Rachel Reeves and Chess

[Ian Thompson]

According to the Daily Mail
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... eeves.html

But an academic who represented England and Britain at chess this week accused her of overstating her achievement, saying 'in reality, she was joint 26th out of 34'.

Alex Edmans, a professor of finance at London Business School, said that Reeves had actually shared the title for another, smaller tournament.

Is there evidence of Edmans representing England and Britain at chess? Isn't he himself guilty of overstating his achievements?

Are there any events from the 1990s, or thereabouts, where anyone could have represented Britain at chess? Maybe in some privately run events (e.g. the NATO chess championships, although that's a UK team, not a British team if we're being precise about it), but nothing I can think of where the team would be selected by the BCF from all home nation players. Or am I overlooking some schools' event?

[LawrenceCooper]

According to the Daily Mail
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... eeves.html

But an academic who represented England and Britain at chess this week accused her of overstating her achievement, saying 'in reality, she was joint 26th out of 34'.

Alex Edmans, a professor of finance at London Business School, said that Reeves had actually shared the title for another, smaller tournament.

Is there evidence of Edmans representing England and Britain at chess? Isn't he himself guilty of overstating his achievements?

Are there any events from the 1990s, or thereabouts, where anyone could have represented Britain at chess? Maybe in some privately run events (e.g. the NATO chess championships, although that's a UK team, not a British team if we're being precise about it), but nothing I can think of where the team would be selected by the BCF from all home nation players. Or am I overlooking some schools' event?

I'm not sure what the National Chess Junior Squad and National Youth Chess Association are classed as representing, probably England rather than Britain.

[Simon Brown]

Hi Ian, I played for the British Universities CA in a match against the German equivalents in 1982 or so but I have never thought - or claimed - to have represented Britain.

As for Rachel Reeves, she and I played for the same club in the late 80s and early 90s and I'd say Malcolm has it about right. I knew Alex Edmans as well, at about the same time in the same area and I'd be amazed if he wasn't aware of her. He was a bit stronger, but not much, certainly wouldn't have won anything of note nor played for England.

[John Upham]

Here we go....

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/chess-teaches ... 00509.html

[Nick Burrows]

Here we go....

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/chess-teaches ... 00509.html

Resume-inflation = Megalomania lol

Which was the simul that Daniel Johnson drew with Kasparov - 1986?

[LawrenceCooper]

So she was “British Women’s Chess Federation Under-14 Champion” rather than British girls champion?

[Matt Mackenzie]

Its not even her actual CV that was "improved", but her LinkedIn profile.

Which is done, if not by "everybody" (and yes, I know that's not really a defence anyway) then quite possibly by every other person.

Almost certainly including many of our intrepid truth seeking without fear or favour "journalists".

[Roger de Coverly]

So she was “British Women’s Chess Federation Under-14 Champion” rather than British girls champion?

I think it was British Women's Chess Association rather than Federation. I'm not sure what the history of the BWCA had been. One thing I'm vaguely aware of is that the Eagle sisters before they became MPs mounted a coup to take it over. By virtue of its name, it retained separate female only events, even after the BCF, possibly as a result of lobbying by the same BWCA, went over to integrating the female titles into the open events. That wasn't just the junior events, but also the Championship itself. The exact years could be established through Britbase.

[R G Edwards]

Its not even her actual CV that was "improved", but her LinkedIn profile.

Which is done, if not by "everybody" (and yes, I know that's not really a defence anyway) then quite possibly by every other person.

Almost certainly including many of our intrepid truth seeking without fear or favour "journalists".

I've always believed that people who occupy high public office should be held to a higher standard of probity than others.

[Gerard Killoran]

Alex Edmans

Wokingham Times - Thursday 28 June 1990 p.20.png (1.06 MiB) Viewed 1592 times

[Nick Burrows]

I've always believed that people who occupy high public office should be held to a higher standard of probity than others.

Yes, we had Boris Johnson misleading Parliament about multiple illegal gatherings during Covid. We had him unlawfully advising the Queen to prorogue Parliament for five weeks during Brexit. We had him appointing Chris Pincher despite knowing about allegations of misconduct — then lying about it.

And now, when you think things couldn’t get any worse, the Chancellor slightly exaggerated her teenage chess achievements on her LinkedIn profile.

Honestly, the world is going to sh*t.

[Paul Heaton]

Its not even her actual CV that was "improved", but her LinkedIn profile.

Which is done, if not by "everybody" (and yes, I know that's not really a defence anyway) then quite possibly by every other person.

Almost certainly including many of our intrepid truth seeking without fear or favour "journalists".

I've always believed that people who occupy high public office should be held to a higher standard of probity than others.

The original post misunderstands quite a few things. LinkedIn is indeed a place to post your CV, for people to look at it and decide if they want to add you to their network or recruiters to assess for jobs (most professions these days they come to you and ask you to apply). My next job in the new year I was initially approached on LinkedIn.

And in any kind of profession - be it banking, law, medicine, or a company boardroom- if you exaggerate your CV you are out. I’ve seen people fired in a bank for a lot less than adding 4 years to a place of work when it’s been uncovered (background checks are common place, and it’s not uncommon to start a job while the background check is ongoing).

[Nick Burrows]

And in any kind of profession - be it banking, law, medicine, or a company boardroom- if you exaggerate your CV you are out. I’ve seen people fired in a bank for a lot less than adding 4 years to a place of work when it’s been uncovered (background checks are common place, and it’s not uncommon to start a job while the background check is ongoing).

Adding 4 years to a place of work - sure, you might get fired. Slightly exaggerating accomplishments in a childhood hobby - you would not be fired. For a politician in this day and age - utter irrelevance.

[Roger de Coverly]

Alex Edmans
Wokingham Times - Thursday 28 June 1990 p.20.png

OK so an Under 11 match against Scotland. Not the greatest of sporting achievements and there will be hundreds of people with similar experiences. I'd imagine it was also organised by a private body, not the BCF.

[GrahamStuart]

I've always believed that people who occupy high public office should be held to a higher standard of probity than others.

Yes, we had Boris Johnson misleading Parliament about multiple illegal gatherings during Covid. We had him unlawfully advising the Queen to prorogue Parliament for five weeks during Brexit. We had him appointing Chris Pincher despite knowing about allegations of misconduct — then lying about it.

And now, when you think things couldn’t get any worse, the Chancellor slightly exaggerated her teenage chess achievements on her LinkedIn profile.

Honestly, the world is going to sh*t.

Could not agree more with Nick.

I think Lawrence's comment as to "So she was “British Women’s Chess Federation Under-14 Champion / or British Women's Chess Association” rather than British girls champion?" is where the focus should be. Yes, not as impressive as British girls champion, but still a title which does have the word British in it and which she did jointly win (and can be proud of from a chess perspective).