English Chess Forum player of the year

[Lewis Martin]

Indeed; we've had 30 nominations.

I think what this highlights is the fact that there needs to be more than one category (IMO). Not just in this forum player of the year, but also the ECF Player of the Year.

Think BBC Sports Personality Awards. Why don't we have: Young Player of the Year, Unsung Hero, Team of the Year... etc. I always think that it is a shame that we can only celebrate just one player's achievements when others have achieved too, per year. Of course, one might get carried away with announcing too many categories, but modelling it based on the main British Sports Award that gets voted by the public can't be a bad thing?

It would also be nice to celebrate those people who contribute so much to chess who don't play at a high level, or even don't care too much about playing: e.g. organisers, arbiters, coaches... hence the need to expand this very narrow award of 'Player of the Year'.

[Roger de Coverly]

It would also be nice to celebrate those people who contribute so much to chess who don't play at a high level, or even don't care too much about playing: e.g. organisers, arbiters, coaches... hence the need to expand this very narrow award of 'Player of the Year'.

There are already a number of other awards, but not put to public vote.

So from http://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-play ... he-year-3/

Your nominations and citations are also sought for the following awards —
Congress of the Year; Club of the Year; Small Club of the Year; Magazine of the Year; Website of the Year; President’s Award for Services to Chess (normally, roughly three awards are made each year)

I think it a novelty that nominations are being sought. Other than the recipients, the awards attract little interest or publicity. The most visible one is "Website of the Year". I do not know if www.ecforum.org.uk has ever reached the short list, it's certainly never been the winner. The Devon site www.chessdevon.co.uk has won twice over the same period.

[Carl Hibbard]

The most visible one is "Website of the Year". I do not know if http://www.ecforum.org.uk has ever reached the short list, it's certainly never been the winner. The Devon site http://www.chessdevon.co.uk has won twice over the same period.

You just never know

[Carl Hibbard]

I was wanting to save myself some work, and this way allows me to use the forum's "poll" function.

A limit of 15 on there at the moment might need increasing.

Indeed; we've had 30 nominations.

It is now set at 50.

[Jonathan Bryant]

The most visible one is "Website of the Year". I do not know if http://www.ecforum.org.uk has ever reached the short list, it's certainly never been the winner. The Devon site http://www.chessdevon.co.uk has won twice over the same period.

You just never know

S&BC Blog won it some years ago. I suspect our chances of getting it again are only mariginally better than this forum getting the nod.