As I reported earlier about Global Chess BV, FIDE just posted the official press release. There’s no mention of any website.
Once again, here is the press release:
FIDE and Global Chess Press Release
The FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Mr Bessel Kok have met in Dresden to announce formally the commencement of operations of Global Chess BV. The main office will be in Amsterdam where negotiations on space in the MAX EUWE CENTRUM are in a final stage. A branch office in Lausanne is also envisaged.
The first part of the working capital has been transferred to Global Chess BV and this will permit the Company to finalize negotiations with FIDE on a commercial licence agreement.
Upon conclusion of the license agreement, Global Chess will (in cooperation with FIDE) start working on World Class Chess tournaments (including the WCC cycle as from 2008). Global Chess will equally examine investment opportunities in Chess related projects and ventures.
The Chairman of Global Chess BV will be Mr Bessel Kok and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company will be Mr Geoffrey Borg.
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
Bessel Kok
What is your take? Is this a good joint venture between 2 bitter opponents in the FIDE election last year? Will this work? What happens to the ACP?
My take:
During the election of last year it became known that there was dissatisfaction with the FIDE officials who managed the FIDE events. Bessel Kok put a four part program which outlined how he would proceed if elected. When Yasser Seirawan interviewed Ilyumzhinov just before the election he asked Kirsan what his plan for the future was. Kirsan replied that he studied Bessel’s ideas and accepts them, every one of them. We all thought this was an election ploy but more and more it looks as Ilyumzhinov was serious. IMO, the number two man in world chess is no longer Makropolos but rather Bessel Kok.
I have been aware what has been going on and last November told Bessel I would like to meet with him to discuss possible joint projects with the new FIDE entity. I kept President Goichberg aware of this and in fact the reason why Boca Raton was considered as a site for the May EB meeting was that Bessel would likely be more inclined to go there so that he might include a visit to the World Chess Hall of Fame.
Now my ideas of what the new FIDE entity means to us has evolved. Here is my current thinking:. We go ahead and meet with Bessel but expand the agenda to see if the USCF should mirror the FIDE reorganization with one of its own. To do that we must first know a lot more about the new entity. I will, when I get back from Foxwoods, try to arrange a Board meeting with Bessel sometime in May. Reorganizations such as this do not happen over night and I expect the next Board to be looking at this in depth and if they think it is the way to go for us, then I expect committees would be formed and the new EB would likely seek delegate approval for reorganization motions at the 2008 Delegates meeting.
Some candidates argue change is needed. Well here is change knocking at our door. So candidates and others of you who have some international experience in the world of chess: What do you think?
Don Schultz
Board Member and USCF Delegate to FIDE
Mr. Schultz,
You’re a good man and you’ve done so much for chess. However, I think it’s very bad that you’re running in this election after you said that you wouldn’t. You went back on your words. In addition, you should have given Ms. Polgar and her team a chance to fix things that you could not. The USCF still lost money and you can’t control Mr. Sloan. In fact, you seldom spoke out against Mr. Sloan while allowing Mr. Sloan to smear our sponsors and supporters.
I wish that Mr. Schultz would just stick to FIDE issues.
Just my take!
Super Sonics
I think Don Shultz is totally wrong for many reasons.
We do not have a person like Kok to act for USCF. Well Susan can do it, but she can do much better as an EB member with her supporters.
Fide has not shown this will work.
Fide has the money to invest in the project. USCF is broke.
Stop looking for quick fixes. We must first learn to do well what we are presently doing befor going on to build new ventures that are not tested.
Don you need a very long vacation from chess politics. This is a new era. Just get out of the way. Susan will take care of matters very well thank you.
We do not need close friends who have already been stabbing us in the back. You are no longer welcome.