One of the things plaguing the Malaysian chess scene is suspect tournaments that does not practice healthy competition or perform as advertised.
I think this new action is good for chess. While I suspect there will be initial glitches, I hope MCF will wield this newly exercised authority with a fair and even hand and also continue to be open to constructive criticism. If properly executed it's a step in the right direction.
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And I hope you will pay more attention when you are writing LOL.
ReplyDeleteWhile I know what you actually trying to say, read your first two sentences together and imagine what your readers will think.
On the next sentences, what authority are you referring to? MCF merely states that some tournaments have not applied to be nationally rated. There is real necessity for organizers to ensure their tournaments are sanctioned.
My last sentence should read "There is NO real necessity"....
ReplyDeleteAgain my thanks. Good to know someone is watching out for my mistakes. And I mean it in a good way. Point noted. Have made the corrections.
ReplyDeleteWhat you say is true. The organisers can continue to organise as they like but if I read it correctly, MCF is implying that MCF sanctioned tournaments carry certain standards and they have made the initial move to seperate themselves from suspect tournaments. I think this is an important step.
What I am trying to put across is that even if the tournament is sanctioned, what power does MCF have? At most MCF can do is not to rate the tournament which penalizes the participants more than the organizer.
ReplyDeleteUnder the current structure, MCF actually have no power over any tournaments. For example, if the organizer did not award the first prize to the rightful winner, what can MCF do?
Yes, MCF currently does not have executive authority over the affiliates. That is true. But what it does have is moral authority. And so long as MCF remains a repected body, the players, parents, sponsors etc. will look to MCF for guidance. So if MCF does not sanction a body there are implications. A similar issue is my sacking by PICA. From the feedback I have received it is going to happen. By conducting the hearing MCF is saying a possible injustice was done. If the ruling is in my favour, I can now show that my name is vindicated by the highest body in chess. This will enable me to continue to talk to sponsors without suspicion. Another action that MCF can take is not accept PICA's application to join MCF since approval is still pending. This will enable another organisation that better serves the players to be formed. In my opinion moral authority is very often underestimated but still a very powerful weapon. But MCF must show itself to be just and impartial to all or it will not work.
ReplyDeleteOn your point of the hefty fee, I hope MCF will monitor the effect and take remedial action if it causes hardship and prevents good tournamnets from being organised. I think some flexibiity may be needed especially for organisers with good reputations.
ReplyDeleteJust like FIDE imposes rated tournament fees, this move by MCF definitely motivated by money.
ReplyDeleteDoes "sanctioning" remove or hinder unscrupulous chess organisers? The answer is a big NO.
I think that MCF should make a reasonable amount of money. Money is needed to fund organisations. There is a very strange idea floating in chess that chess does not need money to develop. That maybe the crippling idea that have kept us stagnant for so long.
ReplyDeleteOn that note, tournament organisers need to make money too. But we need a clearer picture of the roles of academies and associations so I wont say more now.
And I beg to differ with you on the idea of sanctions. Sanctions will allow many unsuspecting players to not go to suspect tournaments because there will be a list. And that list will give us assurance which tournament to spend money on and to send our children to. Where they will not be discriminated against,where the winners are not fixed. It will give us peace of mind that the competition is clean and healthy. It costs us time and money, to find places to stay, to travel. So this is important.
All good points. On paper! If a tournament organiser is bad, cheats or just runs a tournament badly, word of mouth will quickly spread. Malaysian chess players and parents are not that stupid or gullible. Do we really need MCF stamp of approval for the tournament ?
ReplyDeleteI think the evidence is apparent if we care to look. I have written alot on this topic and I have given many many examples. So it is not just on paper. I rest my case.
ReplyDeleteAs I read somewhere, a Federation has to pay FIDE a sum of Euro 670 annually as affiliation fee which literally translate to RM 3,000 a year excluding new titled players application fees, rated players annual fee. Taking into all accounts, MCF is probably paying around RM 5,000 to FIDE a year without even organising 1 FIDE rated event.
ReplyDeleteMCF is 'literally' bankrupt which I heard from my friends. So, I think MCF is collecting RM 2/pax from Nationally rated events to pay for FIDE admin fees. Hope this info, clarify on the collection matter.
FIDE has removed M'sian player FIDE rating list on a few occasions over the last 2 yrs due to non-payment from MCF. The recent one is the Jan 2010 released. I heard MCF owed FIDE more than RM 10,000 in arrear for year 2008/09. I heard one official had to take an express personal loan to settle the issue with FIDE on behalf of MCF and Malaysian chess. I still remember, it was a big huh-hah from our chess community when their names are not in the Jan 2010 FIDE listing.
ReplyDeleteI too agree with Raymond that it is a pure bullshit for people to say "Chess does not need money to develop". I believe the same people may be the ones who will be the first inline to cry for injustice, how lousy MCF can be and blah, blah, blah.... "No money, no talk" is a principle practiced by FIDE.
ReplyDeleteThe point here is not about MCF lack of income. It's been pointed out clearly by Raymond himself how corrupt PICA is and yet MCF clearly aligns itself with PICA because of reasons only known by MCF. MCF "sanctions" right now is worthless.
ReplyDeleteWhat I see now is an attempt by MCF to correct past mistakes. But it takes time to correct a big ship. The sanctions is a good first step. I hope it will be followed by a hearing. It signals something. I hope we can see the new developments positively. But all stakeholders have to stay vigilant or these gains can be reversed. Look at the PICA story. It started well and then the old forces just re-exerted control and then tried to usurp the gains. A little like chess?
ReplyDeleteYes. This blog is like a bright spot light shining on all the dark wrong doings of those little napoleons. Keep up the good fight, Raymond.
ReplyDelete