Search found 1014 matches

by Mike Gunn
Thu Sep 14, 2023 6:45 pm
Forum: Congress Diary
Topic: Caplin Hastings 2023-24
Replies: 107
Views: 12029

Re: Hastings 2023-24

Various changes from the normal format: 1. 6 rounds in 4 days replaces the normal separate morning and afternoon Christmas tournaments. All rounds are shown as starting at 14.15 (an obvious error) so we can't yet tell how many morning rounds there will be. To be fair they sometimes adjust the number...
by Mike Gunn
Sat Aug 26, 2023 8:32 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: Membership Query
Replies: 7
Views: 896

Re: Membership Query

I got the free yearbook last year but noticed when I rejoined a couple of days ago that it is no longer mentioned as a benefit. As far as I know there has been no announcement about its being discontinued so I continue to live in hope that it will pop through my letterbox one day.
by Mike Gunn
Thu Aug 24, 2023 3:06 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13846

Re: ECF Membership Reform

Roger was the most vociferous opponent of the ECF membership scheme (on here) 10 years ago. I was on the ECF board at the time and there was a worry that club members wouldn't take up membership and the ECF could be in financial trouble. There was some support on the board (from those who ran congre...
by Mike Gunn
Thu Aug 24, 2023 2:53 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13846

Re: ECF Membership Reform

£33 for a new (not grandfathered) Bronze member is much too high which is why I am supporting option 2 in the ECF proposals Are you taking into account "1.... We have sought to address this concern by introducing a ½ x single rate membership fee for first year joiners (whether playing in leagues, c...
by Mike Gunn
Thu Aug 24, 2023 1:08 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13846

Re: ECF Membership Reform

I agree with the above comments by MSoszynski and Stephen Moss. £33 for a new (not grandfathered) Bronze member is much too high which is why I am supporting option 2 in the ECF proposals (Bronze continues as at present) and I urge others to do so, too. The current arrangement replaced game fee and ...
by Mike Gunn
Sat Aug 19, 2023 5:13 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13846

Re: ECF Membership Reform

As I suggested above you could use the government windfall money to subsidise existing Bronze and Silver members to play FIDE rated games (abolishing Gold membership at the same time). Incidentally I think it costs the ECF £1.50 per player to rate a Swiss tournament or annual league (but someone may...
by Mike Gunn
Sat Aug 19, 2023 10:29 am
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13846

Re: ECF Membership Reform

The argument is (I think) that the relatively small number of FIDE rated games in England slows down the acquisition of norms and titles by English players and thus holds back the development of our chess on the international stage.
by Mike Gunn
Tue Aug 15, 2023 10:11 am
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13846

Re: ECF Membership Reform

What's the problem they're trying to fix / outcome they're trying to achieve? Is it simply raise more money, or something else? I think it is just felt that the current membership scheme has been running for ten years and a review is timely. There will probably be no changes because a majority will...
by Mike Gunn
Thu Aug 10, 2023 10:44 am
Forum: Chess History
Topic: Michel Memorial Trophy
Replies: 9
Views: 715

Re: Michel Memorial Trophy

When you do, Kevin, it's time to start worrying.

PS I have ordered your book!
by Mike Gunn
Tue Aug 08, 2023 4:40 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13846

Re: ECF Membership Reform

You would get the added benefit of FIDE rated games.
by Mike Gunn
Tue Aug 08, 2023 1:37 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13846

Re: ECF Membership Reform

I don't know what the current proposals would be but one idea would be:

Club/ league players (only): £20
Congress players (only): £20
Play in both: £40.

This would remove what seems to be a minor injustice to some congress players (those who only play in congresses) under the current system.
by Mike Gunn
Tue Aug 08, 2023 1:31 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Government funding for chess
Replies: 46
Views: 3963

Re: Government funding for chess

The problem is that English juniors and beginners have inaccurate FIDE ratings because they don't get enough FIDE rated games. The idea is to give them more games. As far as the accuracy issue is concerned, I would move back to a Clarke type system where for active players the rating is based on gam...
by Mike Gunn
Tue Aug 08, 2023 12:21 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Government funding for chess
Replies: 46
Views: 3963

Re: Government funding for chess

Accuracy is down to the number of games played (whatever the system) so a FIDE rating based on few games will be just as inaccurate as a national rating. However, I do prefer the FIDE system of just rating games against players who already have an established rating rather than the ECF approach. (Th...
by Mike Gunn
Tue Aug 08, 2023 11:57 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Government funding for chess
Replies: 46
Views: 3963

Re: Government funding for chess

My idea would have to be combined with a reform of the membership structure to have 2 classes of member: club/ league members and those who play in congresses too. (=bronze and silver?). You would adjust the membership fees to bring in the same income as now.
by Mike Gunn
Tue Aug 08, 2023 11:36 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Government funding for chess
Replies: 46
Views: 3963

Re: Government funding for chess

With this money apparently earmarked for international teams this immediately raises the question of what the ECF should do with the money saved from the current budget? One possibility would be to fund the FIDE rating of local leagues (which would have to adopt an U2400 rule to make 3 hour games FI...