British Chess Championships 2011

[Mike Truran]

For someone who's quite happy to dish it out, you have a remarkably thin skin, and a quite remarkable capacity for self-righteous indignation when caught out. Maybe you should re-read your post to Carl and consider whether it wasn't almost guaranteed to get his back up.

Since you are clearly expecting a reply from Carl, perhaps you would also do us the honour of responding to the question you yourself were asked and enlighten the members of this forum as to your own significant contributions to British chess.

[John Upham]

I am not surprised the ECF won't sanction this as an official forum

In that case why validate its continued presence by posting to it?

If you wish to demonstrate your support for the ECF then be consistent and desist from posting.

[Adam Raoof]

Adam Raoof .. All my best wishes to you and all your colleagues at the ECF for another very successful tournament at Sheffield - you are all doing such a great job.

Thanks Alan - I think that everyone who works on the Championships does a great job, but if we are to take them to another level then it has to be a team effort. I am very grateful for the continued support of Carl and his colleagues, and I will try to address any specific criticisms that they have.

This year, with some financial support, we are going to have a strong Championships. However that does not mean that the event is suddenly awash with money - in fact quite the opposite, as money has been provided specifically to attract the top players to the Championship event, but nothing more than that.

This may have caused some very hard working and well meaning people to feel left out, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. Every one of the staff who work on the event is still effectively doing it for expenses, or on a voluntary basis.

[Roger de Coverly]

I'm trying to figure out the issue.

The ECF are proposing that the audio (and video?) of the commentary room at Sheffield will be broadcast on a ChessBase server. There's a belief that this will be a commercial service only available from ChessBase for a fee. The rebroadcast relies on hosting services provided by Blue Apricot who haven't been consulted for their agreement to supply the commentary room audio (and video?) on a restricted basis. It may also be that there has been no consultation at all with Blue Apricot regarding technical details of the Sheffield coverage. What little I know of these issues indicates that the quality or even availability of wireless or other broadband at the venue affects the scope of the coverage.

It was thought that it might have been possible to broadcast the commentary room at this year's Hastings. It didn't happen and the stated presumption was that the venue's wireless and broadband connections had insufficient capacity to handle the extra load of the video and audio on top of the live game coverage. That's not to say it wouldn't be possible to hire in extra capacity and Hastings may be intending to do this for the future.

[Adam Raoof]

I'm trying to figure out the issue.

So am I!

The ECF are proposing that the audio (and video?) of the commentary room at Sheffield will be broadcast on a ChessBase server. There's a belief that this will be a commercial service only available from ChessBase for a fee. The rebroadcast relies on hosting services provided by Blue Apricot who haven't been consulted for their agreement to supply the commentary room audio (and video?) on a restricted basis. It may also be that there has been no consultation at all with Blue Apricot regarding technical details of the Sheffield coverage. What little I know of these issues indicates that the quality or even availability of wireless or other broadband at the venue affects the scope of the coverage.

Correction: the ECF are not proposing anything of the kind. If any arrangements have been made, it has been between other parties, and I would not expect the technical team at the British to push themselves any further than they feel comfortable without consultation.

[Sean Hewitt]

The ECF are proposing that the audio (and video?) of the commentary room at Sheffield will be broadcast on a ChessBase server. There's a belief that this will be a commercial service only available from ChessBase for a fee.

Correction: the ECF are not proposing anything of the kind. If any arrangements have been made, it has been between other parties, and I would not expect the technical team at the British to push themselves any further than they feel comfortable without consultation.

Adam - If the ECF are not proposing anything of the kind then can I ask

i) Do those that are proposing this have the permission of the ECF to do so?
ii) Are the ECF receiving a fee from Chessbase for this?
iii) Have the appropriate technical bods (aka Carl etc) been consulted and agreed that this is doable?

[LozCooper]

If Carl is so displeased with the way the ECF are handling things, then surely the proper way for him is to approach the ECF privately

I believe these and other issues were originally raised in February (in the proper way) and I've noticed e-mails have been bouncing back and forth since then. I can sympathise with Carl as if you don't say anything on the forum you are accused of not keeping people informed but as soon as you give an opinion you then risk upsetting those people who don't agree with you.

[Adam Raoof]

Adam - If the ECF are not proposing anything of the kind then can I ask

i) Do those that are proposing this have the permission of the ECF to do so?

It was apparently discussed with Dave Welch, David Clayton and Steve Connor. I am not against the idea, but I hadn't heard of it until it was mentioned on this Forum.

ii) Are the ECF receiving a fee from Chessbase for this?

No fee is being paid by ChessBase to either the commentary team or the ECF.

iii) Have the appropriate technical bods (aka Carl etc) been consulted and agreed that this is doable?

Carl - were you consulted on the possible implications of this proposal?

[Roger de Coverly]

No fee is being paid by ChessBase to either the commentary team or the ECF.

But will ChessBase be charging, even indirectly, for the commentary? In other words can anyone connect to the PlayChess server and receive the commentary for no additional payment?

[Adam Raoof]

No fee is being paid by ChessBase to either the commentary team or the ECF.

But will ChessBase be charging, even indirectly, for the commentary? In other words can anyone connect to the PlayChess server and receive the commentary for no additional payment?

Apparently this is the plan.

[Alan Burke]

Mike Truran ... Unless I wished to, I would never give information of my private business in such a public forum as this and, in any case, would not give such details to someone who asked a question after issuing a personal insult. Actually, I have never stated that I may know better than anyone else regarding any subject, whereas Carl Hibbard posted that I have no knowedge of certain issues (as well as including yet another personal insult) - so until he can prove how he knows that fact, why should I respond anyway ?

John Upham... Alternatively, following your theory, does that mean that anyone who criticises the ECF should withdraw from it ? They could then perhaps set up their own rival organisation - and then see how they get on.

Loz Cooper ... Yes, Carl Hibbard may well have gone through the official channels originally, but is it really a good attitude to then come onto a public forum and criticise those with whom you are supposed to be negotiating ? There are probably many other items being discussed by the ECF which the general public don't know about, but that is the nature of business. If anyone asked about the situation, all Carl needed to say was that discussions were ongoing, rather than just issue an ultimatum on here because he couldn't get his own way. Suppose a member of the ECF had gone public and criticised Carl Hibbard - I am sure he too wouldn't have approved of it.

[LozCooper]

Loz Cooper ... Yes, Carl Hibbard may well have gone through the official channels originally, but is it really a good attitude to then come onto a public forum and criticise those with whom you are supposed to be negotiating ? There are probably many other items being discussed by the ECF which the general public don't know about, but that is the nature of business. If anyone asked about the situation, all Carl needed to say was that discussions were ongoing, rather than just issue an ultimatum on here because he couldn't get his own way. Suppose a member of the ECF had gone public and criticised Carl Hibbard - I am sure he too wouldn't have approved of it.

That may be so but would you rather everyone in any official position gave bland Alan Shearer type responses on every subject or declined to ever give an opinion on a subject they care about?

[Mike Truran]

Unless I wished to, I would never give information of my private business in such a public forum as this and, in any case, would not give such details to someone who asked a question after issuing a personal insult.

How unfortunate that your principles prevent you sharing your various contributions to the chess world with us.

[Ben Purton]

Firstly I was under the impression this was a discussion of the British Chess Championships 2011 and not a discussion of getting ECF approval of this thread. Everyone views this as the silent official forum anyway.

Alan Burke, I just want you to know I voted for you as ECF player of the Year for invaluable contributions to this forum and chess in general.

To be fair my understanding given the pure lack of advertising on this forum is that Carl makes no gain from this forum fiscally. In fact I don't know how its stored by I can imagine it might even cost him money. So frankly I think he can do what he wants given this information. I hardly think what hes done is "soapbox"-esque.

When i read the posts you have Alan , I think of the Schindler's List Music. Because you are such a severe victim it seems by the evil forumites.

Finally the whole point of a forum, is to be a forum. I am sure you can all argue over email if you so choose but complaining that a forum is public is a bit unique.

Love to all

[Stewart Reuben]

Ben Purton >Everyone views this as the silent official forum anyway. <

At last a precise statement that can be made. Everyone does NOT view this as the silent official forum. Certainly I would not describe it as silent.
It is a forum about English chess and probably benefits from the fact that it is not official. For example, this very message would have to be cleared were it an official forum. Come to think of it - it might have to be cleared with me.

It is perhaps unfortunate (others might say fortunate), that nobody has consulted the ECF Marketing Director about marketing the British Championships which are run by the ECF.

Stewart Reuben