Mid Sussex League Rep
comments on the MSL AGM. I am sure the details of the discussion on the changes to the default time will be reported and discussed elsewhere. For my part, I attended the AGM with an open mind, having sought the opinions of the players. My own personal view was: I would be happy with an incremental control of 80 mins + 10 secs as I find adjudication somewhat artificial, and the majority of the feedback I received was along the same lines. However, a distinct schism became apparent at the AGM: lower graded players (dare I say like myself), the vast majority of the attendees, were pushing through the motion, where as “stronger” players, grossly under represented at the meeting, were strongly opposed to such a small increment. One comment made to me on the evening sharpened my view, from a long time regular top board, div 1 player: he would not play in the league with only a 10 sec increment.

The manner in which the meeting was conducted was poor: before any real discussion had taken place, the chair forced through a vote on the principle of an incremental time controls being the default across all divisions. What should (in my view) have been a better outcome (different default time controls between Div 1 and the other divisions) was no longer possible. The end result is based on the proposal by Adrian Pickersgill of HSL, but made through the Eastbourne Club, of all the moves in 65 minutes with a 30 sec increment from the beginning, ought to be considered in this light. If it had not been passed, 80 + 10 would have been imposed on Div 1, with the high likelihood that the division would fragment. As Div 1 champions, the club representatives at the AGM collectively chose to steer and influence the decision in the 65 + 30 direction. It is to be “trialled” for one year, and is to be discussed again and reconsidered at the next AGM.

Gary Willson
Team Captain 2017/18 HSL 3