AICF circular: a case of misinterpretation?
The Indian chess federation’s circular gets murkier day by day, at least to the discerning eye, if one reads the vague answers (to my email query) provided by a stalwart like Praful Zaveri, the FIDE instructor from Mumbai, who is closely associated with the game, and same being endorsed by own Sameerbab, who is the vice-president of the body controlling the game of 64 squares in the country. So much so that Zaveri relates the AICF circular to a press release of a film, saying that the reviews of a film are written after watching it and so according to him, Shrikant Barve should have first seen the `chess film` unfolding at the AICF executive committee meeting on March 27 before posting his comments on the net. Which in other words means that it is AICF’s usual procedure of announcing such plans in detail following an executive committee meet, much after putting the circular on its website.
Zaveri’s merry-go-round
And by the way why did Zaveri chose to do the merry-go-round, when I asked him (through email) to use his good offices with the AICF bosses to get in a straighter circular which could be understood by all and sundry without requiring to do any guessing work (or interpretation) of its contents. That Zaveri chose to forward a copy of his `merry-go-round’ reply to Sameer is quite understandable but I do fail to understand what Sameer tried to indicate by redirecting that reply to me along with his compliments sent to the Mumbai official. Why the hell would I be interested in knowing how Sameer complimented Zaveri for his reply to my query? Did Sameer thought it was a tit-for-tat reply and therefore tried to taunt me? Well I reproduced in the adjoining space what I asked Zaveri and his subsequent replies. Looks like there is more to it than what meets the eye.
The missing link
Interestingly, according to Zaveri, the circular should be interpreted as Rs 1000 per session, which in his opinion would amount to Rs 30,000 for a 10-day period if the GMs were to conduct three sessions of 90 minutes each day. So what’s missing in the circular are only the words “per session of 90 minutes each”. Whether the GM conducts more sessions per day is secondary here. It would be a Herculean task indeed. But what’s the need for the AICF to unravel the `suspense’ at the executive committee meeting if the circular just has a few words from the jigsaw puzzle missing. Was it really AICF’s intention not to reveal the exciting part of the story till it’s meeting in Chennai?
Questions and more questions
If what Zaveri says is true, wasn’t Sameerbab, being an important member of the Federation, aware of it? Instead of Zaveri providing the answers, why didn’t he (Sameerbab) tell the Taleigao Chess Academy secretary that he had not interpreted the circular correctly? If that is the case, I am sure, Barve would have certainly relented. Not even the members of the state association’s executive committee were apprised of such hidden meanings in the circular, when they met on March 9 to decide on action to be taken against Barve. Or did he not let out the `secret’ because he wanted to put Barve in the dock?
I do not want to comment on whether Barve was right or wrong in venting his frustration at the AICF circular or whether he ought to be banned for it. What, however puzzles me is that the AICF is not forthcoming on its own decision over a trivial matter and is instead waiting for its Executive meeting to reveal the story in detail. Wouldn’t it have been better to douse the fire as soon as it was spotted?
Simon Alphonso GT Weekender Page 14 dt 23/03/08 GOA
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Core Issue why delay in uploding .....
I regularly visit AICF website may be once in a day.
Core issue
This was a good circular/notice…. uploaded on the AICF website may be on 12 or 13 Jan 2008
INFORMATION TO ALL OFFICE BEARERS, STATE ASSOCIATIONS & CHESS PLAYERS
COACHING PROGRAMME
http://www.indianchessfed.org/News/2008/January/coachingprogramme01.asp
I as a Secretary of Taleigao Chess Academy by my email dt. Jan 13, 2008 (copy enclosed) had congratulated AICF for coming out with coaching programme. Copies of this email had been sent to Acting Secretary as well as President of GSCA.
This is the bad circular/notice uploaded on the AICF website may be on 17 Jan 2008
Appeal to Our Senior Players / IMS' / WIM's / GM's / WGM's / FM's and coaches
http://www.indianchessfed.org/News/2008/January/natI13Girls/appealtoourplayerscoachingprogramme.asp
In respect of above circular/notice came to my notice on 17 Jan 2008. I have informed the President about my reservations may be on Jan 20 and repeated there after.
Core issue
This was a good circular/notice…. uploaded on the AICF website may be on 12 or 13 Jan 2008
INFORMATION TO ALL OFFICE BEARERS, STATE ASSOCIATIONS & CHESS PLAYERS
COACHING PROGRAMME
http://www.indianchessfed.org/News/2008/January/coachingprogramme01.asp
I as a Secretary of Taleigao Chess Academy by my email dt. Jan 13, 2008 (copy enclosed) had congratulated AICF for coming out with coaching programme. Copies of this email had been sent to Acting Secretary as well as President of GSCA.
This is the bad circular/notice uploaded on the AICF website may be on 17 Jan 2008
Appeal to Our Senior Players / IMS' / WIM's / GM's / WGM's / FM's and coaches
http://www.indianchessfed.org/News/2008/January/natI13Girls/appealtoourplayerscoachingprogramme.asp
In respect of above circular/notice came to my notice on 17 Jan 2008. I have informed the President about my reservations may be on Jan 20 and repeated there after.
Needless ruckus over Barve’s Comments
Needless ruckus over Barve’s Comments
There was certainly no need for an uproar such as the one we are witnessing in Goan chess today. Shrikant Barve made some observations on the net on All India Chess Federation circular that spelt fees to GMs/IMs for coaching that they would impart to players around the country. If Barve, who is a life member of the state chess association (GSCA) chose the wrong forum to express his views, the wiser men in the association also made the same mistake. The GSCA, unnecessarily, got worked up. It was a personal and unilateral opinion, and theirs is no reason why GSCA should even take serious notice of it as along as it (Association) was not dragged in to the controversy it or it did not cause the game in the state to come to a halt. It appears that Barve’s detractors were lying in waiting for a lame excuse to checkmate the man behind the success story of Taleigao Chess Academy.
The past come to haunt
About a year ago, I had got a whiff of behind –the-back scenes as the growing stature of Barve through numerous competitions for youngsters and his so-called ‘success’ with the coaching regiment for beginners was making some prominent chess buffs uneasy. When I enquired whether he has blessings of the Association to conduct various activities, he just gave me wry smile. I did not want to pursue the matter, but was certainly expecting a tirade against him. His detractors finally grabbed the opportunity when Barve posted his comments on the AICF circular on the net. They even tried to dig into his unglorious past, which I think is of no concern as long as he’s helping in development of the game.
More knowledgeable men in GSCA
The most difficult job of a coach in any game is to impart the basics to his pupils. The sporting fraternity in the state would want to know whether Barve’s style of functioning or his presence is good for the game to prosper or in he’s charging exorbitant fees. If his resume of an ‘unrecognized and unrated’ coach is not suitable for providing the best of training, the GSCA should create an awareness about it so that the parents refrain from sending their children to the Academy. With almost all its members quite knowledgeable of the game, some as much as Barve and many even more than him, it would be better for GSCA to start its own academy. I’m sure that the members, whenever required, would certainly offer their time and services for free as much as the GMs/IMs from outside the state – Goa has no GMs or IMs- have offered to do so. In case the AICF imposes a life ban on Barve, he will certainly not be able to use the services of the GSCA. But can they stop him from conducting training sessions? If they can’t, a similar situation like in taekwondo may occur, wherein players trained by Barve may not be allowed to participate in various competitions in the state. With Sameer Salgaocar at helm, chess has taken an upswing mode in the state but these bickerings won’t do any good.
Merits and demerits
Coming to the AICF circular, it merely puts a curb on the fees that were being charges by the rated coaches until now. Without doubt, the circular that prescribes a fee of Rs.10,000 for GMs and Rs.7000 to Rs.5000 for others for a 10 day coaching stint, has its merit and demerits. The main advantage is that it will make the accessibility to quality training for aspiring players easier. The disadvantage is as Barve describes it will set a bench mark’ because when our own players turn into GMs and IMs and would want to train younger players they will have to accept the fees without a murmur or just shy away from such a scheme. The poor remuneration may act as an obstacle for players in their decision to make a career out of chess and eventually it could lead to a dearth of coaches.
By SIMON ALPHONSNO on GT WEEKENDER Dated Mar 16 Pg 14
There was certainly no need for an uproar such as the one we are witnessing in Goan chess today. Shrikant Barve made some observations on the net on All India Chess Federation circular that spelt fees to GMs/IMs for coaching that they would impart to players around the country. If Barve, who is a life member of the state chess association (GSCA) chose the wrong forum to express his views, the wiser men in the association also made the same mistake. The GSCA, unnecessarily, got worked up. It was a personal and unilateral opinion, and theirs is no reason why GSCA should even take serious notice of it as along as it (Association) was not dragged in to the controversy it or it did not cause the game in the state to come to a halt. It appears that Barve’s detractors were lying in waiting for a lame excuse to checkmate the man behind the success story of Taleigao Chess Academy.
The past come to haunt
About a year ago, I had got a whiff of behind –the-back scenes as the growing stature of Barve through numerous competitions for youngsters and his so-called ‘success’ with the coaching regiment for beginners was making some prominent chess buffs uneasy. When I enquired whether he has blessings of the Association to conduct various activities, he just gave me wry smile. I did not want to pursue the matter, but was certainly expecting a tirade against him. His detractors finally grabbed the opportunity when Barve posted his comments on the AICF circular on the net. They even tried to dig into his unglorious past, which I think is of no concern as long as he’s helping in development of the game.
More knowledgeable men in GSCA
The most difficult job of a coach in any game is to impart the basics to his pupils. The sporting fraternity in the state would want to know whether Barve’s style of functioning or his presence is good for the game to prosper or in he’s charging exorbitant fees. If his resume of an ‘unrecognized and unrated’ coach is not suitable for providing the best of training, the GSCA should create an awareness about it so that the parents refrain from sending their children to the Academy. With almost all its members quite knowledgeable of the game, some as much as Barve and many even more than him, it would be better for GSCA to start its own academy. I’m sure that the members, whenever required, would certainly offer their time and services for free as much as the GMs/IMs from outside the state – Goa has no GMs or IMs- have offered to do so. In case the AICF imposes a life ban on Barve, he will certainly not be able to use the services of the GSCA. But can they stop him from conducting training sessions? If they can’t, a similar situation like in taekwondo may occur, wherein players trained by Barve may not be allowed to participate in various competitions in the state. With Sameer Salgaocar at helm, chess has taken an upswing mode in the state but these bickerings won’t do any good.
Merits and demerits
Coming to the AICF circular, it merely puts a curb on the fees that were being charges by the rated coaches until now. Without doubt, the circular that prescribes a fee of Rs.10,000 for GMs and Rs.7000 to Rs.5000 for others for a 10 day coaching stint, has its merit and demerits. The main advantage is that it will make the accessibility to quality training for aspiring players easier. The disadvantage is as Barve describes it will set a bench mark’ because when our own players turn into GMs and IMs and would want to train younger players they will have to accept the fees without a murmur or just shy away from such a scheme. The poor remuneration may act as an obstacle for players in their decision to make a career out of chess and eventually it could lead to a dearth of coaches.
By SIMON ALPHONSNO on GT WEEKENDER Dated Mar 16 Pg 14
Demand Supply of IM’s level chess coaches IN INDIA
“The AICF shall pay Rs.10,000/- for GM's and RS.7,000/- or Rs 5000/- for others for a ten day coaching programme. For outstation coaches AICF will reimburse, on production of tickets, third A/c train fare and shall take care of the local hospitality.”
http://www.indianchessfed.org/News/2008/January/natI13Girls/appealtoourplayerscoachingprogramme.asp
Coach unit = 10 days batch for a group of 10
General ratings statistics for India Jan 1 2008 as per FIDE (World Chess Federation)
Total (inactive inclusive): 3371
Total : 2485
Below statistics is valid for active players only:
Grand Master : 16
Woman Grand Master : 5
International Master : 53
Woman International Master : 12
FIDE Master : 24
Woman FIDE Master number : 9
http://fide.com/ratings/avgtoplist.phtml?country=IND
Rating of 2300 is considered as International Master level and
Rating of 2500 is considered as Grand Master level
India has 100 International Master or higher level players. http://fide.com/ratings/topfed.phtml?ina=1&country=IND
Considering all 100 are ready to coach throughout the year we have 2400 coach units.
( Coach unit = 10 days batch for a group of 10, 2 in one month, 12 month X 100 players of International Master or higher level)
Fifty percent of these are very active players eager to upgrade their rating. These players itself will demand Gm’s Coaching if available at throw away prize.
In reality coach units may not go beyond 150. --- Supply
Like Goa as one chess activity centre, in India there are at least 100 centres.
In Goa there are around 35 Rated players out of which 10 are elderly may not opt for coaching if there is any fee but
25 Rated Players are willing to take IM’s coaching even for the normal fee Rs.2500/- per day.
In addition there are another 60 players who are trying hard to become a rated players will also be ready to pay above fee.
My experience tell me that Goa’s demand is 16 coach units for a year by paying normal fee of 2500 per day.
In India the situation could be as under:
A person takes 2 coach units in a year.
Active Rated Chess players 2500
Active Rated Chess players in a age group below 20 1800
Trying hard to be a Rated player 5000
(5000 + 1800) 6800 group of 10, 680 group twice a year 1360 coach units---Demand.
Shrikant Barve
Shrikant Barve is CEO of Taleigao Chess Academy and Back to back world champion Ivana Furtado was under him till she won Silver Medal at Asian Youth Chess Championship at Teharan.
http://www.indianchessfed.org/News/2008/January/natI13Girls/appealtoourplayerscoachingprogramme.asp
Coach unit = 10 days batch for a group of 10
General ratings statistics for India Jan 1 2008 as per FIDE (World Chess Federation)
Total (inactive inclusive): 3371
Total : 2485
Below statistics is valid for active players only:
Grand Master : 16
Woman Grand Master : 5
International Master : 53
Woman International Master : 12
FIDE Master : 24
Woman FIDE Master number : 9
http://fide.com/ratings/avgtoplist.phtml?country=IND
Rating of 2300 is considered as International Master level and
Rating of 2500 is considered as Grand Master level
India has 100 International Master or higher level players. http://fide.com/ratings/topfed.phtml?ina=1&country=IND
Considering all 100 are ready to coach throughout the year we have 2400 coach units.
( Coach unit = 10 days batch for a group of 10, 2 in one month, 12 month X 100 players of International Master or higher level)
Fifty percent of these are very active players eager to upgrade their rating. These players itself will demand Gm’s Coaching if available at throw away prize.
In reality coach units may not go beyond 150. --- Supply
Like Goa as one chess activity centre, in India there are at least 100 centres.
In Goa there are around 35 Rated players out of which 10 are elderly may not opt for coaching if there is any fee but
25 Rated Players are willing to take IM’s coaching even for the normal fee Rs.2500/- per day.
In addition there are another 60 players who are trying hard to become a rated players will also be ready to pay above fee.
My experience tell me that Goa’s demand is 16 coach units for a year by paying normal fee of 2500 per day.
In India the situation could be as under:
A person takes 2 coach units in a year.
Active Rated Chess players 2500
Active Rated Chess players in a age group below 20 1800
Trying hard to be a Rated player 5000
(5000 + 1800) 6800 group of 10, 680 group twice a year 1360 coach units---Demand.
Shrikant Barve
Shrikant Barve is CEO of Taleigao Chess Academy and Back to back world champion Ivana Furtado was under him till she won Silver Medal at Asian Youth Chess Championship at Teharan.
Srinivasan “Why Rs.10 lacks for Dhoni and only Rs.1000 for GM”
There was a question on yahoo answers;
"Is Indian Chess Federation downgrading coaches by offering meagre coaching fee of Rs. 1000/- for Grand Master"
Barve wrote: Mr. Srinivasn President of AICF and Srinivasn Treaserer of BCCI are same person I am told... Chennai has picked up Dhone for 6 crores .... and AICF president is offering Grand Master Rs.1000/- for a day..... This is how Top brass of Chess in India think of chess players......” Barve's answer was adjudged the best.
Answer given on “Yahoo Answers” or other Q/A are simple instinct of answerer.
Because of this reply Goa State Chess Association (GSCA) asked Shrikant Barve to clarify his stand. All India Chess Federation (AICF) Vice President and President of Goastate Chess Association Shri Sameer Anil Salgaokar has threatened me that I may have to face LIFE BAN. The matter is reported to AICF by GSCA.
I Shrikant Barve is firm on the words used in the answer and asked Executive Committee for which I was invitee on what grounds should I clariy my position of word. And also said further that I would like to repeat those words furthermore I want to substantiate them.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Owner of one of India Premier League’s franchisee - the Chennai cricket team - N Srinivasan, Vice Chairman & MD of India Cement and President of All India Chess Federation N. Srinivasan interview with CNBC-TV18
http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/business/ipl-team-owners-confident-earning-revenues-post-splurge/17/00/327311.
Q: We would like to know the possibility on how you would leverage individual players that you have bid for having paid so much for the time already? Is there a specific marketing strategy that will come in for each player that will work as a revenue generation model going ahead or will you essentially look at generating individual value from all of your players?
Owner of one of India Premier League’s franchisee - the Chennai cricket team - N Srinivasan, Vice Chairman & MD of India Cement and President of All India Chess Federation N. Srinivasan interview with CNBC-TV18
Srinivasan: I explained to you that there are huge revenue streams coming in. All of us have gone with what we think is going to be matchwinning team or combinations. Ultimately the quality of cricket we deliver is what is going to bring in the people. We believe the stadiums will be packed, we believe we will get excellent crowds. We are not looking at this as some kind of proposition where we will lose money.
There are two separate aspects. One is, we want to bring in good quality cricket. We are people who have been associated with cricket for a very long time. We believe we have a match-winning combination.
The second aspect is we believe that this is also not going to be a losing proposition and ultimately the value of this franchise is like a right in a territory. This will grow by leaps and bounds. I do not know what you are trying to get at. But we believe it is a win-win situation, win for the players, win for the public, and win for the franchise owners.
Mr. N Srinivasan is all so a President of AICF.
In regard to whatever he has said about Cricket and Cricketer’s, I want to ask as a simple ordinary member of AICf and a citizen of India . “ What he think of Chess and a Chess Player, particularly of Grandmasters.”
Mahendrasingh Dhoni might be playing for about maximum of 60 days in three years ..... he is offered 6 crore i.e. Rs.10,00,000 per day.
You are also a President of AICF, by a circular, you have told GM to submit their biodata (There are only 16 Gm in India) and offered Rs.10,000 for 10 day coaching. i.e. Rs.1000/- per day.
"Is Indian Chess Federation downgrading coaches by offering meagre coaching fee of Rs. 1000/- for Grand Master"
Barve wrote: Mr. Srinivasn President of AICF and Srinivasn Treaserer of BCCI are same person I am told... Chennai has picked up Dhone for 6 crores .... and AICF president is offering Grand Master Rs.1000/- for a day..... This is how Top brass of Chess in India think of chess players......” Barve's answer was adjudged the best.
Answer given on “Yahoo Answers” or other Q/A are simple instinct of answerer.
Because of this reply Goa State Chess Association (GSCA) asked Shrikant Barve to clarify his stand. All India Chess Federation (AICF) Vice President and President of Goastate Chess Association Shri Sameer Anil Salgaokar has threatened me that I may have to face LIFE BAN. The matter is reported to AICF by GSCA.
I Shrikant Barve is firm on the words used in the answer and asked Executive Committee for which I was invitee on what grounds should I clariy my position of word. And also said further that I would like to repeat those words furthermore I want to substantiate them.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Owner of one of India Premier League’s franchisee - the Chennai cricket team - N Srinivasan, Vice Chairman & MD of India Cement and President of All India Chess Federation N. Srinivasan interview with CNBC-TV18
http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/business/ipl-team-owners-confident-earning-revenues-post-splurge/17/00/327311.
Q: We would like to know the possibility on how you would leverage individual players that you have bid for having paid so much for the time already? Is there a specific marketing strategy that will come in for each player that will work as a revenue generation model going ahead or will you essentially look at generating individual value from all of your players?
Owner of one of India Premier League’s franchisee - the Chennai cricket team - N Srinivasan, Vice Chairman & MD of India Cement and President of All India Chess Federation N. Srinivasan interview with CNBC-TV18
Srinivasan: I explained to you that there are huge revenue streams coming in. All of us have gone with what we think is going to be matchwinning team or combinations. Ultimately the quality of cricket we deliver is what is going to bring in the people. We believe the stadiums will be packed, we believe we will get excellent crowds. We are not looking at this as some kind of proposition where we will lose money.
There are two separate aspects. One is, we want to bring in good quality cricket. We are people who have been associated with cricket for a very long time. We believe we have a match-winning combination.
The second aspect is we believe that this is also not going to be a losing proposition and ultimately the value of this franchise is like a right in a territory. This will grow by leaps and bounds. I do not know what you are trying to get at. But we believe it is a win-win situation, win for the players, win for the public, and win for the franchise owners.
Mr. N Srinivasan is all so a President of AICF.
In regard to whatever he has said about Cricket and Cricketer’s, I want to ask as a simple ordinary member of AICf and a citizen of India . “ What he think of Chess and a Chess Player, particularly of Grandmasters.”
Mahendrasingh Dhoni might be playing for about maximum of 60 days in three years ..... he is offered 6 crore i.e. Rs.10,00,000 per day.
You are also a President of AICF, by a circular, you have told GM to submit their biodata (There are only 16 Gm in India) and offered Rs.10,000 for 10 day coaching. i.e. Rs.1000/- per day.
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