Three Cheers For The ECF

[Tim Spanton]

I am fairly new to this forum but I am staggered at the amount of bile aimed at the ECF both here and on other forums.
Let's start by asking, what does the ECF do for me? Well, for starters, in my case, it provides me with a grade. I don't play in weekend congresses and I can't play evening chess because of work, but I do play in county chess and the occasional inter-club Saturday friendly. My grade is essential for participating, especially in grading-limited county matches.
What else does the ECF do for me? It runs the national stage of the county championships. That's of largely hypothetical interest for me this season, but has been of more practical use in the past.
Someone earlier claimed there are NO Fide-rated events in this country. Others have implied there are only a few. In my view, England is awash with Fide-rated events. I play at Hastings and Paignton and in the past have played at the British. There are Fide-rated tournaments at Coulsdon and I have played in one at Newport. There are many others, some of which I have played at in the past, eg the Surrey Easter congress. There is also Guernsey and the Isle Of Man - neither is under the auspices of the ECF, but both are connected in that they send, or have sent in the past, games for grading.
Some people don't seem to realise we are living in a golden era for chess. Computers, videos, dvds - all have chess-related capabilities that our forefathers could only have dreamed about. Chess books have reached levels of quality and quantity never before even hinted at.
The ECF is not directly responsible for this, and in many cases is not even partially responsible.
And there are things about the ECF with which I disagree. For example, changing the name from BCF was an exercise in PC that leaves the organisation with a name that is much less attractive to would-be sponsors.
But look at the good things the ECF has done. Game fee is a really clever way of financing chess in which, in general, those who gain the most, pay the most.
I shudder to think the effect an upfront memership fee would have - now that would be an anti-chess tax.
I am a direct member, which currently costs 16 pounds a year. More people will become direct members as Fide ratings spread.
But some people are intent on imposing an upfront membership fee of 20 or even 50 pounds. That is madness.
The ECF is an amateur organisation that has a light touch on chess in this country. I suspect this suits the vast majority of active chess players as opposed to those with specialised interests in, say, junior chess or in being paid to play.
I just hope future generations are as lucky as we are in enjoying such a golden era.
My bottom line is: well done the ECF, and thank you.

[Charles W. Wood]

After seeing the ECF at work from the inside I think it is a very hard working organisation. But I do think we can do more proactive stuff (I am not knocking the office they work like mad) we can address more of the problems and issues of the counties etc. I think a drive to get a single focused direction is very important.

[Sean Hewitt]

But look at the good things the ECF has done. Game fee is a really clever way of financing chess in which, in general, those who gain the most, pay the most.

Tim, if by clever you mean a hidden tax that the majority have no idea they are even paying, let alone how much they are paying, then you are absoluetly correct. But given the additional financial burden this tax places on organisers, its no surprise that every year events either cease to pay game fee (and so cease to be graded) or worse, they cease being held at all.

I shudder to think the effect an upfront memership fee would have - now that would be an anti-chess tax.

That depends entirely on how much the membership fee would be.

[Gary Cook]

I can quite honestly say that the ECF has not enhanced my chess at any time during my 25 years of playing - okay they publish a grade, but this is simply the collation of the work the local graders actually do.
What has enhanced my enjoyment are the unpaid and unheralded volunteers in the local leagues and tournaments.

[Greg Breed]

...Someone earlier claimed there are NO Fide-rated events in this country. Others have implied there are only a few. In my view, England is awash with Fide-rated events.

I've not read any such statements. I think perhaps you may have confused such a statement in regards to another topic, e.g. the game fee issue and National Federation status.

...Game fee is a really clever way of financing chess in which, in general, those who gain the most, pay the most.

I tend to agree, from a player's point of view. There are obviously more deep-rooted issues that are being discussed in other more dedicated threads.

... some people are intent on imposing an upfront membership fee of 20 or even 50 pounds.

I believe "some people are intent on" discussing the issue.

[Charles W. Wood]

...Someone earlier claimed there are NO Fide-rated events in this country. Others have implied there are only a few. In my view, England is awash with Fide-rated events.

I've not read any such statements. I think perhaps you may have confused such a statement in regards to another topic, e.g. the game fee issue and National Federation status.

...Game fee is a really clever way of financing chess in which, in general, those who gain the most, pay the most.

I tend to agree, from a player's point of view. There are obviously more deep-rooted issues that are being discussed in other more dedicated threads.

... some people are intent on imposing an upfront membership fee of 20 or even 50 pounds.

I believe "some people are intent on" discussing the issue.

Your last point is brilliant, its about what we want as a whole body of players not the singular issuse of this price or that. It is a huge subject and can go in many directions. If it was the simple case of £20 or £50 Martin would have handled that very easily, Game Fee and many other issues are very important on this agenda.

Going back to the thread in answer to Gary Cook. I understand your view but the ECF have helped the Renaissance Academy a great deal (as well as 3C's, Coulsdon CF, Leeds JCA to name but a few), they have aided the academy to build sides for the Evening League (Teams last year, a whole division or two next year) which affects every player in our league and we have even started on expanding Evening Leagues across the boarder in the next door leagues. Without the ECF's support and guidance non of this would happen. My point is this, there is a lot goes on that does effect us that comes from the ECF we do not see. I do strongly agree that the work dne by tournament organisers and league committee people (aswell as many others) is great of chess and does have a massive impact on every player's development, so well done and thank you to you all.

[Gary Cook]

In my opinion the two biggest development opportunities in English chess in recent years have been 4NCL and Basman's Chess Challenge - neither of which had very much to do with B/ECF.

[Charles W. Wood]

In my opinion the two biggest development opportunities in English chess in recent years have been 4NCL and Basman's Chess Challenge - neither of which had very much to do with B/ECF.

This is very true, I was trying to say that most of the work done by the ECF is under the radar. Its sometimes easy to miss, but players do get the benefits, mostly. I'd hate to think how long it would have taken me to get this far without the ECF (and other academies). Even somehing as easy as grading has been looked at and made fairer, better, so we can have as much faith in it as possible. Martin was a great liaison between my virgining academy and other academies. Gerry came and helped us go through the details of how to secure grading in a proper fashion (Doesn't sound hard but where you've never worked with the B/ECF at any time before its quite a learning curve), Claire gave me a huge amount of advice, and help from the John Robinson fund. Last but not least the Office has invaluable. As a new organiser being able to just go through the silly questions that everyone else knows, and get advice on the correct way to do things, right down o what goes on at council, and how does the ECF work. It all helps make things run smoother.

[Tim Spanton]

...Someone earlier claimed there are NO Fide-rated events in this country. Others have implied there are only a few. In my view, England is awash with Fide-rated events.

I've not read any such statements. I think perhaps you may have confused such a statement in regards to another topic, e.g. the game fee issue and National Federation status.
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Maybe you missed this post:

by Ben Purton on Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:34 am

Dear All,
When you go to chess in England, the majority of people know who Peter Sowray and Claire Summerscale are, and how hard they work for chess in general. Why have they exactley resigned, as I understand it there is a lack of Transparency amongsts the ECF council. Who votes for these people to the board. Why hasnt this one vote system come in. Who decides if Gerry Walsh is chairman and all the other positions?
Frankly the ECF is a joke, Chess in England is a joke, we have no FIDE rated tourns.
Can someone please explain in simple terms why they have resigned, and why we dont have a more democratic voting system.
If there is just a dictatorship style organisation about it, then theres only one way to deal with that

Ben

[Greg Breed]

Maybe you missed this post:

Dear All,
When you go to chess in England, the majority of people know who Peter Sowray and Claire Summerscale are, and how hard they work for chess in general. Why have they exactley resigned, as I understand it there is a lack of Transparency amongsts the ECF council. Who votes for these people to the board. Why hasnt this one vote system come in. Who decides if Gerry Walsh is chairman and all the other positions?
Frankly the ECF is a joke, Chess in England is a joke, we have no FIDE rated tourns.
Can someone please explain in simple terms why they have resigned, and why we dont have a more democratic voting system.
If there is just a dictatorship style organisation about it, then theres only one way to deal with that

Ben

Fair enough. I have seen that post (as well as every other) but couldn't recall those seven words. In any case, Ben is just one person and was ill-informed. Almost everyone who plays congress chess knows that there is usually an Open section which is very often FIDE rated, but point taken.

[Neil Graham]

In my opinion the two biggest development opportunities in English chess in recent years have been 4NCL and Basman's Chess Challenge - neither of which had very much to do with B/ECF.

The ECF has supported both these events. When Chris Dunworth first mooted the 4NCL the BCF (as it then was) gave him a cash grant to help him get started. When people have entrepreneurial skills or good ideas let them get on with it - do people really want the ECF to run these events - ah I thought not!