECF Membership Reform

Mr Valentine, The "diversion" arose because Messrs. Lettington and Lancaster spoke above about the £18 being a "bargain", and it is normal on the forum for views expressed to be challenged, if need be. There seems a big difference between Paul Cooksey's "around a pound a member" and the kind of sums...
by John Townsend
Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:28 am
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13718

Re: ECF Membership Reform

Thanks for the insult, Mr Lancaster. It is a pity we cannot discuss ECF matters without it. I assume it is an attempt to cover up the weakness of your argument. League chess existed happily for many decades without the ECF, which has not added to the experience other than by increasing the cost. For...
by John Townsend
Tue Mar 05, 2024 7:36 am
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13718

Re: ECF Membership Reform

Paul Cooksey wrote: "I don't think grading can be done much cheaper than around a pound a member. But I do think value for money is important in some other areas." I don't follow Paul's argument here. If all that league players get for their £18 is grading, then aren't they, in effect, paying about ...
by John Townsend
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:50 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13718

Re: ECF Membership Reform

The key question is not whether it is cheap or expensive (which depends on the individual), but whether it represents value for money . I would suggest not for many people. As an example, in the case of league chess it is hard to see how the ECF adds any value beyond grading, and that could, surely,...
by John Townsend
Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:37 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Best Game by an English Player (the vote)
Replies: 80
Views: 3866

Re: Best Game by an English Player (the vote)

Chess Scotland answers my question:

https://www.chessscotland.com/documents ... 2champ.htm
https://www.chessscotland.com/documents ... 5champ.htm

There was a three-way tie in both 1912 and 1915.
by John Townsend
Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:57 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Best Game by an English Player (the vote)
Replies: 80
Views: 3866

Re: Best Game by an English Player (the vote)

Geoff Chandler wrote: "He tied for first in the 1915 Scottish Championship but lost the play-off ..." As a matter of interest, what is the source for that, please? (P.W. Sergeant describes a three-way tie at Easter 1912 in Edinburgh, when Wenman lost in the play-off ( A Century of British Chess , pa...
by John Townsend
Sat Mar 02, 2024 7:15 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Best Game by an English Player (the vote)
Replies: 80
Views: 3866

Re: Best Game by an English Player (the vote)

On the subject of P. Wenman (mentioned above), Edward Winter has produced a feature article, The Chess Writer P. Wenman:

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/wenman.html
by John Townsend
Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:46 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Best Game by an English Player (the vote)
Replies: 80
Views: 3866

Re: Best Game by an English Player (the vote)

Regarding the Atkins v Jacobs brilliancy, please note that Edward Winter's https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/young.html has two relevant items (C.N.s 7096 and 7147).
by John Townsend
Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:04 am
Forum: Chess History
Topic: Bertie Cohen - 1925 Lancashire Champion
Replies: 11
Views: 1626

Re: Bertie Cohen - 1925 Lancashire Champion

Morris Bertram Cohen was probably his birth name, as there is a birth registration in that name in the second quarter of 1904 in the registration district of Prestwich (vol. 8d, page 421). That would tie in with the entry in that name which Richard found in the probate calendar. However, one might h...
by John Townsend
Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:07 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Best Game by an English Player (the vote)
Replies: 80
Views: 3866

Re: Best Game by an English Player (the vote)

I wanted to vote for the fifth game in the 1843 Paris match, St. Amant v. Staunton. Is that what No. 4 in the list is? (There were 21 games in the match, so I can't tell which is included in the index).
by John Townsend
Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:45 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: The Best Game of Chess played by an English Player
Replies: 39
Views: 4402

Re: The Best Game of Chess played by an English Player

Zukertort was not an Englishman - or, at any rate, there is no evidence that he was ever naturalized.
by John Townsend
Sun Feb 25, 2024 6:19 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: The Best Game of Chess played by an English Player
Replies: 39
Views: 4402

Re: The Best Game of Chess played by an English Player

I agree with Jonathan that the occasion is important, since it contributes significantly to our enjoyment and appreciation of a game. With that in mind, I would like to nominate the 5th game of the 1843 Paris match between Staunton and St. Amant. This game was annotated by Raymond Keene in Howard St...
by John Townsend
Mon Feb 19, 2024 8:12 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: School Chess Club Risk Assessment
Replies: 4
Views: 248

Re: School Chess Club Risk Assessment

John, on no account attempt to write a risk assessment unless you know what you are doing or take legal advice. If the r.a. is sloppy and something goes wrong, you could be wide open to a claim against you.

If you can't get a written description of what is required of you, leave it there.