The current position is that Congresses are exempted from Game Fee on games played by Direct Members. So last season when the Game Fee was 54p, a five round Congress might have expenses reduced by £ 2.70 per head per member. A rapidplay event would be one half of that, namely £ 1.35. Within those parameters, an event might choose to offer a discount to ECF members of anywhere between nothing and £ 3.00 or more. At less than the price of a pint, it isn't, in my view at least, large enough to act as a deterrent to non-members.Christopher Kreuzer wrote: Is there not a current rebate that can be claimed by members anyway? I can't remember what that is, but I remember claiming it a few times on entry forms by quoting my ECF membership number. So surely events already have to factor in things like this?
It's where you have a rapidplay where the entry fee might be around £ 15 at the moment ( including the £ 1.35), you are forced to contemplate writing your entry forms to say that the cost to Silver and Gold members is £ 14, but the cost to anyone else is £ 20. Alternatively you write your entry form to say there will be at least two sections, a graded one for Silver and Gold members and an ungraded one for everyone else.
I suppose Congress organisers can be thankful for one thing. A hard line membership scheme on the lines of the USCF, or even the FFE would have demanded the full price of membership at £ 18 as a condition of play. Mind you, that's what's forced on players in Internationally rated events, and it's not £ 18 but £ 27.