Following the major social changes worldwide and the restrictions on OTB play we have seen significant changes at Chess.com and a big shift of the official organisations to online matches and tournaments with the presence of ECF on Chess.com resulting in some conflict with our own activities.

This forum is open for comments about how TEL should progress.

Following discussions between Andrew and I these are my thoughts and I open it up for comments about how TEL should progress.

Once ECF established a presence they introduced regular time slots for tournaments (almost every day), and introduced online matches to replace OTB national, county and club events. Despite using the platform, they do not fully embrace Chess.com. There is a reluctance to use the communication facilities within Chess.com as they have their own established web site for information to members and that is still being actively developed. Also, there are elements within ECF who promote other platforms and, in some cases, will not engage with activity on Chess.com at all.

Chess.com have also reacted to the OTB restrictions by introducing officially recognized international and club competitions for FIDE affiliated organisations.

Our own considerable efforts have had very limited effect mobilising the membership. Numbers range up to mid-twenties for matches and generally single figure sign up to internal tournaments despite a membership of 2000+. A recent analysis of match sign ups has identified 64 current members who have played four or more matches and a further 91 would have registered for 1 to 3 matches. (All time controls this year)

Going forward I can see two possible futures for affiliated organisations.

After the current social distancing restrictions are lifted, they will either revert to their previous position of OTB venues or having had a taste of online activity they will develop a hybrid mix of OTB and online. (IMO the are here and will not fully drop the option for online activity)

So where do we go?

Options: (There may be others)

Continue with the current organisation as is.
Continue with current organisation and be more aggressive in our recruitment process hoping to develop a higher participation level from members.
(This would still have potential for conflict with ECF events)
Option 2 and negotiate with ECF to reduce conflict in schedules and encourage ECF to actively promote TEL matches.
(TEL would also actively promote ECF events)
Negotiate with ECF to take responsibility for future LCWL and LCEL league matches.
(including moving as many TEL members into ECF-members group as is practical)

In the first instance could each of the Admin team put up one post with their thoughts on this and then we can open it up to a general discussion.

Team England Live HQ

Super Admins

Admins