English Chess Forum

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 05, 2018 9:57 am

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 05, 2018 8:39 am

Is that a case of the personal ambition of Kouatly ?

Must be. My guess is that he won't have much of Western Europe with him, but we shall see.

Have you changed your view of who to support now you have seen the tickets?

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 05, 2018 10:15 am

Have you changed your view of who to support now you have seen the tickets?

No. Kouatly on the Russians' ticket is positive, but not enough to make me support them.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 05, 2018 10:24 am

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 05, 2018 10:15 am

Have you changed your view of who to support now you have seen the tickets?

No. Kouatly on the Russians' ticket is positive, but not enough to make me support them.

But are the Russians going to win?

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 05, 2018 11:25 am

But are the Russians going to win?

No. The interesting bet is whether Makro wins on the first ballot. I've decided that I would back that at evens, but with no great confidence.

From https://africachessmedia.com/2018/07/08 ... ica-chess/:

"I am Winston K. Ireland, the legitimately elected President of the Liberia Chess Federation. It is strange to see at this eleventh hour that the names of the legally elected officials of the Liberia Chess Federation have been removed from the FIDE website and replaced with the names of imposters. How free, fair and transparent will the upcoming elections be If this kind of illegal action goes unchecked ?"

David Sedgwick wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 09, 2018 7:37 pm

From https://africachessmedia.com/2018/07/08 ... ica-chess/:

Also from that website

It is quite interesting that the English Chess Federation chose to nominate GM Nigel Short, even though the President of the federation is on Mr Makropoulos’ ticket

I suppose the ECF is a little unusual by world chess standards with its constitution that the President is regarded as rather more of an honorary role, than administrative, political or diplomatic. Being FIDE Delegate and International Director, Malcolm is rather more the external face of the ECF.

David Sedgwick wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 09, 2018 7:37 pm

From https://africachessmedia.com/2018/07/08 ... ica-chess/:

"I am Winston K. Ireland, the legitimately elected President of the Liberia Chess Federation. It is strange to see at this eleventh hour that the names of the legally elected officials of the Liberia Chess Federation have been removed from the FIDE website and replaced with the names of imposters. How free, fair and transparent will the upcoming elections be If this kind of illegal action goes unchecked ?"

The Liberian Daily Observer reports on an attempt earlier this year to oust Winston K. Ireland from his position as President of the Liberia Chess Federation. See here and here.

Angus French wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:02 pm

David Sedgwick wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 09, 2018 7:37 pm

From https://africachessmedia.com/2018/07/08 ... ica-chess/:

"I am Winston K. Ireland, the legitimately elected President of the Liberia Chess Federation. It is strange to see at this eleventh hour that the names of the legally elected officials of the Liberia Chess Federation have been removed from the FIDE website and replaced with the names of imposters. How free, fair and transparent will the upcoming elections be If this kind of illegal action goes unchecked ?"

The Liberian Daily Observer reports on an attempt earlier this year to oust Winston K. Ireland from his position as President of the Liberia Chess Federation. See here and here.

Almost makes one pine for the discussions about Brexit...

Steady on, now

Angus French wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:02 pm

The Liberian Daily Observer reports on an attempt earlier this year to oust Winston K. Ireland from his position as President of the Liberia Chess Federation.

There were a number of these disputes prior to the 2014 elections. Without fail, FIDE ruled in favour of the pro-Kirsan candidate.

Makropoulos and Dvorkovich sitting next to each other as Presidential Candidates in Bucharest yesterday at the 2nd quarter FIDE Presidential Board. However, not everyone was invited.

Nigel has put out an election message today. Not sure there is a great deal new in it with the key point being that FIDE has got to raise its standards which have been woeful up to now. Towards the end it looks as though he has already conceded that he can't win but hopes to get enough votes to hold the balance of power, a kind of Nick Clegg strategy if you will.
Its interesting to compare this election message with the one Malcolm has done which seems a lot more composed and focused though its odd getting election statements from the proposed Deputy rather than the proposed President who doesn't seem to be saying much at all. Perhaps that's best?

Chris Rice wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 10, 2018 2:49 pm

Nigel has put out an election message today.

His central campaign promise remains that if he is elected he will reduce all fees to zero, because money will drop from the sky. He continues to claim that the poorest federations are crippled by rating fees, having still failed to notice that they are exempt from them.

Chris Rice wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 10, 2018 2:49 pm

Its interesting to compare this election message with the one Malcolm has done which seems a lot more composed and focused though its odd getting election statements from the proposed Deputy rather than the proposed President who doesn't seem to be saying much at all.

Malcolm's statement appeared as an editorial in his own magazine. The primary audience would be the readers of the magazine who have a vote only to the limited extent that the ECF Council can influence ECF activity.

The rather obvious question to Malcolm remains, that given all the disapproval expressed by the ECF for FIDE's activities under Kirsan and Makro, does he really thing his or the ECF's support has sufficient value to hold them hostage for a different approach?

It's all a very odd state of affairs. Why does Dvorkovich bother if he's not confident of winning? That is, why would the Russians put so much political capital at risk? Better surely to let Kirsan take the hit if Makropoulos is indeed 'past the post', as his mouthy outriders claim.

And then there's Malcolm Pein. I still can't see how he gets a win from his position. If he is - or self-defines himself as - the acceptable public face of Makropoulos, doesn't he face the serious risk that he'll become the chess-equivalent of Sebastian Coe?