The resolution was proposed by Babur Tolbaev, the President of the Chess Federation of Kyrgyzstan. David Llada talks about systematically to reward submission and in this FIDE Congress we see Babur Tolbaev among the candidates for FIDE Ethics Commission chairman.

This is a major crossroad for chess. In view of the coming vote, BBC published an article, titled “Russia squares up to Ukraine on battle for control of chess” Will Vernon from BBC interviewed Malcolm Pein from the English Chess Federation.

Malcolm Pein said, “Russia’s control of Fide is absolute […] We have a sort of a manifestation of what used to be known in Soviet days as a power vertical. Any vote that Russia wants passed always gets passed. ”

Malcolm Pein fears that if Russia is let back into the chess fold, it would be a “huge propaganda coup”.

“They’ll be able to point to it and say, look, we’ve been allowed back into chess. They could demonstrate to their citizens they don’t have to suffer as many privations as they should be suffering because of the war.”

Malcolm Pein is, among many things, a major supporter of Ukrainian chess. Just recently Malcolm Pein and CSC donate to Ukrainian chess players.

The biggest worry for Dvorkovich and Russia is the entrance on the chess scene of Alexander Kamyshin. Just recently, Kamyshin said, ““I am starting my work at the Ukrainian Chess Federation with a challenging and important battle on the international front. Yes, it’s again about Russia. And no, we will not let them prevail, as we don’t let it on the battlefield.” Read the full statements and following actions here. For BBC Kamyshin said, “We’ve had 21 chess players killed in this war. It’s not fair to raise this issue in the agenda while Russia is killing our civilians, our chess players in Ukraine.”

Read the full BBC article here

The Chess Olympiad 2024 is going to take place in Budapest, Hungary from 10 to 23 September 2024. It is the world’s largest team event and will have a record breaking participation. A number of delegations raised their voice about serious accommodation issues in Budapest, among them Scotland, Monaco, Germany, and later the same day Türkiye. Two more federations reported the same spectrum of problems, but wished to remain anonymous, fearing reprisal by FIDE officials.

Malcolm Pein from the English Chess Federation was open about the story of team England. In a short interview for Chessdom, Malcolm Pein shared, “The main issue was that like many other federations, the organisers did not engage until it got to the point where we were already very worried.” He continued, “There was seemingly no understanding that many countries would want extra rooms in addition to the standard offer of 2 free singles and 4 free doubles per team. I understand the Germans were having trouble, also Croatia and Scotland.”

In the end England resorted to the solution that most federations are trying, “England decided to split the Open and Women’s team,” says Malcolm Pein. “We are now ok. Also, the organizers, or it seems to be an accommodation agency, have become much more responsive. They have been far more flexible and we are grateful to them.” He concludes, “It just would have been nice to have this organised 3 months ago!””

More: Sting: Kasparov is one of my heroes!

The FIDE congress will take place during the Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest. Having in mind the ongoing war and the Olympic commetee / sports world guidelines, the Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation request seems out of line.

The actual letter by the Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation by Babur Tolbaev reads:

Dear Arkady Dvorkovich,
Dear FIDE team,

Please find attached a letter for consideration. It is our proposal for the General Assembly Agenda.

Thank you!

Best,
Babur Tolbaev
Kyrgyzstan Chess Union

Link to original document: https://doc.fide.com/docs/DOC/2024GA/Annex_4.3.1.1.pdf

Organisers Nevil Chan and Matthew Read constructed 8 groups of 8 each with a GM and IM and at
least one woman. Drinking during the games was encouraged and the bar was very busy creating a
fabulous atmosphere.

The other big name who played in this event: Included GM Jon Speelman, GM Danny Gormally, GM
Nick Pert, IM Richard Pert, IM Richard Bates IM Tom Rendle, GM Simon Williams of course, IM
Ameet Ghasi, IM Malcolm Pein and IM Richard Palliser.

There were a number of leading female players including WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni, Agnieszka
Milewska ( Director of Women’s Chess in England), British Women’s Champion Lan Yao and the
popular streamer Lula Rob.

This amazing chess event that will stay in our memories for a long time and hopefully Simon and his
team can do it again. We need more of these tournaments that connect players.

What’s played in the Crypt stays in the crypt but here is one swindle. Malcolm Pein – Blair Connell
1+1 . Group 2 Play off. White had been completely outplayed but prepared one last shot:

Nominations for election at the AGM

Chair of Council
David Eustace
Nominated by Non-Executive Director Stephen Woodhouse, Past Chair of Council

Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
Tim Wall
Nominated by Northern Counties Chess Union, Cumbria Chess Association, Northumberland Chess Association, South Tyne Chess League, South Lakes Chess Congress, Director of Women’s Chess
Stephen Woodhouse
Nominated by Manchester Chess Federation, Midland Counties Chess Union, Oxfordshire Chess Association, 4 Nations Chess League, Warrington & District Chess League, Kidlington Chess Congress, Witney Congress, Witney Rapidplay, Chief Executive, Director of Home Chess, Director of Events, Past Chair of Council

International Director
Malcolm Pein
Nominated by Manchester Chess Federation, Midland Counties Chess Union, Warrington and District Chess League, Richmond Junior Chess Club, Director of Events, Director of Women’s Chess

Director of Events
Shohreh Bayat
Nominated by Manchester Chess Federation, Midland Counties Chess Union, Oxfordshire Chess Association, 4 Nations Chess League, Warrington & District Chess League, Kidlington Chess Congress, Witney Congress, Witney Rapidplay, Chief Executive, Director of Women’s Chess, Director of Home Chess, Non Executive Director Stephen Woodhouse, Gold Members’ Representative Tim Wall

Non-Executive Director
Alan Atkinson
Nominated by East Anglian Chess Union, Kent County Chess Association, Norfolk County Chess Association, Director of Women’s Chess
Hok Yin Stephen Chiu
Nominated by Lancashire Chess Association, Merseyside Chess Association, Birmingham & District Chess League, Central London Congress, Golders Green Congress, Hampstead Congress, Bronze Members’ Representative Tina Teotia
Stephen Greep
Nominated by Manchester Chess Federation, Midland Counties Chess Union, Oxfordshire Chess Association, 4 Nations Chess League, Blackpool & Fylde District League, Hull & District Chess Association, Warrington & District Chess League, Delancey UK Chess Challenge, Kidlington Chess Congress, Leyland Congress, Ribble Congresses, Witney Congress, Witney Rapidplay, Friends of Chess, Chief Executive, Director of Finance, Director of Junior Chess, Director of Home Chess, Director of Events, Non Executive Director Stephen Woodhouse, Past Chair of Council, Platinum Members’ Representative David Eustace

FIDE Representative
Malcom Pein
Nominated by Richmond Junior Chess Club, Director of Women’s Chess, Director of Events

Chair of  Finance Committee
Nick Faulks
Restanding

Member of Governance Committee
Mike Gunn
Nominated by Chair of Governance Committee

Youth Events in Thessaloniki

The European Youth Team Chess Championships (EYTCC) will include four (4) separate competitions, an open competition and a girl’s competition in categories U12 and U18. The playing members of the teams shall not have reached the age of 12 or 18, depending on the category, by 1st January 2022. European Youth Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2022 will start after the finish of European Youth Team Chess Championships being held in the same venue from 19th-23rd July. The events will be played in 6 age categories: U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18, open and girls sections separately.

Thessaloniki – a city full of chess history

Thessaloniki is full of chess history. The city hosted the 26th Chess Olympiad and the 28th Chess Olympiad. It has also been a magnet for chess with its fantastic playing conditions and well organized open and official tournaments.

ECU General Assembly

After the request of the Asian Chess Federation, FIDE Council decided on 28^th of April 2022 to allow Continental Assemblies to be held before or after the Chess Olympiad in Chennai. ECU examined the possibility and scheduled the ECU General Assembly for July 23 in Thessaloniki. Secretary General Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou commented, “ECU meets in Thessaloniki and this year’s General Assembly will be a milestone in European chess history. It can be followed live by the whole chess world and we will send our message based in our values.“

Part of the ECU General Assembly are the ECU elections. The following valid nominations have been received within the deadline of the 6^th May 2022, for the ECU Board elections 2022.

A – Ticket of  Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili:

• President: Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili (GEO)
• Deputy President: Mrs. Dana Reizniece-Ozola (LAT)
• Vice President: Mr. Malcolm Pein. (ENG)
• Vice President: Mr. Gunnar Bjornsson (ISL)
• Secretary General: Mr. Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou (GRE)
• Treasurer: Mr. Ion-Serban Dobronauteanu (ROM)

B – Nominations for the 3 Vice Presidents to be elected individually:

• Mr. Sarkhan Gashimov (AZE)
• Mr. Geert Bailleul (BEL)
• Mr. Alojzije Jankovic (CRO)
• Mr. Javier Ochoa (ESP)
• Mr. Jean Michel Rapaire (MNC)
• Mr. Adrian Mikhalchishin (SLO)
• Ms. Eva Repkova (SVK)