English chess is not moribund

[Clive Wismayer]

It’s funny to show up here from time to time & see what’s not under discussion. The FIDE world rapid & blitz team championship 2025, staged in London with major involvement of the ECF is exactly what I’m looking for. While none of the elite players or teams were English, it’s the sort of thing that might spark enthusiasm &, who knows, down the line the development of some seriously strong English players. It also used one major asset - London. A world city people like to visit & a great card to play. So, credit where due.

And another card, the English language, might be played, perhaps with a YouTube channel, accessible to a vast segment of the chess world. Just needs a couple of good presenters, some professionalism, enthusiasm & a mild English focus.

[LawrenceCooper]

It’s funny to show up here from time to time & see what’s not under discussion. The FIDE world rapid & blitz team championship 2025, staged in London with major involvement of the ECF is exactly what I’m looking for. While none of the elite players or teams were English, it’s the sort of thing that might spark enthusiasm &, who knows, down the line the development of some seriously strong English players. It also used one major asset - London. A world city people like to visit & a great card to play. So, credit where due.

And another card, the English language, might be played, perhaps with a YouTube channel, accessible to a vast segment of the chess world. Just needs a couple of good presenters, some professionalism, enthusiasm & a mild English focus.

My teams alone had the invaluable experience of playing Aronian x2, Giri x2, Vidit x2, Gelfand, Mamedyarov & Navara in the rapid & Aronian, Giri, Vidit, Dominguez, Adams, Vitiugov, McShane, Jospem, Sevian, Bluebaum, Abdusattarov, Yakubboev, Kazimdzhanov & Mamedyarov in the blitz.

There can be no doubting the quality of the two commentators, even though they did encounter more than a desirable amount of tech issues.

[Matt Mackenzie]

It’s funny to show up here from time to time & see what’s not under discussion. The FIDE world rapid & blitz team championship 2025, staged in London with major involvement of the ECF is exactly what I’m looking for.

It *has* been discussed in here though - though the thread is in the International News section which may be counter-intuitive for some.

[Roger de Coverly]

It *has* been discussed in here though - though the thread is in the International News section which may be counter-intuitive for some.

https://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14516

[Ken Norman]

I would like to know when England are going to host the World individual Seniors Championship and the European individual Seniors Championship

[Thomas Rendle]

I would like to know when England are going to host the World individual Seniors Championship and the European individual Seniors Championship

As soon as they can find a venue with lots of reasonably priced accommodation nearby I suspect!

[Tim Spanton]

I would like to know when England are going to host the World individual Seniors Championship and the European individual Seniors Championship

As soon as they can find a venue with lots of reasonably priced accommodation nearby I suspect!

I don't see why accommodation needs to be reasonably priced - organisers seem able to charge a premium

[Kevin Thurlow]

"I don't see why accommodation needs to be reasonably priced - organisers seem able to charge a premium"

About 25-30 years ago, England was supposed to stage the European Teams Championship, and did propose rather steep accommodation charges, partly to pay the £10000 fee that Richard Furness wanted to run the event. Unfortunately, some of the competing teams felt the charges were too high, especially after they investigated what the hotels were charging people to stay at the same time. So the event moved to mainland Europe.

Some sort of premium is reasonable if you are booking a package, but there are limits.

[Ian Cross]

I have played in five World Senior Team Championships. I seem to recall Stewart Reuben explaining that the inaugural WSTC was held in London, with a handful of overseas teams competing alongside several English teams. Does anyone recall this event?

[Roger de Coverly]

I have played in five World Senior Team Championships. I seem to recall Stewart Reuben explaining that the inaugural WSTC was held in London, with a handful of overseas teams competing alongside several English teams. Does anyone recall this event?

Britbase records it as taking place during October 2004 at Port Erin in the Isle of Man.

https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/pgn/20 ... iewer.html
https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/worlds ... index.html

[Clive Wismayer]

OMG! An ECF YouTube channel. Only 2.2K subscribers so I assume it’s new. Welcome to the 21st century! A tip when showing blitz - put the clock where the camera can see it. Also, live commentary will add considerably to the appeal. Any old geek will do to begin with (Speelman, say) but sooner or later you’ll light upon someone with a personality people actually enjoy listening to, like the great job Sagar Shah does for Indian chess. Not Keane. Then the sky’s the limit.

[GrahamStuart]

OMG! An ECF YouTube channel. Only 2.2K subscribers so I assume it’s new. Welcome to the 21st century! A tip when showing blitz - put the clock where the camera can see it. Also, live commentary will add considerably to the appeal. Any old geek will do to begin with (Speelman, say) but sooner or later you’ll light upon someone with a personality people actually enjoy listening to, like the great job Sagar Shah does for Indian chess. Not Keane. Then the sky’s the limit.

Is this the one you are referring to? Names, clock times etc all visible. I think there was live commentary, although I think the commentary is great, but the presentation of the board etc could be better (maybe copying Simon Williams format?).

[LawrenceCooper]

OMG! An ECF YouTube channel. Only 2.2K subscribers so I assume it’s new.

The videos on the channel date back to 2014 so I suspect not.

[Clive Wismayer]

OMG! An ECF YouTube channel. Only 2.2K subscribers so I assume it’s new. Welcome to the 21st century! A tip when showing blitz - put the clock where the camera can see it. Also, live commentary will add considerably to the appeal. Any old geek will do to begin with (Speelman, say) but sooner or later you’ll light upon someone with a personality people actually enjoy listening to, like the great job Sagar Shah does for Indian chess. Not Keane. Then the sky’s the limit.

Is this the one you are referring to? Names, clock times etc all visible. I think there was live commentary, although I think the commentary is great, but the presentation of the board etc could be better (maybe copying Simon Williams format?).

I watched Jones - Gormally this morning. Clock on wrong side. I’ve yet to hear any commentary but don’t doubt you.

[Clive Wismayer]

OMG! An ECF YouTube channel. Only 2.2K subscribers so I assume it’s new.

The videos on the channel date back to 2014 so I suspect not.

Then that is pathetic & typical ECF. When will people realise chess & the internet were made for each other?