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| Abbreviation | ECF |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | British Chess Federation |
| Established | 2005; 21 years ago (2005) |
| Purpose | Sport administration |
| Location | |
Region served | England |
| Leader | Richard Walsh |
Main organ | Chess Moves |
| Affiliations | FIDE,European Chess Union |
| Website | www |
Formerly called | BCF (British Chess Federation, 1904-2005) |
TheEnglish Chess Federation (ECF) is the governingchess organisation inEngland. It is affiliated toFIDE. The ECF was formed in 2004 as one of the more localised successors to theBritish Chess Federation (BCF), an organisation founded in 1904.[1]
From 1904 until 2005, the British Chess Federation (BCF) was the governing body of chess in England. The BCF itself replaced the British Chess Association (BCA) and initially governed chess, its pre-eminent ratings, and rules in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Over time,Scotland,Wales,Ireland and theChannel Islands were governed by their own chess federations. Only England came under BCFjurisdiction, and it also administered theBritish Chess Championship. In 2004, English chess administrators agreed that it would be factual to replace the BCF with the ECF, a change effective from the start of the 2005/6 season.
From the 1990s there has been a movement to incorporate the federation into acompany limited by guarantee, for mandatory transparency, likely generating moresponsorshipmoney, increasing membership and while thus slightly adding to the risk of a dissolving action by creditors, limiting in every way theliability of members to the ECF.[citation needed]
At the start of the 2005/06 season the English Chess Federation was created. It inherited the BCF's assets and personnel. The BCF persisted forlegacy purposes, and their website remained brieflywww.bcf.org.uk (now defunct) when it was inherited.
TheBritish Chess Championships are run by the ECF, and have been held annually since 1904, apart from duringworld wars and theCOVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In recognition of the change from BCF to ECF, they award additional titles of English Champion and English Ladies Champion.[1]
The ECF publishes ratings for those players that compete in affiliated competitions in England as part of theECF grading system.[1] There are currently two ways to qualify for an ECF rating. For a yearly flat fee players may become a member of the ECF directly or, since 2005, through a local Membership Organisation (MO). Where in England MOs are lacking or are not mandatory (much of the south) non-members pay a Game Fee for each ECF game they play.
All officials of the ECF are elected annually or tri-annually, without limits on re-election. The current CEO is Richard Walsh, current president: journalist and keen chess playerDominic Lawson.[2]
The ECF selects and finances the English teams for international competitions such as theChess Olympiad andEuropean Team Chess Championship. By invitation, players may also receive support when competing overseas in events of national importance, such as the WorldJunior Chess Championships.
The ECF sent paper newsletterChess Moves, free to members. From mid-2016, this was replaced with a monthly e-Newsletter, plus online articles, event reviews and selected members' submissions. In December 2022 the name of the newsletter reverted toChessMoves.
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