ECF stumbles as FIDE election looms
The English Chess Federation (ECF) burped last weekend when an emergency meeting of its board of directors was called to consider ‘confidence motions’ on both Nigel Short ( ECF’s FIDE representative and staunch Kasparov supporter) and Andrew Paulson (American-born entrepeneur and current ECF president).
Paulson suggested that some senior Council members be allowed to attend as witnesses, but this request was firmly rejected. Paulson then suggested that an áudio recording of the meeting be made (for purpose of helping to ACCURATELY make minutes of the meeting) but this also went nowhere.
The meeting turned out to be a complete waste of everybody’s time. The votes were taken but were inconclusive. Or put another way: the ECF lost. It’s constitution played second fiddle to petty personal loyalties and international political agendas. Perhaps it was only fear of being scandalized by the international press that prevented the meeting from degenerating into chessboxing. As Paulsen pointed out in a communique posted on the ECF fórum :
”Members of the Board attempted a coup d’état last Saturday, but failed…It’s election time in FIDE! Kasparov needed to distract attention from his agreement to pay $1.5m from his charity in the U.S. to a private company in Singapore, 100% owned by Ignatius Leong….Once again (let me count the times) Nigel Short has acted in his own best interest and not in the best interest of English chess … or any chess, for that matter: if Ignatius Leong is getting $1.5m to deliver S.E. Asia, one might ask how much Nigel is getting for the U.K. to topple me…”
Nigel Short did not attend the meeting. However, I think that the following English hit song can best summarize what Nigel would have wanted to say had he attended. ENJOY! (I will keep my readers abreast of the developments as they happen)
