Major investment to transform future of English chess announced

[Stephen Westmoreland]

Mark, I would kindly suggest that we do not derail another post on the subject of free benefits for yourself and if you will return to OTB chess. As one of your local league organisers (as well as someone who enter results on the LMS and tracks fees), I would hope that you would be accepted by a suitable club, pay the relevant fees and play in peace.

I would recommend we let the clever people on here resume with this rather interesting thread. Please.

[Mark Howitt]

The clever people??

[Stewart Reuben]

There is a great deal of whingeing up thread. We should be pleased that, after all these years ,the government is again subsidising chess. They haven't done so for many years. Indeed not since we had the influential Sir Stuart Milner-Barry looking after our interests.
Of course they could have made chess exempt from VAT on entry fees, like other sports.
Of course they could consult people who have done well in their chess field for popularising the game.
Is that lump sum a one-off, or will it be repeated some time?

[Andrew Zigmond]

Even NONE LEAGUE FOOTBALLERS get paid to play.

I've tried to avoid getting involved so far but this is a ridiculous analogy. None league teams have income from spectators and merchandise. It's nowhere near on the same scale as Premier League teams command but that income is there. In chess it isn't.

[Chris Goodall]

To give Mark too much credit, he is hardly the first to demand payment for playing in a local competition in front of zero spectators. What if his secret Stockfish analysis gets out?

[Stephen Westmoreland]

Carlsen will be delighted, Chris. Ten more years of dominance.

I can see from the old Yorkshire grading site, Mark was 141 back in 2010, so a good base to make a comeback.

[Mark Howitt]

Geeeeeeesssss......

This is last chess drama post today I guess...

I know I will have to pay to play.

And yes... I am doing analysis

[Paul Cooksey]

11.External Relations (DL/MP)
DL And MP reported that a grant of £500,000 had been agreed by DCMS.
This covered a two-year period with £200,000 in 2023/24, and £300,000 for
2024/2025. DCMS operated a three-year funding cycle so in 2024 it would be
possible to apply for funding for the next three-year period. Part of this pot
was intended to help deaf and blind players. DCMS also expected to see
women’s chess supported.
The Cabinet Office had made it clear that international chess, chess in parks
and chess in schools were priorities. They also wished to see a pilot
programme to encourage the teaching of chess in 100 schools. MP was in
discussion with the Department for Education in this regard. The aim was to
promote the educational benefit of chess and the work of CSC. The funding
would come with financial reporting requirements attached.
4
The Board recorded a vote of thanks to DL and MP for an excellent outcome.

The Board further noted that existing ECF funding of international chess could
potentially be redirected to grassroots chess.

[Gerard Killoran]

An update on where the chess tables are to be located:

https://twitter.com/JackTShaw/status/17 ... 9478418883

GAWJ7hLWIAAuEQX.png

[John Townsend]

It looks good if you live in Cumbria - not so hot if you're in Penzance.

[Ian Thompson]

An update on where the chess tables are to be located:

https://twitter.com/JackTShaw/status/17 ... 9478418883

So, as the scheme was under subscribed, any LA that wanted a table could have got one. It also appears that roughly 1 in 6 of all LA's that could have applied did.

Was this a missed opportunity for local chess clubs to get a table in their area?

[Kevin Thurlow]

Somerset Council's mismanagement has been so great that they appear to be bankrupt. I suppose they thought if they used someone else's money for chess tables, that the victims, excuse me, "Council Tax payers" would riot in the streets of Taunton.

The spread of tables does look a bit odd, but if those councils apply and others don't, why not.

[John Townsend]

It may depend whose opinion you ask, Ian. To me the chess tables scheme is an excellent way to get many more people playing chess. To it should be added other initiatives to promote chess in schools, universities, libraries, cafés and pubs, etc. As things are, we as a nation simply don't play enough chess to become a major force again on the international scene. We have tended to concentrate our hopes in recent years on a small chess élite, but I believe we need to arrive at a much wider base of players, from which future grandmasters can be grown in larger quantities.

The tables scheme also offers important opportunties for self-development and social advantages.

I would say this is a missed opportunity if only one in six of local authorities have applied. Can they still apply?

[Matt Mackenzie]

Cumbria country council does not exist any more, of course.

So does this mean that both Cumberland and Westmorland/Furness unitaries have got them?

[Ian Thompson]

So does this mean that both Cumberland and Westmorland/Furness unitaries have got them?

Yes - see the table listing who's got them in the replies to the Twitter post Gerard referred to.