Women's World Freestyle Championship

[jimloy]

OK, sorry. I may be the only person who thought that you were accusing the WCDF of lying. In my opinion, lying by not telling the whole truth is still lying. I was very upset when I thought you called these people liars. And I'm sorry if I misunderstood. Even if you don't mean to offend, people can be offended.

[Lindus Edwards]

The following message was written by John Guetta who is the secretary of the NZDA. He is unable to log into this site and has been unable to do so for several months. Although this letter was posted in another thread Mr Guetta has asked me to post it in this one.


My father once told me that if someone during a discussion resorts to personal attacks, then that person has nothing meaningful to say upon the subject.
For those that are personally attacking Jan for what result you hope to achieve …A feel good feeling that you are attacking a lady. I don’t know. . I do know that you are all above that sort of conduct. When Jan made her 1st posting with her feelings, as any one take the opportunity to perhaps explain a different opinion to broaden Jan’s opinion, to give her a better picture. This is how we all gain different views of life around us.
For those that think Jan doesn’t want to play this match couldn’t be further from the truth.
Jan has travelled a lot over the world to countries she knows to play the game we all have the passion for.
Jan was originally going to travel to Turkmenistan with her husband. But as time went on and unable to get dates and venue for the match he was unable to go. The delay was our intended host had important family matters to attend to. That is just a fact of life it happens. Families come first with me and I hope you all agree, without exception.
So Jan was left to travel by herself to some where she knew nothing about, except what could be found on the Web. As this was causing her some concern of course she started asking questions from people all over and getting answers which doesn’t make for a Woman alone to travel. Negotiations surely did not alleviate any of her concerns. The WCDF could not help either.. Human nature deems it easer to criticize than be helpful.
Hugh Devlin is right about one thing. There were a lot of missed opportunities to play the match.
As Alex Moiseyev once said about this No evils no angels.
For example if Alex was invited to come over here to play. And he had concerns about our culture our currency etc etc. I would endeavour to answer all his questions and queries to alleviate his concerns to make his visit an enjoyable and rewarding one for him. Jan tired to get simple answers but to no avail.
I was brought into the negotiations late in the day. WCDF – Turkmenistan – NZDA and the players are literally all over the world, all are going about their business; this is life, it carries on. To give an immediate reply, if someone desires it, just isn’t possible sometimes.
When asked for June 15th extension, that invite came with 2 OPTIONS for playing the match.. WE AGAIN AGREED.
As we now know neither took place. Why, we had no address of venue, accommodation match program, nothing.
June 15th comes and goes end of bid. No formal request for any more extensions before the bid ended was received.
Then 3 weeks later we get an invite to play the match in 4 weeks.(August).
Any one knows what ruling that comes under. !!!!
No doubt in my mind that if I were responsible for organising this match and couldn’t do it in nearly 2 years, I would resign.

Thanks to Alex Moiseyev for answering my question Lindus posted for me. Unfortunately I am having grave problems with logging on and also with my computer.
I also like John Acker’s post on that page.
Thank you Lindus for also posting this.
Questions! My e-mail is.: johnsoon50@hotmail.com
John Guetta,
Secretary NZDA

[Irma Sierra]

Now that everything have come to an end, I want to say that I feel very sorry for Jan, for not having a chance to play for the world championship....

I also feel dissapointed, to see that women championship and the women checker players are not taken seriously by the majority of male checker players, and are unable to recognize that traveling to foreign countries is different for women than it is for men..

Women still have a long way to go before beeing fully recognized in the men dominated checker world...

If the checker world wants to see more women playing checkers, they have to learn to be more considerety.

Perhaps everyone in the WCDF is very qualified to handle all their duties but i cant help doubting whether all that could have been done...was done.

[Jay H]

Perhaps everyone in the WCDF is very qualified to handle all their duties but i cant help doubting whether all that could have been done...was done.

Agreed....and very well stated.....

Regards

Jay H

[liam stephens]

THE AFTERMATH

A tawdry episode in the annals of the WCDF (and reminiscent of the heyday of Torvill and Dean).
Like the Pharaoh, they hardened their hearts.
The message to all is loud and clear – cross us at your peril!

Though caught out, inflagrante, in a demonstrable half truth, quoting just one favourable part of Walter van Beek’s statement; the WCDF rather than owning up to its misdemeanours and acknowledgement of the charges made against it in the devastating and unanswered critique put forward by the NZDA, it preferred to accept the vile contumely of the Turkmenistan statement. Referring to which we can see the high degree of respect shown towards the challenger:

“that never can win Amangul, even lose with deserving score. You can look at a rating list of WCDF, where Amangul is on 19th place among men!”

So not only is the WCDF qualifying process of the QT not good enough in their eyes, a challenger is only deemed acceptable if he/she reaches the Turkmenistan criteria. Such arrogance and dismissive attitude to the whole WCDF qualifying procedures.

While credit should be given for even beleated reforms, one cannot help but note the recent zeal and breakneck speed with which advance air tickets were secured for the challenger in the forthcoming Men’s World Championship Match. The mighty had, indeed, only to bark, but once, the wondrous to achieve.

Poor Jan, who pleaded and begged for months for the WCDF to sort out an air ticket for her. Not even with Germaine Greer* as an advocate would she have had any chance. St Jan of Arc, burnt at the stake.

One wonders if there is any future for women’s participation in the game ?
In the absence of wealthy patronage or support, it now appears unlikely that the women’s championships will for the foreseeable future, ever be held outside of the territories of the former Soviet Union. It is also questionable whether smaller countries or associations such as New Zealand or Denmark, for example, whose voices are so seldom heard or listened to, have any future in the game, at the International level.

Whither the future of Draughts ?, as we enter the new Dark Ages and an era of
World Class Domination and Fury.


*Germaine Greer - the well known Australian Women’s Rights activist.

[tommyc]

Hmmmm........an unsavoury end to an unfortunate episode,singe d but not entirely burnt.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

ever be held outside of the territories of the former Soviet Union.

I didn't know Mongolia is a territory of former Soviet Union It is always nice to learn something.

[Pedro Saavedra]

I have a sense of deja vu. I lost interest in international chess as this kind of politics permeated chess and FIDE behaved in a blatantly unfair way. Eventually a number of players organized a rival organization, and soom there were multiple world champions. Today I could not even tell you who the world champion in chess is. And I could not care less.

The same kind of thing happened to boxing. If a champion is not an undisputed champion, nobody cares about fine legalisms. People are just not interested.

I am not taking sides. But I am saying that this is not good for checkers. Ultimately people will vote with their yawns.

Pedro

[Lindus Edwards]

For the purpose of public examination it is my lot to collate all emails communicated between Jan Mortimer and various members of the WCDF committee in respect of the women’s world freestyle championship match which now, very sadly, will not take place.
It is only right that these documents by made public in the interest of justice and in view of the fact that many have demanded to see them. So be it…….
Readers will be shocked by comments made in these emails. I cannot, and will not, offer any apology for the statements made within the emails as I am not the author of them.
The truth will out……………………………

[kiwinurse]

So the General Assembly has just passed,(Sept 2)and the WCDF in their wisdom finally concluded that I had to forfeit a match,that i tried hard to play.Owing to my mothers death recently,i had no time to write a suitable defense to the twistings and turnings of Hugh Devlin's final statement,John Guetta,however , presented an address that my good friend Wilma Wolveton presented to the G.A.
Unfortunately, Wilma Wolveton was not a member of the NZDA(New Zealand Draught Association)so could not vote on any proceedings,i was told by John Reade. only proxys could speak. So Wilma could only read out the following letter from John Guetta.






24th August 09

We have examined Hugh Devlin’s account of the match negotiations. Due to the recent bereavement of Jan and the limited time available we do not propose to discuss it line by line which in any case we believe would avail us little. The report in our view is partial and one sided and we do not accept it.

To take but one typical instance:

In relation to visiting Turkmenistan the WCDF document states, quoting (very selectively, one has to say) from Walter van Beek, a former President of the FMJD as follows:

Walter wrote “Indeed, I was in Turkmenistan, and had a good time. The safety is not a problem and you will be well hosted. ........ Walter”

However it, very conveniently for the WCDF one might add, omits all detail of the follow on statement by Walter:

…. "not to count on any financial promises"…….

In a subsequent message to Jan Mortimer on 18.7.09 an email from John Reade remarked:

“I know it looks risky,but I’m sure it will be all right"

All very reassuring is it not?

Such chicanery shows the low level to which the WCDF is prepared to stoop to in pursuing its totally one sided presentation and distortion of the facts.

Another example: the Avaza bid mentioned $12,000 in prize money, but after Jan accepted, that was changed. In addition the bogus April Fool “sick joke” made by Alex Moiseyev was outrageous. No word of condemnation there from the WCDF.
We could list many more examples but that would make this statement too long for our representative to read out.

The USA Embassy fact sheet does clearly highlight the difficulties facing any visitor to Turkmenistan, particularly a woman, right down to the warning concerning “snakes in the long grass” a point treated with such great levity by some commentators. The WCDF claims that all of Jan’s concerns were overcome and satisfactorily dealt with, but it is evident to us that the WCDF is suffering from selective amnesia here in the light of the US Embassy report.

The whole situation whereby the WCDF is to be the sole judge and jury in the matter and the manner in which its claims already pre-judge the matter is grossly unfair. The rights of small countries and associations lacking the power and resources available to major draughts associations such as those in the USA, Britain and Ireland are not being considered on an equal footing and this is clearly inequitable. Jan has less rights before the WCDF than would be available to her in a court of Law.

The recent message from the NZDA to John Reade requesting an independent review has not been answered. This was also sent to The FMJD who acknowledged receipt of the message but, again, possibly due to language difficulties, there has been no response.

The NZDA as previously stated believes that the match should be played in a neutral venue as called for by many commentators. We again request that the matter be submitted to an independent arbitrator or tribunal and that you afford us the courtesy of an early reply. The NZDA is willing to put all of its email records of the match negotiations IN FULL and UN-EDITED, to any such tribunal.

In conclusion, we wish to say that Jan and the NZDA were earnest in their endeavours to get this match going, but both Hugh Devlin and Hoja made the whole thing unworkable to negotiate with. Both John Guetta, Secretary of the NZDA and Jan herself tried very hard. In the words of Jan’s husband Jim “he threw up his hands in absolute frustration, at the contradictions and changes in venue and the lack of information to work with”. Even with an agreed extended deadline with 2 options for a venue, the deadline past and nothing at all was offered.

Regards,

John Guetta
Secretary
New Zealand Draughts Association.

This was met with no response and no change from the WCDF ruling,although i must say that despite Hoja's attempts to place sanctions on me with his very threatening presentation,this didnt happen,so i can be grateful for small mercies.
Jan Mortimer

[william]

Jan ,

Do not lose hope nor courage . You will get your " go " at the title .

I know that it will be difficult , but you must get this matter behind you and concentrate on " upgrading " your game because now you have some time ahead of you and you must use it wisely .

Do not be bitter with those who have failed you , as you will most certainly meet some of them during your " forthcoming " world title match , and putting those negative feelings behind you , and controlling them will be as important as the study you put into your game preparation , as you definately do not want to be psychologically destabilised the day before GAME 1.

I will be available for any match preparation , discussion , exchanges , advice or encouragement as I am sure is Lindus Edwards also and many others.

We are here , use us

Keep on believing

WILLIAM

[kiwinurse]

Thanks William for that.I am not bitter,checkers is just a small part of my very busy family life,which is more important than anything else,apart from the absolutely brilliant checker friends ive met and corresponded with,and thats what its all about really,more important than world titles but i do hate injustice.
I will continue however,as its my passion,and it was nice of you to encourage me. Blessings, Jan

[liam stephens]

Sound advice from William.
Jan, I hope you can put this distasteful episode behind you
and look forward to a brighter future. They were caught out, there, in a Porky.
Little wonder then, that there has been no reply to the NZDA letter.

I heard that the Women’s 3 Move challenge match in Mongolia will not now take place.
The Mongolian bid, I understand, has been withdrawn due to difficulties with the negotiations.
One wonders what the excuse will be, for the match failure, this time round.

It is to be hoped that a Robert Stewart type scenario may not develop,
with the title wrapped up in cotton wool for years to come.

Regards - Liam.

[Lindus Edwards]

Thank you William for your wise and kind words. Let us all hope that you get a shot at the world title in the not too-distant future as I have great faith in your ability.
With best wishes always,
Lindus.

[Lindus Edwards]

Liam wrote: "I heard that the Women’s 3 Move challenge match in Mongolia will not now take place.
The Mongolian bid, I understand, has been withdrawn due to difficulties with the negotiations.
One wonders what the excuse will be, for the match failure, this time round."

I too heard this news Liam. I wonder why!!!