ECF Bans Russians

[Tim Spanton]

From the federation's website today:

POSTED BY: WEBADMIN 6TH MARCH 2022
The ECF Board confirms that individual players and officials with a Russian or Belarusian FIDE registration will be excluded from all ECF-organised competitions until further notice. The ECF Board urges all organisers of events held in England to adopt the same approach.

[John Upham]

Does this ban extend to children and juniors?

I have potential entries for our April 3rd Blitz event from persons with RUS registration.

[John Upham]

The ECF rating database show 20 person from Belarus

and 11 are shown from RUS including Cherniaev, Alexander from Hackney

and

Kuzhelev, Timur from Coulsdon Chess Club

Presumably they are not permitted to enter ENG FIDE rated events?

[Tim Spanton]

The ECF rating database show 20 person from Belarus

and 11 are shown from RUS including Cherniaev, Alexander from Hackney

and

Kuzhelev, Timur from Coulsdon Chess Club

Presumably they are not permitted to enter ENG FIDE rated events?

My reading is the ban only applies to ECF-organised events

[Chris Goodall]

The ECF Board urges all organisers of events held in England to adopt the same approach.

No.

[Tim Spanton]

The ECF Board urges all organisers of events held in England to adopt the same approach.

No.

But that is a recommendation, not a ban

[Nick Grey]

Harsh on those trying to sign up for ENG to play Club Chess.

[Roger de Coverly]

including Cherniaev, Alexander from Hackney

Also of Barnet Knights in the 4NCL whose registration list now has him as FID rather than RUS.

[Jonathan Bryant]

including Cherniaev, Alexander from Hackney

Also of Barnet Knights in the 4NCL whose registration list now has him as FID rather than RUS.

[my emphasis]


Presumably as its 4NCL this is not counted as "ECF organised". Although given 4ncl leadership it would be odd if "the ECF Board urges all organisers of events held in England to adopt the same approach" wasn't followed.

[Angus French]

ECF statement here.

I'm wondering:
- did the ECF Board vote and, if they did, how many voted for, how many abstained, and how many voted against?
- what about RUS- and BLR-registered players who don't support - or oppose - the invasion of Ukraine?
- what about RUS- and BLR-registered players who provide coaching (or other services)?
- what about players registered to other pariah states?

[Roger Lancaster]

ECF statement here.

I'm wondering:
- did the ECF Board vote and, if they did, how many voted for, how many abstained, and how many voted against?
- what about RUS- and BLR-registered players who don't support - or oppose - the invasion of Ukraine?
- what about RUS- and BLR-registered players who provide coaching (or other services)?
- what about players registered to other pariah states?

All legitimate questions but it's a situation where some people would criticise the ECF, no matter what action it took. Or didn't take. For those who oppose the war, FIDE has adopted a simplified procedure whereby players can re-register - as one UK-based Russian GM has already done - under the FIDE flag.

[David Sedgwick]

I have no inside knowledge and I am no more or less confused than anyone else.

However, my observations and impressions are as follows:

1. The ban by the Nordic countries did not apply to persons resident in the country or under the age of 18. The ECF could have adopted a similar approach, but have chosen not to do so.

2. The ban applies to ECF organised events. To my mind that means those in the list at https://www.englishchess.org.uk/event-c ... =677540487 and similar Online competitions.

3. The ban does not apply to those who change their FIDE registration to FID, as mentioned by Roger Lancaster above. However. Alexander Cherniaev is not covered by this exemption. The 4NCL website may list him as FIDE, but his FIDE profile still shows him as RUS. https://ratings.fide.com/profile/4117301

4. "The ECF Board urges all organisers of events held in England to adopt the same approach." As Tim Spanton has said, that is a recommendation, not a requirement. The ECF have not said that the results of events in which the ban is not imposed will not be accepted for ECF rating.

[Roger de Coverly]

1, The ban by the Nordic countries did not apply to persons resident in the country or under the age of 18. The ECF could have adopted a similar approach, but has chosen not to do so.

As noted by Joseph Conlon and John Upham, there are chess playing Russian children in the UK presumably at fee paying schools. This may present practical problems to organisers of local junior events.

[IM Jack Rudd]

We shall have to consider what we do at Paignton, should it run this year. My tentative thought would be to allow entries from players registered with RUS or BLR, but respect any request from players registered with UKR that they not be paired against them.

[Tim Spanton]

We shall have to consider what we do at Paignton, should it run this year. My tentative thought would be to allow entries from players registered with RUS or BLR, but respect any request from players registered with UKR that they not be paired against them.

Good to hear Paignton might go ahead ...