From: Hans Secelle CDDB MINFIN BE> Date: 5 jan 2000 Subject: Re: Finalizing EC Format 2000 Hoi Marc, These are my personal predilections: Votes for finalizing the EC Format 2000: Austria: Belgium: C2 - D2 and as for E: I propose a quickplay and a teamevent (+ a simul by a japanese pro against players that do not play in the side-events) France: Germany: Great Brittain: Italy: The Netherlands: C2 (C1 is a non-issue as Japanese living in Europe are Europeans by definition, see explanation below), D2, E: more clarity needed. Norway: Sweden: Cheers, Hans Secelle ---- Marc(u)Theeuwen(a)amsinc.com's Message ---- Happy New Year! In order for the FESA to finalize the EC 2000 format, Pieter has made an excellent action list. On points A and B already concensus exists, which leaves C,D and E. Let's finish this list before the end of this month. Already we can tell both the MSO and the Nihon Shogi Renmei about the dates of the EC. Votes for finalizing the EC Format 2000: Austria: Belgium: France: Germany: Great Brittain: Italy: The Netherlands: C2 (C1 is a non-issue as Japanese living in Europe are Europeans by definition, see explanation below), D2, E: more clarity needed. Norway: Sweden: >A) It had been clear and unanimously agreed upon at the last FESA >meeting (probably even before that) that outsiders (i.e., players >ineligible for the European Champion title) should not have any >influence on the results of the "closed" EC. >B) There were two proposals: >= B1: single elimination 5/6-round knockout combined with the MSO Worldwide > Championship (MSOWC, open to all). >= B2: A "closed" EC separate from the "open" EC (over two separate > weekends). >Results: 5 for proposal B1, 2 for proposal B2, 2 did not vote. >That seems clear enough to me and does not require another round of >discussions and/or voting. >There are some issues left to decide, however: >C) Who are eligible? The reason not to exclude Japanese in the past >was that they were an integral part of European Shogi and should be >allowed to participate. Since the MSOWC is quite strong with players >like Kaufman, Fernandez, Bekele and with the players eliminated from >the "closed" EC, that reason seems to be less important. I would >formulate two proposals and vote: >= C1: only nationals of the 9 FESA countries (this should give countries an > incentive to form a national association and join FESA) are eligible > to participate in the "closed" EC. >= C2: the closed EC is open to all Shogi players living in Europe, who > have participated in at least one European tournament or have lived > at least one year in Europe (this can be further specified if C2 is > selected). In the opinion of the Dutch Shogi Association, all Europeans should be eligable for participation. Following the definition of Webster's on-line dictionary, which seems a well regarded source we find: European (Page: 515) Eu`ro*pe"an, n. A native or an inhabitant of Europe. Japanese living in Europe are definitely not native. However, they are inhabitants (they can be distinguished from transient lodgers and visitors and they have legal settlements in the form of work and residency permits): Inhabitant (Page: 763) In*hab"it*ant (?), n. [L. inhabitans, -antis, p. pr. of inhabitare.] 1. One who dwells or resides permanently in a place, as distinguished from a transient lodger or visitor; as, an inhabitant of a house, a town, a city, county, or state. Frail inhabitants of earth." Cowper. In this place, they report that they saw inhabitants which were very fair and fat people. Abp. Abbot. 2. (Law) One who has a legal settlement in a town, city, or parish; a permanent resident. Therefore, Japanese Shogi Players living in Europe, are Europeans and therefore eligable to the European Championship. In my opinion, the FESA should not burn her fingers in making a distinction between Europeans and Europeans (free to George Orwell: All Europeans are equal, but some are more equal)! Let the Japanese players living in Europe decide for themselves whether they want to participate in the EC (e.g. Mr. Tanigawa Toshiaki, 6-dan, never participated in the EC although he would have won it easily). C2) It is probably clear that the Dutch Shogi Association goes for option C2. >D) How many players can participate in the EC? It is desirable to >have a factor of 2 (D1) otherwise one has confusing byes and players >participating in the MSOWC in round 1, but in the "closed" EC after >that, leading to, among others, unfair accumulation of Bucholtz >points (sum of opponents' scores) (D2). I propose: >= D1: the 32 highest rated eligible (as defined under C above) players of > the European Elo list (leading to a 5-round single-elimination > knock-out). All others participate in the MSOWC. >= D2: 6-round knock-out (in case of 33-64 eligible players), 5-round (if > less than 33 players). The first round is used only to make the > numbers of closed EC players a factor of 2; the highest rated players > get a bye. >We can discuss this, but that has already happened amply before, so >I'd rather put issues C and D to a vote. D2) The Dutch Shogi Association has a slight preference for option D2. >E) It is also urgent that the NSR be informed of the dates of the >ESC/MSOWC and of the satellite events so that they can start the >procedure to send one or more professionals. With the ESC/MSOWC fixed >at Fri 25 Aug - Sun 27 Aug, the programme of the other two days (Wed >23/Thu 24) still has to be finalized, but we should at least inform >NSR and MSOW Ltd. of the current status. I will take care of >informing MSOW Ltd. As far as I know, the program for Wed 23/ Thu 24 is the responsibility of the MSO Shogi organisation and not of the FESA. However, given that the program might change if professionals would visit London for teaching and or simultaneous games, I will contact Mr. Ohsaki of the Nihon Shogi Renmei about this by the end of the week, if nobody objects. Cheers, Marc