Interview with ECF President CJ de Mooi

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Others (and let us hope there is more...shorter ones) will be like pulling teeth from wriggling child.

Someone could start a poll for the next interview. I nominate Geoff (to be interviewed, not to start the poll!).

[Mick Norris]

Others (and let us hope there is more...shorter ones) will be like pulling teeth from wriggling child.

Someone could start a poll for the next interview. I nominate Geoff (to be interviewed, not to start the poll!).

I've already suggested the other candidate for ECF President

[Geoff Chandler]

I suppose I could be both the ECF President and be interviewed.
(I'll bring my guitar and demo board to the interview.)

First thing I'd do as ECF president is shut down this forum, it's an outlet for total nutcases.
Then I'd call home the Olympiad teams. Just because I can.
Then make it free ECF membership for anyone who knows the rules.

What about funding I hear you ask. I'd have on tap some of the most imagiative
brains in the country. We would turn to crime.

And I'd make sure those London League Fixtures get posted pretty damn quick.
I've been losing sleep over that one.

What else?

Merged CHESS & BCM and call it....(thinks for 10 seconds)....Geoff's Chess Mag.
And fill it full of cheapo's, blunders and traps..... a bit like this.

http://www.redhotpawn.com/blog/blogread ... postid=114

[Warren Kingston]

I love you Geoff!

Geoff For President

[Ihor Lewyk]

I'm the current YCA President and also one of the website editors. The Yorkshire committee haven’t discussed the ECF candidate votes yet. The fact we have published the interview does not necessarily show support for CJ.

The CJ interview was discussed by the website editorial team and put on our site simply because we knew it would create healthy debate and generate visitors to our site.

One of the motivations for broadcasting the interview is that we have seen the people on this ECF forum repeatedly claim that it appears CJ refuses to talk about certain issues. So the Yorkshire website, mainly thanks to Andrew Bak's vision, has attempted to get some answers.
We have interviewed people on the site before, Gawain Jones and Rupert Jones for example, but this was the first attempt at an audio recording. Personally I am very pleased with the outcome. Yes we may have missed some opportunities to ask more searching questions but I think Andrew did really well to get the information from CJ that we did. I also applaud CJ who was indeed willing to take any questions from Andrew although he cleverly and politely avoids answering one or two which is his right.

However, I love the 'conspiracy theorists' on this forum who try to scrutinise every thing that was said, how it was said and even what was not said. Brilliant self generating gold dust that every webmaster needs!

The Yorkshire site is always on the lookout for interviewing people, especially if they are of potential interest to Yorkshire chess players.

[Gerard Killoran]

However, I love the 'conspiracy theoris ... ter needs!

I'm sure no one is suggesting there was a conspiracy between Andrew and CJ, however a new thread devoted to conspiracies in chess sound like a great idea. Perhaps we could kick it off with the Botvinnik - Keres allegations?

On second thoughts, maybe not such a great idea.

[Peter D Williams]

I'm the current YCA President and also one of the website editors. The Yorkshire committee haven’t discussed the ECF candidate votes yet. The fact we have published the interview does not necessarily show support for CJ.

The CJ interview was discussed by the website editorial team and put on our site simply because we knew it would create healthy debate and generate visitors to our site.

One of the motivations for broadcasting the interview is that we have seen the people on this ECF forum repeatedly claim that it appears CJ refuses to talk about certain issues. So the Yorkshire website, mainly thanks to Andrew Bak's vision, has attempted to get some answers.
We have interviewed people on the site before, Gawain Jones and Rupert Jones for example, but this was the first attempt at an audio recording. Personally I am very pleased with the outcome. Yes we may have missed some opportunities to ask more searching questions but I think Andrew did really well to get the information from CJ that we did. I also applaud CJ who was indeed willing to take any questions from Andrew although he cleverly and politely avoids answering one or two which is his right.

However, I love the 'conspiracy theorists' on this forum who try to scrutinise every thing that was said, how it was said and even what was not said. Brilliant self generating gold dust that every webmaster needs!

The Yorkshire site is always on the lookout for interviewing people, especially if they are of potential interest to Yorkshire chess players.

I think CJ should have been pressed more on his claims that people where reported to the police.

[A Goodall]

Given that the President has recently made the following statement on twitter, is there any point in voting for him?

Good news - I'm employed until July 2013. Bad news - no time for anything else. Do I give up stuff I care about to concentrate on my career?

[Ernie Lazenby]

Its actually quite easy to read between the lines as to who were reported to the Police. As a retired cop I can say that had I been the recipient of whatever the complaint was, one can assume the nature of it, I would have concluded there was nothing to investigate. Just my opinion. It is quite interesting the Police were consulted.

BTW I dont think there was a conspiracy re the interview just handy timeing for CJ, especially as Yorkshire Chess give him a resounding pat on the back on the web site home page. I am pleased he has got a paying job as I would be for anyone in his declared poor financial state.

[Andrew Zigmond]

I think CJ should have been pressed more on his claims that people where reported to the police.

As I've already pointed out (and others have agreed) CJ de Mooi would not have submitted to a hostile interview and may well have refused to answer further questions. These continued attacks on Andrew Bak for not being Jeremy Paxman (he's an extremely enthusiastic student and chess player, not a professional journalist) are starting to rile me a bit.

[Ernie Lazenby]

I agree with that Andrew. Its for council members at the AGM to ask searching questions of CJ and one hopes that official forum will be the time forthcoming answers will be provided.

[Ernie Lazenby]

Nick Burrows has posted an interesting thread in the general chat section about De-Mooi. Makes interesting reading does it not. Selective memory when he gave the interview or something else?
The more that emerges one must really ask if there is any choice for the next President it surely cannot be Mr De-Mooi.

[Geoff Chandler]

Well it is beginning to look more and more like it's going to be me.

My first task will be moving the 100th British Championship to Tower of London.
We, The Chess Players of Great Britain, are going to knock off the Crown Jewels.

I'm thinking of tunnels just large enough for the under 10's to crawl through.
Everyone bring a shovel.

[David Pardoe]

I agree with that Andrew. Its for council members at the AGM to ask searching questions of CJ and one hopes that official forum will be the time forthcoming answers will be provided.

This brings into question the way the board conducts its business, and how effectively it communicates internally.
Yes, questions should have been asked (in strictest confidence), and the board should have some clear code of accountability, to avoid certain directors or board members running riot and causing chaos.
So regular reporting sessions between board members perhaps need to be a feature of how the ECF operates. If board members fail to come up to scratch, then appropriate action can be taken.
I`d have thought that some kind of formal monthly or bi-monthly reporting system needs to be in place (if not already there).
Yes, the AGM also needs to ask questions and seek assurances..
Some have criticised Andrew for not asking enough searching questions of CJ in his interview. I`d like to know what focused questions the board have asked? However, these matters must be dealt with in strictest confidence, so it is for the board to confirm that relevant questions have been raised (and hopefully answered), without necessarily going further.
The CJ situation looks a difficult one for the ECF. Did CJ have some magic `rabbit` to pull out of the hat, that might (have) brought things to an amicable conclusion. And there was faults/`misunderstandings` on both sides...mud slung in all directions. A sorry saga for chess, after a spectacular Sheffield success...

[Patrick McGovern]

My first task will be moving the 100th British Championship to Tower of London.
We, The Chess Players of Great Britain, are going to knock off the Crown Jewels.

I suspect Geoff is not taking this too seriously