What is on Agenda?

[tommyc]

I have two points to make.

1]First its obvious this is not the fault of the WCDF .
2] Second............I always thought the Olympic Team was called the GB and N.Ireland Team.Has N.Ireland been banished off the map?


No place for 'NI', says Olympic Team

Northern Ireland has become embroiled in another Olympic Games controversy - this time over the British team's name.

The official name of the UK's Olympic team is 'Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland', but this is shortened to 'Team GB'.

Successive Northern Ireland Sports Ministers have lobbied to change the name to 'Team UK', despite the British Olympic Association (BOA) indicating that the Team GB name is here to stay.

A spokesman said the Team GB brand was "an item of intellectual property which has developed over three Olympic cycles".

He said: "The value of the brand is such that it enables the BOA to generate the funds to support the athletes at the Olympic Games."

The team name was one of a number of issues outlined yesterday by Sports Minister Nelson McCausland during a meeting with Department of Culture, Media and Sport Minister (DCMS) Hugh Robertson MP.

Mr McCausland said: "The current naming and branding of the team has the potential to create the perception that Northern Ireland is not part of the British Olympic team.

"However as we are all aware, Northern Ireland athletes have contributed significantly to the Olympic team's success, particularly in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and this should be recognised in the name and branding.

"Indeed, a change in branding, such as to 'Team UK', would be entirely consistent with the current title for our UK-wide sports body, UK Sport."

Mr Robertson assured Mr McCausland that the Cabinet would be writing to the BOA, asking it to consider changing the name.

Former Sports Minister Gregory Campbell also backs the campaign for "a more geographically accurate description of the Olympic team".

Mr McCausland used the meeting to push for Lottery money to return to Northern Ireland following the Olympics. £39.3m of Lottery funding was diverted away from the province to help finance the London Games and the minister wants it recouped. In 2007 DCMS promised to share proceeds with the Lottery once Olympic assets were sold off.

P.S............N.Ireland IS not part of Great Britian but part of the U.K.!!

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... z1l92W9NQS

[tommyc]

The World Championship in its present state needs looking at as it is not working.Any sport that has only had 6 champions in over 100 years is not good.In my opinion the format should be looked at.Its looks like the only person worried about the WQT is the champion himself which begs the question is there any appetite for a WQT AMONG PLAYERS AND SINCE THERE IS NOW NO FINANCE .

My feeling is there are not 100 players willing to put their money on the line to play in this for little return?.The whole format needs looking at to go forward in a positive manner.Thats my tuppence worth.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Any sport that has only had 6 champions in over 100 years is not good.

O-o-o !!!

Lets see ...

3-moves title is running since 1934, 77 years. There were 26 World title matches if I am not mistaken, in average - one match in 3 years.

A. Long kept title 14 years (1934-1948)
W. Hellman kept title 20 years (1948-1955, 1962-1975)
M. Tinsley kept tile 19 years (1955-1958, 1975-1991)
D. Oldbury kept title 3 years (1992-1994)
R. King kept title 8 years (1994-1992)
A. Moiseyev kept title 9 years (1993-2011)

Some years title was on vacant.

So ... champions who kept title for longest time were Walter Hellman and Marion Tinsley. Both were very active, played matches and tournaments and obviusly were the best at the time when they reigned title. And noone objected against the longesty of their championcy.

And they kept their titles without any World Federation.

If we compare with first 6 world champions in chess, from Steinitz (1894) to Botvinnik (before he lost to Tal) 1960, we have 66 years in total and about 16 matches. In Netherland Draughts (100) world Champions changed even more slowly.

So ... Checkers are good with champions and quality and we can prodly confirm that there were no strangers among Champions or Challengers.

And we are not hunting for bigger numers of champs ... are we ?

==================================================================
Today I had received email from WCDF high ranking officer where he confirmed me that By-LAWS deadline is February 28, not February 1.

Lets wait and see.

[tommyc]

In Chess by my count there have been 13 World Champions since 1921,more thats more than twice as many as draughts. Of these 13 there have been 8 since the 1960s, just over 50 years!!

If it were any other sport it would be dead and buried by now.................with boredom. Something has to change!!

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Something has to change!!

It's quite obvious - if you want to raise number of champions more frequently - you need more events and more players. Both will raise competition and eventually - title will more often change hands.

And indeed we are not "other sports" - we are who we are

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Tommy, you could start by financing a challenge to Alex, or by just challenging him yourself!

Maybe an easiest way would be just to write in WCDF Constitution - noone can keep title (office haha !) for more than two terms ... like USA President.

On serious note - they can try to collect money in Ireland to finance Shame McCosker bid.

If organising QT is so painful, we can return to old system without World Federation - on claims. This system worked quite well in the past. It is small world and we really know very well - "who is who" and who deserve to play match. Not too many good candidates and all names are well known.

Alex

[Danny_Alvarez]

The WCDF have been seeking more places for our game at major Mind Sports events in the future aimed at improving the status and visibility of Checkers. To be offered places that we cannot fill would be disastrous in our attempts to be taken seriously and damage the image of Checkers.

Dear Hugh (Richard and any other WCDF volunteers) do not worry, i do not think anybody here was blaming the WCDF at all. we understand it is not you. in regards to the above quoted snippet, what could we do to fill those places? couldn't you include juniors in those numbers as well?
I have decided that i will start a checkers club that i hope one day turns into a federation that can contribute towards those placings (not a place for myself, as i do not think i belong in the top flight but for others more worthy).

I think the point you made is an excellent one and a top priority. anybody else has any suggestions?

cheers
Danny

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Last news ...

I am in close contact now with WCDF authorities trying to keep control on this. I have information that around February 15 we should have an exact news from FMJD regarding WMSG venue and dates

Promoting title = promoting checkers = promoting tile. These two things always come together and cannot be separated.

Alex

[jeff webster]

Tinsley could have been champion for 40 years, no one would have ever beaten him.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Tinsley could have been champion for 40 years, no one would have ever beaten him.

Tommy thinks it's too much and instead 1 for 40 yars it will be better for checkers to have 40 champions - each for 1 year.

Alex

[jeff webster]

May the best win, that's how a champion should be determined. I thought the match last year was pretty fun to watch and was very competitive.

[Danny_Alvarez]

May the best win, that's how a champion should be determined. I thought the match last year was pretty fun to watch and was very competitive.

I agree totally with Jeff, the match last year was entertaining and very close. Let's hope that trend continues.

Tinsley could have been champion for 40 years, no one would have ever beaten him.

Tommy thinks it's too much and instead 1 for 40 yars it will be better for checkers to have 40 champions - each for 1 year.

I personally think that it doesn't matter if the champion lasts for 40 years or for 1.... as long as that ONE or those FORTY act like champions (behaves in a manner that reflects the values of the game of checkers and is someone that all players can be proud of) ....

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Danny is Danny Piece and happiness to you and your family.

I'll try to do my best in the next match. I made many mistakes in Cleveland last year, but less than my worthy opponent. It is easy to get title -just don't make mistakes ... as Tinsley did for many decades.

The current system (for 78 years) to identify best playter works quite well, all we need - force and encourage players to work on checkers and improve. Just simply boring hard work, thats it.

Alex

[Danny_Alvarez]

Danny is Danny Piece and happiness to you and your family.

Thanks Alex, i have plenty of peace... (i wish the same for you and your family )and i am working on the happiness side of things... sometimes i think that external things never change, what changes is our perception and attitude and that makes us think we are going through a bad or good streak and then we feel "happy" and or "sad".

I'll try to do my best in the next match. I made many mistakes in Cleveland last year, but less than my worthy opponent. It is easy to get title -just don't make mistakes ... as Tinsley did for many decades.

we are all human, making mistakes is natural. the match last year was impressive from whichever angle you look at it.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

If I don't hear an exact news about QT until April 1st - then I consider that this cycle WCDF fails to provide me an opponent and I will pick opponent on my own.

10 days left before WCDF deadline (end of February) and 40 days left before April 1st.