In search of a President

[Jonathan Bryant]

In all seriousness, CJ de Mooi from BBC's Eggheads has expressed a serious interest in standing for ECF President - what would be better? He is a celebrity, a very decent player (about 160+) and takes an active interest in chess in his adopted home of Wales and would probably increase the profile of the game in a very positive way.

He was in Torquay to watch the chess and did this interview;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNWITVbm ... re=channel

I'd vote for him ... but only if he'll agree that he'll start every sentence he ever speaks in his official capacity with "I didn't get where I am today ...."

[Paul McKeown]

Adam,

CJ de Mooi would, to my mind, not be a good candidate for president. His "celebrity status" is rather minor and he would merely confirm in the public's mind the nerdy nature of chess and chess players.

Regards,
Paul McKeown.

[John Upham]

Paul,
Please suggest good candidates and we can consider making contact.

J.

[Adam Raoof]

CJ de Mooi would, to my mind, not be a good candidate for president. His "celebrity status" is rather minor and he would merely confirm in the public's mind the nerdy nature of chess and chess players.

I disagree with you, but if you can suggest a realistic (i.e. someone who will actually stand) alternative candidate I am sure an election would follow!

[Rob Thompson]

Even a minor celebrity is better than none at all, surely?

[Sebastian Stone]

Even a minor celebrity is better than none at all, surely?

Call me old fashioned, but maybe "would do a good job" should be part of the requirement.

"Previous experience in a similar role" would help too.

[Tryfon Gavriel]

CJ de Mooi would, to my mind, not be a good candidate for president. His "celebrity status" is rather minor and he would merely confirm in the public's mind the nerdy nature of chess and chess players.

I disagree with you, but if you can suggest a realistic (i.e. someone who will actually stand) alternative candidate I am sure an election would follow!

I agree with Adam, and of course I'm biased as I took the interview via my Iphone. Eggheads is on TV quite regularly - it has massive viewing audience. If chess is associated with improving memory skills if we had this person as president, why would that be a bad thing?! Also isn't memory useful for remembering opening theory?! He recalled from memory a game he played years ago in one of Adam's quickplays. Surely he should be given serious consideration !?

[John Moore]

I've hardly ever seen Eggheads, but doesn't CJ come across as a bit of a prat (pompous w_nker my daughter calls him) on the programme. Now Tryfon's interview shows him in a totally different light, but that is not what the public will know.

Anyway I trust those who are in favour, so I'll go with him.

[Alex Holowczak]

Some people wont like him or want him simply because he is a celebrity!

Or because he's obviously 100 times cleverer then them.

[Wilf Arnold]

I've hardly ever seen Eggheads, but doesn't CJ come across as a bit of a prat (pompous w_nker my daughter calls him) on the programme. Now Tryfon's interview shows him in a totally different light, but that is not what the public will know.

Anyway I trust those who are in favour, so I'll go with him.

People should not confuse his 'on-screen' persona with what he's like when you take time out to talk to him.

He has supported Welsh Chess over the past few years - not playing on his personality but supporting in a very real way. Quite a few of his recent games have been as a filler in some of the tournaments we've held here.

If the ECF would like the WCU to help them by supplying a President, then our loss would be your gain.

Wilf

[Adam Raoof]

OK, Ernie - how do I officially nominate CJ?

[Simon Spivack]

Gerry Walsh is well known in the world of chess but in the world at large he is unkown.

I rather doubt that. A lot of club members don't even know their team mates.

We are not looking for a CEO or a Chairman we are looking for someone who can do some good in giving our game a better image and hopefully attract some sponsorship.

Mr Connagh Joseph De Mooi (40 years old) should be nominated for President of the ECF. If he isnt we will continue to stagnate and remain at the bottom of the sports heap.

From figurehead to messiah, in a few forum posts.

[Mike Gunn]

I would support CJ too and will try and get him nominated through the organisations I'm involved with (SCCA, SCCU, Border League). The other members of these organisations may not agree, of course!

During the couple of years that the Surrey Congress was run by Tony Corfe, myself and Mike Adams CJ sponsored an event within it (the rapidplay), which demonstrates some commitment to promoting developing chess.

If CJ turns out not to be a great president then we can always try someone else in 2 years time, but I currently haven't seen a (serious) suggestion of a better candidate.

[Ben Purton]

Id Also support CJ

[Rob Thompson]

I'd just like to throw in my thoughts here and say that i first met CJ at the '06 Hereford congress, and he has always seemed to me to be a thouroughly nice guy. At that stage, having never watched eggheads, i had no idea "who" he was but formed an impression based on talking to him first hand. I think he would be a very good candidate for presidency.