29-03-2022, 12:03 PM
"Imagine that, in 2011, I was a new player to tournament chess. When I entered my first (FIDE) tournament I could put my nationality as SCO, ENG, or any other nationality for that matter, and that would become my FIDE code. There were no status requirements."
I do not believe that this statement is correct.
Only the Scottish IRO (International Rating Officer) can issue Scottish FIN numbers. Tournament organisers cannot register a player with FIDE. IROs can, but only to their Federation. The English IRO cannot assign Scottish FINs. (FINs are the identification numbers that are issued by FIDE before a player takes part in an internationally rated event - the equivalent of our pnum).
That situation has not changed recently and was in operation in 2011.
Matthew therefore was a special case. I can understand Matthew's error in this regard. Regardless of their 'real' nationality the ECF will register anyone playing in an English event as ENG regardless of nationality. (This happened to Donald Heron without his knowledge. If you look at his FIN it has and English format.)
I do not believe that this statement is correct.
Only the Scottish IRO (International Rating Officer) can issue Scottish FIN numbers. Tournament organisers cannot register a player with FIDE. IROs can, but only to their Federation. The English IRO cannot assign Scottish FINs. (FINs are the identification numbers that are issued by FIDE before a player takes part in an internationally rated event - the equivalent of our pnum).
That situation has not changed recently and was in operation in 2011.
Matthew therefore was a special case. I can understand Matthew's error in this regard. Regardless of their 'real' nationality the ECF will register anyone playing in an English event as ENG regardless of nationality. (This happened to Donald Heron without his knowledge. If you look at his FIN it has and English format.)