ENGLISH CHESS FEDERATION						          C11.7.6.4
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 17 OCTOBER 2009

REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL CHESS 

Apologies that I am unable to attend the AGM, as I have another chess engagement as an arbiter.

When I took on the international directorship in May of last year I made it clear that I did not intend to stay in the post for a very long time. In November Lawrence Cooper was appointed as Alternate Director. Since then he has gained considerable insight into what is involved with the directorship, I am very pleased that he has consented to put his name forward as the director. I strongly recommend you vote for him.

Last year I took on the post of Manager of the British Chess Championships as the health of David Welch precluded him continuing in this post. Manuel Weeks was appointed the manager in the autumn last year. Then his health failed in the Spring and I once again stepped into the breach. Very late in the day at the end of June my own health broke down. Alex McFarlane and David Welch took over and, I am told (I could not attend the event), did a very good job. I don’t think the job is blighted; after all I did it for 18 years with no problems. The breakdown in my health was unrelated to any stress associated with the work. 

I brokered sponsorship from Accelerated Bridging Finance Ltd which enabled us to get many of the English grandmasters to play. There was a very large total tournament entry of over 900. This was partly due to the fact that Torquay is one of our most popular resorts. It seems likely that the event roughly broke even but it is early to expect finalised accounts.

With the help of LV= we were able to field our strongest available teams in the Chess Olympiads in Dresden in 2008. Even so, several of our leading women players were unable to play due to work commitments. Nigel Short performed particularly well for the open team, as did David Howell making his debut. He did not allow his 18h birthday during the event to put him off. Our women started off very well, but then their play fell away in the last few rounds, possibly due to fatigue. 

There has been a rise in interest in FIDE Rated events in this country partly due to the fact that all open FIDE Rated tournaments now provide a qualifying route to the British Championship.

We have approximately the same number of people who are FIDE Officials as last year. It is a little hard to quantify this as the commissions and committees have been rationalised. There is no doubt our percentage has increased. David Jarrett, now living in Greece, is the Chief Executive. Gerry Walsh is Vice President of the European Chess Union, Officer responsible for Chess for the Disabled and a Trustee of the FIDE Permanent Invested Fund. Dr Jana Bellin is Chairman of the Medical Commission and John Speelman is also a member of that body. David Sedgwick is a member of the Arbiters’ Commission. I am Secretary of the Qualification and Rules/Tournament Regulations Commissions and a Councillor for the Events Commission.

Stewart Reuben