English Chess Forum

A 17% increase. My central prediction was a 20% drop. I understand that the organisers thought that it might be greater. Those of us, including me, who campaigned hard behind the scenes for a change in the ECF and the 4NCl Rules and Regulations can take a quiet satisfaction from the outcome of our ...

Sunday Times July 24, 2016 TEXT START In an unusual move, a former chairman of the Irish Chess Union (ICU) has filed a High Court defamation suit against the organisation and two of its members. TEXT END Thanks for the full posting. I suppose one worry would be that this suit could involve a big fi...

According to an article in The Sunday Times, an ex-chairman of the Irish Chess Union has issued a High Court defamation suit against the ICU, its current chairman and one other member. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ex-chairmans-surprise-move-on-chess-board-9f8wn7cd5 There's been a lot of bad blo...

I agree that 'e-ratings' are being over-used in the 4NCL and I know quite a few players feel the same way. As long as there is a separate system for juniors I don't see that they have any place in Division One at all. Rather too often, one feels that they are either being used as 'vanity ratings' or...

There is a video of Irina Krush 'resigning' in such a fashion - the flying King nearly hits a spectator in the eye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2zqnmb_mDE

Colm's post is obviously relevant to the FIDE Presidency battle - the topic in hand - and is not merely a reflection on Irish chess. It seems useful to point out the timing of Ilyumzhinov's visit to Ireland with the announcement about the 3 arbiters going to Tromso - perhaps it is just a 'happy coin...

On the Irish Chess Union website it has just been announced that one Kirsan Ilyumzhinov will be visiting the Emerald Isle "later this week". It probably won't be to discuss his love for Riverdance.
It seems like the ICU might be about the perform the chess equivalent of voting for UKIP.

As I understand it, GM did receive a 10 month ban - but with 7 months suspended. The suspension is in effect for 3 years and during that period he cannot occupy those ICU-appointed positions which involve authority over players (e.g. team coach). If the facts found by the ICU Disciplinary Committee ...

Speaking as an interested 'customer', does anyone know if the e2e4 calendar of events is likely to be updated soon? Only one event in the future (Sunningdale Easter 2014) is listed on the website - but presumably there will be others scheduled for next year ...(?)

MartinCarpenter wrote: Martin Brown is 0/3 vs GMs and 3/3 vs ~2050

Actually, I think Martin drew with John Emms yesterday and he is on 3.5/6.