ICCF 2015-003: Title Norm Application Process Changes
Michael Millstone, General Secretary
Effective, January 1, 2016, Member Federation delegates will no longer need to submit applications for player titles.
Proposal
Effective, January 1, 2016, Member Federation delegates will no longer need to submit applications for player titles.
Rationale
Previously, Tournament Directors were responsible for verifying all player norms and e-mailing that verification to the player and Qualifications Commissioner.
With advances in the webserver, the above step has been deleted. The webserver automatically calculates and notifies the appropriate people when player norms and titles are achieved.
The lingering step in the process is that the National Federation delegate must submit an application for title to the Qualifications Commissioner for an event (title) that is already known.
This purpose of this proposal is to eliminate this step and process titles automatically as they are earned.
(Note: this proposal excludes the IA title because the qualititative component of the title nomination must still be completed manually).
Other Comments/Considerations
As noted in the Congress 2014 ruling on a special application for IM Artur Podursky, a player cannot be denied a title for past indiscretions. This principle was also reinforced with the special application discussion of Mr. Andrei Lesko, in which it was determined a title should be awarded solely based on the player’s performance in ICCF rated games.
In the case of the special application of Thomas Johansson, the player clearly earned the title of IM; however, the National Federation did not support his application because Mr. Johansson chose not to pay his membership fees to the National Federation. This is clearly wrong and players should not be denied a title based on chess performance because a Member Federation chooses to hold his or her title hostage until he pays dues or complies with other National Federation internal requirements. In other words, other than cheating, a player that earns his or her title, should receive his or her title.
It should be noted that players who come from countries not officially recognized by ICCF have earned titles solely through chess performance without “an appropriately qualification application” for a National Federation delegate. Applications for those player titles are made by the Qualifications Commissioner and in all cases, the title has been approved.
Relevent Documentation
- ICCF Tournament Rules
10.4(d), 10.5(d), 10.6(e), 10.7(d), 10.8(d)
Remove the requirement for the National Federation delegate to nominate players with “an appropriately qualified application”.
Voting Summary
- A vote of Yes will amend the Tournament Rules sections to remove the requirement for National Federation delegates to submit, “an appropriately qualified application,” for players earning titles, effective 01/01/2016.
- A vote of No means that National Federation delegates must still submit “an appropriately qualified application” for each player earning a title and players. A No vote also means that a player earning a title may not be awarded a title if they do not comply with the internal requirements of the Federation.
- A vote of Abstain is not a vote but means the vote holder has no opinion and does not wish to represent the correspondence chess players of his or her Federation in this matter.
Comments by Relevant Committees, Commissions, or ICCF Officers
Eric Ruch (EB)
No comments yet
Mariusz Wojnar
It seems that being ICCF Qualifications Commissioner I should support this proposal (less work for me, less e-mail exchanges, etc.), but actually I am against it.
It is unquestionable fact that huge advances in the webserver have happaned during recent years. Although we have to be aware that there are some steps in verification process not performed by the server and not limited only to performance. National federation application is one of the most important steps of verification process.
In according to ICCF Statutes "ICCF members are national correspondence chess organizations" and not players. Therefore national federations have inalienable right to apply for international titles for their players. Please be reminded that players may register to the ICCF server without any problem and they are not obliged to belong to national federation.
Of course, final decision belongs to delegates who will vote during the congress.
Change to ICCF Statutes is required ("ICCF members are players ...") if this proposal passes.