Welcome to the July edition of the ECF eNewsletter and welcome also to the ECF’s new branding. The Board recognised that the old logo was becoming outdated – the brief for the new look was to produce a brand that would enable the Federation to reach out to new players and sponsors while reflecting the traditional status of one of the oldest federations in the world. The logo will be incorporated into ECF’s digital, print and commercial collateral and brand guidelines will be sent to stakeholders which need to use the branding. An explanatory PDF about the branding process is below.
This edition also features the Chess in Schools and Communities charity and welcome the first of a series of chess op-ed pieces by FM Tim Wall who opens with the English (AKA the British) Championships that begin on July 27 in Hull. With nearly 700 participants the event is one of the highlights of the chess calendar and an e-round of applause is certainly in order for tournament organiser Kevin Staveley and his team for their efforts in delivering such a prestigious event.
The newsletter stats are encouraging as the link below shows. As I have said before, I will be pleased to give anyone a forum to talk about issues concerning chess in England so if you have any points please send them, along with accompanying PDFs and or photos to publicity.manager@englishchess.org.uk
Maximum respect to Battersea Chess Club in organising the London Summer League, a four round event over the summer including sections for all levels. This kind of initiative with a superb strapline (London’s lighter league) team graphics and a guest lecture from GM Simon Williams does a great service to UK chess.
Finally, an apology is due to 3Cs and Durham University player FM Andrew Horton who got his second IM norm at the 4NCL final weekend in May but was not included in the June edition list of other players who got norms. I plead guilty on all counts, I simply blundered. Thanks also to Mick Norris for pointing out the omission.
Enjoy the weather!
Mark Rivlin
Big brand sound
After many years with the red logo, ECF has a new look. More details on the rebranding process and presentation here
Bringing chess to children and communities, a touch of class
Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) is an established charity doing remarkable work with children and vulnerable adults. Mark Rivlin speaks to CSC’s research officer James Corrigan
Stats the way, aha aha …
ECF eNewsletter viewing stats are encouraging. If you are a member and do not receive the eNewsletter in your inbox (please also check trash box as it may land there) then please contact the office at office@englishchess.org.uk – more here
Brought to book
We are looking at the ECF yearbook become a more streamlined edition with much of the material moving online. Have a look at the proposals here – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-yearbook-proposal-to-change-the-format/ and please do come back to us with your comments to webmaster@englishchess.org.uk
Captains Fantastic
GM John Nunn and IM Lorin D’costa will captain the men’s and women’s teams at the Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia starting in September. More here – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/captains-for-the-womens-and-open-olympiad-teams/
English Women’s Championship
The English Women’s Championships takes place in Solihull on 31.8 to 2.9. More details are here – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/english-womens-championships-2018/
Fegan work it out
Chris Fegan has been appointed ECF Director of Women’s Chess. Chief operating Officer of Chess in Schools & Communities charity, Chris comes to this important ECF role with over 40 years playing and administrative experience in chess. More here – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/new-director-of-womens-chess/
Georgia on their minds
Congratulations to ECF officiating representatives at the forthcoming FIDE Olympiad in Batumi Georgia. Director of Home Chess Alex Holowczak has been appointed to TAP (Technical Administration Panel) while Alan Atkinson, Matthew Carr, David Sedgwick and Alex McFarlane have been appointed as Match Arbiters. More here – http://fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/10959-2018-batumi-chess-olympiad-principals.html
It’s the final county down
Finals day is on 7 July in Warwick and features — Open – Lancashire v Yorkshire; Minor – Surrey v Lincolnshire; U180 – Yorkshire v Warwickshire; U160 – Yorkshire v Lancashire; U140 – Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire; U120 – Warwickshire v Norfolk; U100 – Leicestershire v Lancashire
Direct Line
ECF are looking for direct members’ representatives for the following categories – Honorary Life Vice Presidents, Honorary Life Members and Life Members, Gold and Gold Concessionary, Silver and Silver Concessionary, Bronze and Bronze Concessionary, and Platinum Members. More here – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/direct-members-representatives-4/
Don’t flag!
Membership deadline day for 2017-18 has passed. More here – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/membership-deadline/
There will be a piece on membership renewals and joining for 2018-19 in the August newsletter.
Best of British
13 GMs lead the 688 entrants who have registered to date for the 104th British Championships, this year being held in Hull from the 27 July. All the details, including how to register and what’s on in Hull to accompany the championships are here – https://www.britishchesschampionships.co.uk/
A full copy of the programme is also available here – https://www.britishchesschampionships.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Events-BCC-2018.pdf
As well as the action on the board, there is also an arbiters seminar. Please see here – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/fide-arbiters-seminars/
Off the Wall
FM Tim Wall opens a regular chess op-ed piece with a preview of the British Championships – click here
Fillip for Joseph!
Manchester Chess Federation report that Bolton Chess Club and Bath University FM Joseph McPhillips achieved a second IM norm at the June First Saturday Chess Tour in Budapest. More here – http://chess-results.com/tnr358262.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=ENG&turdet=YES&flag=30&snr=1
Swimmingly well in Pula
English participation in the Pula Open was a big success with IM Ravi Haria finishing first with 7/9, GM Daniel Fernandez third also on 7/9 with FM Joseph McPhillips and FM Andrew Horton both scoring 6.5/9. The results were particularly sweet for Andrew and Joseph as both are now waiting for their IM titles to be verified. The English contingent’s results are here – http://chess-results.com/tnr328509.aspx?lan=1&art=25&fedb=ENG&turdet=YES&flag=30 and going into final round Leonard Barden covered the tournament in his Guardian piece here – https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jun/29/young-english-talent-pula-open-croatia
Hackney CC and Wood Green player Jonathan Pein finished on 5.5/9.
Schools Poland
European Schools Chess Championships started on Friday 29 June in Krakow. Meet the team here – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/Juniors/european-schools-chess-championships-2018/
Yad a good time!
Congratulations to Yad Rahman our highest placed player in the FIDE World Cadet Rapidplay Championship in Minsk, Belarus.. Yad came 11th in the U8s with 7/9. More here – http://chess-results.com/tnr362250.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=9&fedb=ENG&turdet=YES&flag=30
Royal Cadet
Shreyas Royal’s excellent form continues with the nine-year-old scoring 3/5 at theTunbridge Wells Open. Shreyas beat Martin Cutmore (179), John Bennet (190) and Ivan Myall (179)
Chess Magazine
The July taster is here …
Awards Committee Report
Headlining the ECF annual awards are Broadland CC in Norfolk (Club of the Year) and Manchester Social CC (Small Club of the Year). Phil Adams, Mike Denison and Howard Grist each received the President’s Award for Services to Chess. Full list here – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/awards-committee-report/
Two in Telford
Two great tournaments run by 4NCL, both in Telford. First is a weekender in July – http://www.4ncl.co.uk/fide/4nclfideform_19.htm and then a five-day international tournament late October, early November to celebrate 25 years of 4NCL here – http://www.4ncl.co.uk/fide/information_intl_2018.htm
Obituary
Brian Hare – https://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=9710