FIDE Election: A Call for Unity
An Open Letter by Ignatius Leong
13 May 2006
Dear Chess Friends,
I am writing this in a follow-up to the Open Letter by Dato’ Tan Chin Nam “On Why Unity Is Strength”. While I agree with the spirit of Dato’ Tan’s letter, I had difficulty convincing myself of the practicality of a joint Kirsan Ilyumzhinov-Bessel Kok presidency. While such a proposal may work in other situations, Kirsan is no ordinary FIDE President. As a Head of State, a certain level of protocol is due to him, and a joint-presidency may not reflect this. So with due respect to Dato’ Tan, I continue…
The current FIDE Election presents the Chess World with a unique opportunity to morph into a modern, professional, dynamic, transparent and sustainable organisation.
Two eminent persons, the incumbent president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the challenger Bessel Kok, each anchors a ticket in a winner-takes-all election.
The decade-long incumbent: charismatic, controversial. The challenger: a professional corporate leader with impeccable credentials and a long association with chess.
Kirsan has his detractors. As one who has watched and worked with him close-up over the past decade, I say to his critics: “Government always looks easy when right, and so devilish when wrong, the further you are away from the seat of power.”
Bessel comes to battle fresh, without chess leadership baggage. This works for and against him. He can fight the good fight — and lose.
To Kirsan, I say your patronage has served FIDE well in the dark difficult years following your bold move to shoulder the thankless burden of the presidency in 1995. Is it not best to ease off while on top of your game?
To Bessel, I say you look like a one-election wonder. Win or lose, you are unlikely to be back for another contest four years on. If you lose, you might turn your back on a benighted FIDE, or worse, take your supporters with you to form a parallel organisation. The result: a diminished FIDE and an insufficiently representative new organisation. Lose-lose for chess.
In 1994 and the intervening elections after Kirsan was first elected President, FIDE Elections have been characterised by intrigue and cynicism.
But enough of that. Let us together light a candle rather than curse the dark.
To both Presidential Candidates, I say: Chess life is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Bring out your gravitas. Consider FIDE’s overriding need now and ever: Institutions in an organisation that is a value proposition to commercial sponsors and which survive changes in the Presidency.
Reject the mindless cruelty of winner takes all, the worthy loser fading into the dark. Rise above the fray.
In this spirit, I propose the following 6-man Unification Ticket to replace the present two 5-man tickets:
Position Candidate Federation Remarks
Chairman: Ilyumzhinov, Kirsan RUS With casting vote on Presidential Board
President: Kok, Bessel NED The dynamic change agent.
Deputy President: Dato’ Tan, Chin Nam MAS Another chess luminary to serve as the glue on the Board.
Vice President: Kouatly, Bachar FRA Brings business approach to the position.
General Secretary: One to be nominated by Kirsan and the other by Bessel.
Treasurer: One to be nominated by Kirsan and the other by Bessel.
Nominated Vice President: One to be nominated by Kirsan and the other by Bessel.
Nominated Vice President: One to be nominated by Kirsan and the other by Bessel.
I believe this proposal is balanced and acceptable to both Presidential Candidates. I urge them to consider and accept this as a way out of the impasse and destructive competition. I appeal to Dato’ Tan to answer this call to international service at this hour so pregnant with possibilities. I appeal to my good friend Bachar to re-join the establishment with a fresh focus. Drop the baggage from 1994, 1996 and 1998 and help build a strong business-oriented FIDE. I believe this proposal is win-win-win.
I appeal to Federations (Presidents/Secretaries/Delegates) to support this call to Unity. Please email me your support at ignatiusleong@pacific.net.sg and I will update everyone accordingly on the website www.intchessasia.com.
I also appeal to all Honorary Members of FIDE and the world chess community to support my proposal in a similar way.
My parting words to both Presidential Candidates: My proposal is made without fear or favour and in the best interests of chess as I see them. It is a proposal for Unity. I shall be disappointed if either of you rejects it. In such event I shall support the Presidential Ticket that accepts my proposal.
Yours truly,
Ignatius Leong
Delegate, Singapore 
Unity would be nice. Peace. GENUS UNA SUMUS.
GENS UNA SUMUS!
I think someone is worried about losing. someone is knowing that Kok deserves to be the winner but knows that Kirsan is going to win by corruption.
I think the writer Leong abandoned his opposition by joining the opposition. did he not do what he proposes that Kok do. to me Leong is like a Benedict Arnold. No one is going to listen to him.
I say start a new organization. fide is beyond repair.
I like pluralism better than unity. Let the democratic process run its course.
What’s pluralism?
Who is Bendict Arnold? Shwarzenegers’s cousin?
“I think someone is worried about losing.”
You sound like an expert on chess politics. Please enlighten us more.
“I say start a new organization.”
Please start. When done, send us a message, so I can join.
“Kirsan is going to win by corruption”
Please define corruption. You seem to have experience in this area, recognizing it quickly.
All of you upstairs are big-time losers, hiding behind anonymous names and using stolen identities. Shame on you!
Clean up corruption in you own country, before taking on the world.
Bessel and Kirsan for USCF Presidential Board!
“I think the writer Leong abandoned his opposition by joining the opposition.”
I don’t understand.
FIDE stays in Europe, whatever the outcome? Was it ever near the US?
Ignatius is on a quest for peace. Let’s support him!
What impact does FIDE have on US chess? Is it important or not, since we have our own Chess Federation?
From elsewhere:
“America’s USCF April 1 Rating List just came out. As expected Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk is the top rated female member of the US Chess Federation, with her 2563 USCF rating.”
Why does the USCF elo list have foreign players?
“Why does the USCF elo list have foreign players?”
Maybe because she is a “member of the US Chess Federation, with her 2563 USCF rating.”
Why does the US olympiad team have so many foreign players, that’s another question?
Because they probably play better than the locals. But, they reside in the US, too, and promote chess there, don’t they? Maybe even have US passports?
How can one become a member of USCF and how can one get USCF elo? When is membership terminated?
Susan, do you have a special SP elo for your members?
US is praised for its openness to the world, unlike many other countries. We are a model that should be followed by all.
I went to the USCF site to read about USCF elo. It’s too confusing with too many mistakes and contradictions.
For example, at the “June 2006 Top Women regardless of Country, Residence, or Federation” elo list, there are a few men listed, among the women. How can I even continue to research when I see this?
Anyone (regardless of nationality or where they live) can become a USCF member by paying membership dues (http://www.uschess.org). To play on the US team in the Olympiad or get invited to the US Championship or a few other events, you have to live in the US for a certain amount of time (2 years?), but you don’t have to be a US citizen. GM’s living in the US (I’m not sure how long the minimum is) get USCF membership for free.