English Chess Forum

It appears that the New in Chess magazine has dropped Nigel as a columnist. He doesn't appear in the most recent edition and is reported to have announced his dismissal whilst at the Gibraltar tournament.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 07, 2019 10:42 am

... is reported to have announced his dismissal whilst at the Gibraltar tournament.

Do we know if ‘dismissal’ is quite the right word here?

By which i mean was Short sacked - because he did something to upset his employer or otherwise - or was the column just brought to an end, NiC deciding to move in another direction? The latter being pretty common if somewhat less dramatic

Jonathan Bryant wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 08, 2019 2:52 pm

Do we know if ‘dismissal’ is quite the right word here?

My informant, who had been present at the Q&A session in Gibraltar phrased it as "Nigel said he'd been sacked".

There's a video embedded in the chessbase link below (one and half hours) which may throw some light.

https://en.chessbase.com/post/gibraltar ... festival-2

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 08, 2019 3:30 pm

Jonathan Bryant wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 08, 2019 2:52 pm

Do we know if ‘dismissal’ is quite the right word here?

My informant, who had been present at the Q&A session in Gibraltar phrased it as "Nigel said he'd been sacked".

There's a video embedded in the chessbase link below (one and half hours) which may throw some light.

https://en.chessbase.com/post/gibraltar ... festival-2

Thanks for the additional info. Unfortunately I’m not going to be able to check the video for a while.

Odd that Nige should not have mentioned it on his twitter feed yet. He’s not normally shy and retiring after all

He’s now said “ A fear that my elevation to FIDE VP would constrain my independence, was the reason given.“

"He’s now said “ A fear that my elevation to FIDE VP would constrain my independence, was the reason given.“ "

Ah, that would have been my guess...

Although I'd like to hear it (or indeed anything) from them.

Jonathan Bryant wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 08, 2019 4:46 pm

Odd that Nige should not have mentioned it on his twitter feed yet. He’s not normally shy and retiring after all

Nigel has referenced it on his twitter feed but I don't think anyone has put a link to it on this thread:

After eight years of entertaining and sometimes controversial columns, it is a pity that my services are no longer required."

and the quote that follows it is one that certainly expresses my view:

"Agree or disagree with his ideas, Nigel Short's column for @NewInChess was incisive and well-written. It's disappointing not to see it there anymore."Olimpiu Urcan

Chris Rice wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 17, 2019 8:41 am

Jonathan Bryant wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 08, 2019 4:46 pm

Odd that Nige should not have mentioned it on his twitter feed yet. He’s not normally shy and retiring after all

Nigel has referenced it on his twitter feed but I don't think anyone has put a link to it on this thread:

Thanks Chris

Looks like that got tweeted a couple of days after my post - although it didn’t come up on my feed at the time for some reason.

Nige, modest as ever, describing his own columns as “entertaining” I see. I haven’t subscribed for a while but actually I would agree that they often were.

There was also the odd moment of crass stupidity too of course. Still, personally I’d rather that mix than the bland devoid nothingness that often passes for journalism in chess mags.

Allan Hodgkinson wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:52 pm

He’s now said “ A fear that my elevation to FIDE VP would constrain my independence, was the reason given.“

Presumably Judit Polgar's elevation to FIDE VP came too late (10th December) for her to be axed from the January edition of NiC. Will she be gone too in the March edition?

Ha ha good point

Jonathan Bryant wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 17, 2019 9:44 am

I’d rather that mix than the bland devoid nothingness that often passes for journalism in chess mags.

Hear, hear! Opinions are always more entertaining than dry recitals of facts, even if you don't always agree with them (and as long as they don't get nasty or personal). That's my view, anyway.