British Chess Championships

[Alan Ruffle]

As The English Chess Federation should we not be running an English Chess Championships, and allow the British to be run in turn by the English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh Chess bodies

Alan Ruffle

[Sean Hewitt]

I agree and I disagree!!

I agree that, as the governing body for English Chess, the ECF should run an English Championships. The Scottish, Welsh and Irish all have a national championsip whilst we do not. That should change. But it wont chnge over-night. You've budgets to consider, venues, formats etc. Alot of work would be required.

However, in my view the two championships are not mutually exclusive. A decision to run an English Championship would not prevent us from running the British as well. And whilst the other unions should have the opportunity to run the Britsih they currently choose not to and ask the ECF to run it instead. As the event usually makes a profit, why would we not want to continue? Its better than paying more game fee!

[Stewart Reuben]

The British Championships are run by the ECF under license from the other other 5 FIDE federations within the British Isles.
It is only a matter of money that we do not have an English Championship. If you want to run one, I am sure the ECF would co-operate.
We have a British Championship since 1904. It used to be run by the Scots, Welsh and the Un ions when held there. But this stopped about 35 years ago. If it aint broke...
Stewart Reuben

[Alan Ruffle]

Dear All

I’m not so certain that the ‘British’ is all that well, I believe we took a financial loss at ‘Isle of Man’ but there are more important factors-

The main sponsor has withdrawn, who can you blame them? There is no publicity to speak of, the premises lack atmosphere and the majority of British Grand Masters do not attend.

The British Championships should become the English Championships it should be a yearlong event comprising of an English Junior Chess Championships which would allow a new young protégé the opportunity to play his way through all the age groups, culminating in the championship proper to be played annually at the Brighton Conference Centre, the use of a permanent venue would allow families and players the opportunity for forward planning, reserving accommodation and it is a seaside venue.

A possible English Junior Chess Championships timetable is shown under Junior Chess

A single trophy suitably engraved for the entire event and nominal prizes would suffice. There is in place an anonymous donation that would more than cover this.

The entire event should be paid for via entry fees, profits could be used to supplement the selected England team at the ‘British’ and our selected junior players at the World and European Championships.

The British Championships should be a combined team and individual event, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would be responsible for supplying their own teams professionally or otherwise and to receive entries from other individuals, imaginative arbiting would allow for Individual championships to be run through all the sections.

Arbiters would be properly paid and a dress code for all would be applied.

All the home countries should be offered the honour of organising the event, although the 2012 event should be in London during the Olympics and we should be telling the world now, all about it. This is the way to win government money; we wont get it by filling in questionnaires.

Alan Ruffle

[Alan Ruffle]

I am delighted to read that the one off sponsorship of £2000-00 for an English championship to be held within the British, introduced at Great Yarmouth, has been raised to £10,000-00 over a five year period, and that consideration is being given to organising an independent English Championship.

Alan Ruffle

[Charles W. Wood]

As The English Chess Federation should we not be running an English Chess Championships, and allow the British to be run in turn by the English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh Chess bodies

Alan Ruffle

Stewart R may have a point but I still agree with you Alan, great point.