Emergency Board Meeting - Draft Minutes

[Gerard Killoran]

You know that my media company was and is a platform for Alexei Navalny, one of the leaders of the Russian opposition

If you care to Google 'navalny + racism' or 'navalny + nationalism' you might be surprised and not a little disturbed by the results.

[JustinHorton]

You'd like "an alternative account" of what, exactly? Perhaps an alternative account of what "Everyone interested [already] knows?" If you read my posts here on the Forum, the back-up documentation, and look at who I am and what I've done in the past, you will be able to piece together your "alternative account" by yourself. You, better than most on the Forum, can imagine what I had to fight for and against in Russia from 1993-2008. You know that I created one of the largest online media companies in Russia

1. What would our sources be for this?

2. What's your source for claiming that Silvio Danailov once spent six months in prison?

3. What evidence have you for the claim that Silvio Danailov tried to extort fifty thousand Euros for the privilege of access to the mayor of Madrid? When and where did this occur?

[Nigel Short]

I note from the BBC that Ukrainian MPs have voted to oust President Yanukovych. He has denounced it as a "coup d'etat" and refuses to stand down. What does that remind you of?

[Chris Rice]

I note from the BBC that Ukrainian MPs have voted to oust President Yanukovych. He has denounced it as a "coup d'etat" and refuses to stand down. What does that remind you of?

Bit unkind. Is shooting and killing hundreds of unarmed citizens, running away and refusing to relinquish power the same as losing a Vote of Confidence and refusing to step down? Let's keep this in perspective please.

[Nigel Short]

Indeed. As Roger Emerson says - one is farce and the other tragedy.

[Chris Rice]

Thanks. Roger Emerson's now explained it to me now that what he means by the Marxist twist is that there's a farce going on and on (ECF) and a tragedy going on and on (Ukraine) with neither likely to end any time soon. i.e. thankfully not a direct comparison between AP and Yanukovych. I just pray that sense will prevail....in the Ukraine. As for the ECF we all know that's never going to happen.

[NickFaulks]

Yulia Tymoshenko has been freed form jail. This is wonderful news. I hope we shall soon hear that her ECF counterpart Nigel Short has also been released from his outrageous imprisonment.

[John McKenna]

Hamlet: Oh, most true. She is a strumpet. What news?
Rozencrantz: None, my lord, but the world's grown dishonest.
H: Then is doomsday near... What have you... deserved at the hands of fortune that she sends you to prison hither?
Guildenstern: Prison, my lord?
H: Denmark's a prison.
R: Then the world is one.
H: A goodly one in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons. Denmark being one of the worst.
R: We think not so, my lord.
H: Why then, 'tis none to you, for there is nothing good or bad, but thinking make it so. To me it is a prison.
R: Why then, your ambition makes it one. 'Tis too narrow for your mind.
H: O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams. (And don't we all, sometimes.)

I'll quote no more of the bard on this subject and hope that Nigel will pardon my playacting.
I just thought it might be the thing wherein to catch the conscience of a prince of the almost infinite space bounded by the chessboard. Goodnight.

[Colm Daly]

If I can be forgiven for my intrusion into the internal affairs of English chess and my ignorance of English chess in general and any of the chess politics therein, I still feel that, as an outsider looking in, with no axe to grind against anybody in English chess, it is simply bonkers to even suggest that Nigel Short has any reason to resign as the English Fide delegate.

Far from it, English chess can consider itself lucky to have such a well known and accomplished chess player and figure within world chess, still willing to stay active and involved in the Fide delegate position.

Notwithstanding the chess politics and various views and notions people have about various developments in English chess, the fact is; that the current English Fide delegate clearly has the best interests of English chess at heart.

I don't know the man personally, having barely exchanged a few words over many years of just happening to be in proximity at various events over more than 25 years, be it an Olympiad, or international tournament, in some part of the world or the other.

What I do know is something of his views as expressed in various ways in various places. Some of which I would find myself agreeing with and others not. But in general at least he seems to me to be well informed, sincere in his beliefs and convictions, and genuinely coming at issues from the perspective of a true chess player with the primary motivation being that of a chess player pushing for the well being of chess players and the elevation of the game we all presumably love [at least most of the time].

One of the awful aspects to chess politics in general is the way so called "top chess players" are continually patronized and even disrespected, or at least misunderstood, undervalued and under appreciated as the assets they actually are. That is not to say such players should be given a free pass and allowed to talk down to the rest of any chess community or not have their ideas subject to scrutiny and when need be criticisms, but all too often there is an element in which so many so called chess players seem unable to stop themselves re actively and instinctively trying to have a go or take down the likes of NS or Kasparov.

Neither are angels I would guess, just human, with exceptional achievements, and ability in the world of chess to their credit. But also vast knowledge and experience that extends far beyond just "being good at chess". Does this mean that either are the ideal people to be at the forefront of an attempt to change things within Fide? Possibly or probably not, but at least they are putting themselves forward in a pretty open manner and engaging with the big issues within chess, all the while exposing themselves to every and any view from nutters, cranks and genuine chess people alike.

The issue for English chess I would guess is not Nigel Short or his role as the Fide delegate but far more searching questions about how and why it has arrived at the point it is at now, and then how best to proceed to act in the interests of the greater good of English chess.

Given the general apathy or indifference within chess generally in many western countries, the air of resignation about, and then the various overlapping and competing interests and personal agendas and ego's involved in a very complex chess community as is English chess, it is very hard to see a clear and easy path for progress. But at the same time there seems to be a heck of a lot of capable and bright people within the English chess community so I imagine things will somehow find a way to move on with some positive outcomes.

And I write this on the day that England beat Ireland by 3 points in a great rugby match that saw the best team on the day win by just about the right margin. There is always next time!

[JustinHorton]

I wonder if I could return to something I asked several pages back. How does the ECF function during the time between now and 12 April?

What I meant by this is two things:

(a) Legally and constitutionally, do all the officials involved still retain their powers? They can make payments, decisions and so on?

(b) If so, is this also so practically? Are officials likely to find that other parties are aware that their status may change on April 12 and this affects working relationships?

[Angus French]

I wonder if I could return to something I asked several pages back. How does the ECF function during the time between now and 12 April?

What I meant by this is two things:

(a) Legally and constitutionally, do all the officials involved still retain their powers? They can make payments, decisions and so on?

(b) If so, is this also so practically? Are officials likely to find that other parties are aware that their status may change on April 12 and this affects working relationships?

Good question. The President is still in place and can only be forced out by Council. But how does the Board function in advance of such a decision?

For example, presumably Board meetings would have been scheduled between 8 Feb, the date of the Emergency Board Meeting, and 12 April, the date of Finance Council meeting and also, I assume, one or more Extraordinary General Meetings. Do Board meetings continue to take place or not?

Has the Board rendered itself non-functioning?

It seems to me that these questions apply in particular to the Directors who called the Emergency Board Meeting and who voted not to have confidence in the President.

[Chris Rice]

We may be dealing in arcane definitions. A vote of no-confidence is the sort of thing that gets PMs and Governments booted out of office. Jon Rogers is probably better placed to respond to the question but as I understand it a Vote of Confidence that is lost simply represents a vote of disapproval, it does not mean that AP should be immediately dismissed. Perhaps there was an expectation that he would resign/step down if he lost the vote but this was not detailed in the motion apparently.

The persons putting the motion could have made it a 'censure motion' in which case they would have had to detail on the motion what it is they believed was wrong and the action that needed to be carried out if passed.

Essentially we would need to know from whoever put the motion of confidence as to what the thinking was.

[Roger de Coverly]

Has the Board rendered itself non-functioning?

I think the answer is probably, but it has little practical effect given how little of chess in the UK is actually organised by the ECF or even in the name of the ECF. AP's election manifesto wanted to change this, which might have brought him into conflict with tournament organisers.

The e2e4 calendar has what it calls the English Rapidplay Championship scheduled for March 29th -30th without any confirmed details. My guess would be that it won't take place if the ECF lacks a working Board to authorise a new National event.

[Chris Rice]

Has the Board rendered itself non-functioning?

I think the answer is probably, but it has little practical effect given how little of chess in the UK is actually organised by the ECF or even in the name of the ECF. AP's election manifesto wanted to change this, which might have brought him into conflict with tournament organisers.

The e2e4 calendar has what it calls the English Rapidplay Championship scheduled for March 29th -30th without any confirmed details. My guess would be that it won't take place if the ECF lacks a working Board to authorise a new National event.

You're right on long term initiatives which will probably have to be shelved until this mess is resolved. Paying bills etc and day to day running of the ECF I believe can carry on as normal.

[Charlie Storey]

I would like to say that Andrew Paulson has been an excellent ECF President he is a passionate worker and highly intelligent in his role. With a decent supportive team he will do wonders for the ECF.

I am extremely concerned that there has been a confidence issue against him and hope that is not to become a trend such that a President simply has to become a puppet otherwise we can change the role so as not to confuse the chess public.

This man has brought passion, intelligence and drive to an organisation that needed it and now it looks like we have hi support being undermined.

I noticed there was a complaint toward Andrew Paulson from AH implying he had promised a northern organiser (me) The ECF Lightning Championship - He had in fact directed I ask Alex and Phil Ehr - which I did. The fact I had raised there was no Lightning Championships and had not been for years to Andrew Paulson and that I was willing to do it showed excellent professionalism and initiative from Andrew. For hime to have this raised against him in a confidence meeting is scandalous from the ECF Board. It seems endemic of their entire attitude to this man and I have a great sense of disappointment that this attitude to this man is ongoing.

The Board members need to get on board with his drive rather than slowing him down with pedantic blockages and undermining his good reputation.

And yes I am willing to be The ECF Lightning Organiser, although if someone has an issue with that because I am from The North then I would like to know. I'd also like to know that both Andrew and I, identifying this tournament deficiency, why that should be used against him in this board meeting. An explanation would be appreciated.

Good luck Andrew - I hope you get your due respect.

Fide Master Charlie Storey
Winner of 121 Opens