EB 06-008 (Bill Goichberg, Beatriz Marinello, Don Schultz and Robert Tanner): The name of the USCF top one hundred list be changed to “Top 100 American Players” in all categories (overall, junior, senior, etc.) and that the list be limited to those players meeting the eligibility requirements for representing the USCF in FIDE competitions. If there are no objections received by October 12, 2005, this motion will pass.
Passed Without Objection 
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
It’s about time that the USCF is honoring its own players. No more abuse from foreign players using this list for personal gains.
Susan, what about players from other countries represented USA? For example, Sylvia Yang, Canadian citizen living in Texas, represented USA on the World Youth Championship in Belfort (girls U10). Is she eligible now?
I think if they represent the US, they will be on the list.
There are players in the US championship who live in US, may be citizens, have US rating, pay USCF dues – and are affiliated to another FIDE federation. Will they be cut off the list?
I am not sure. I guess we will see what changes will appear in the next list.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
I agree with the USCF. Why should someone benefit from being on the USCF list and another country? They should not have double rights.
Georgio
I think someone will challenge this. A US citizen who is USCF member cannot be excluded from a list of American players. it is plain discrimination.
Every country, a citizen can play in national events, and that is not related to external (FIDE) eligibility.
The USCF has over-reacted. Why, I do not know. David Howell on top under-21 list? He is British as far as I know and could be excluded as a non-citizen non-resident.
If a US citizen gets ‘double rights’ outside US, go for it! It should not remove their domestic rights.
And this is not a correct interpretation:
“It’s about time that the USCF is honoring its own players. No more abuse from foreign players using this list for personal gains. “
The new policy excludes USCF members who are US citizens!!
And who would that be? Who are they excluding that is unfair? You don’t even have to be a US Citizen to be on this list. You just have to have the eligibility to represent this country. So if someone who is a US Citizen but decides to represent Sweden under Swedish flag in the Olympiad, why should he/she be on this list? GM Lobron was born in the US. He plays for the German under FIDE. Why should he be on the list?
Why not give a specific example instead of going around the bush? Who are you talking about?
Maca
He / she must be one of those freeloaders who wants to play the system for personal gains. This system is not design to exclude American players. I does exclude the pretenders. Bravo USCF!
Jon
OK, so Kosteniuk is out of the top women list (#1) as she still is RUS according to FIDE.
That makes you all happy I guess.
But as she is not American by birth or citizenship, there are other ways to exclude her from ‘top American players’.
What is all this ‘abuse’ ‘benefit’ ‘gain’ ‘freeloader’ terminology. You think there is money to be made from the list?
It is a basic right, you are American, get high USCF grade – get listed in top Americans. Even if you play for Sri Lanka in the world cricket match for seniors.
Even in the USCF motion, there is no mentioning of the women’s list. However, if you look at the men’s list, there are plenty of foreign male players on the list from playing just a few tournaments.
If you declare your federation as Bangladesh or Turkey, why should you be allowed to represent other countries while declaring that you represent the USCF? FIDE does not allow this and neither does the USCF.
You can’t represent the US for the Olympiad and participate in the US Championship if you represent other countries. It think it’s more than fair.
Ziggy
I think that Smirin, Kosteniuk and many other foreign players being on the USCF top-100 lists is simply an artifact of USCF demanding you to become a member in order to play in their tournaments. Does any other country make similar silly demands?
/Jens
I think the USCF is the only one 🙂 They need the money.
Ziggy
This is one of the best decisions by the USCF in years. It’s time to promote American players.
Donnie
Way to go USCF! Way to go!
The list is about the 100 strongest American players. If the aim is to exclude foreigners, fine. If the effect is to exclude Americans then it is either badly thought out (likely) or just petty.
Sunil Weeramantry played for Sri Lanka in the Olympiad, but he is American. Does that make him a traitor? I do not think he is top-100 in any category, but that’s an example of the application of this ‘principle’.
Play in England or France and you will end up on their rating list. They will not list foreign players as top on their grading system. But they do not penalize their citizens for playing for other FIDE federations. Several English GMs play for France or Switzerland.
Eligibility to play in domestic US events (including championships) should not be mixed up with FIDE eligibility criteria.
Suppose the ‘top 19’ as now are seeded into the US championship. If one of them is American (but traitorously selling chess secrets to a foreign power by playing on another team like Botswana) will they now be excluded from the championship?