English Chess Forum

Hello,

I would just like to ask if it is necessary to be an official ECF Arbiter in order to invigilate at an ECF rated congress, or at any other rated tournament?

Robin Williams wrote:Hello,

I would just like to ask if it is necessary to be an official ECF Arbiter in order to invigilate at an ECF rated congress, or at any other rated tournament?

Any FIDE rated event in England or elsewhere has to have an arbiter with a FIDE Arbiter's licence and for norm events you need an FA or IA as Chief Arbiter. I don't believe there is an equivalent requirement to be an ECF Arbiter at ECF graded tournaments.

LawrenceCooper wrote: Any FIDE rated event in England or elsewhere has to have an arbiter with a FIDE Arbiter's licence

Does the ECF impose any standards or is it just a matter of paying FIDE the appropriate fee or bribe?

LawrenceCooper wrote: I don't believe there is an equivalent requirement to be an ECF Arbiter at ECF graded tournaments.

Anyone running a tournament with experienced adult players taking part isn't going to have much credibility if they lack experience themselves. Beyond that, much league chess takes place under conditions of "no arbiter present".

I'm not sure whether the word "invigilate" really describes what goes on, but standard practice might have a Congress with one ECF arbiter and several assistants.

LawrenceCooper wrote:I don't believe there is an equivalent requirement to be an ECF Arbiter at ECF graded tournaments.

That's correct but the subject is currently under review.

Roger de Coverly wrote:

LawrenceCooper wrote: Any FIDE rated event in England or elsewhere has to have an arbiter with a FIDE Arbiter's licence

Does the ECF impose any standards or is it just a matter of paying FIDE the appropriate fee or bribe?

All applications have to go through me as ECF Manager of Arbiters (International). Whether there should be more specific requirements is similarly under review.

The just-completed Bournemouth congress, for example, had two arbiters, one an ECF Arbiter and one not.

At the last Middlesbrough congress there was an official ECF arbiter looking after the Open and Major sections while I looked after the Intermediate and minor. I am not an official arbiter but with 45 plus continuous years playing experience in leagues and congress's I like to think I know my way around the rules. Everyone seemed perfectly happy with my role which will be the same for the forthcoming Middlesbrough congress. Pairings were done by the official arbiter using a computer programme therefore my job simply entailed sorting out a couple of minor issues that arose and making sure the boards were set up for each round. The arbiter said he would support me if I wanted to become an official arbiter. BTW I dont ask for anything nor would accept anything, I am happy to give my time to help a congress.