The ECF Board is responding to changes in the expectations of both members and potential members by working to move grading from a six monthly to a monthly update. The intention is to introduce the change with effect from the January 2020 grading list update.

This has also focused the Board on whether we should continue with the traditional three-digit grade used in English chess since the 1960s or move to a four-digit, Elo style system. This has been discussed within the Board who are minded to use this opportunity to move to a four digit system.

This has several advantages —

• It would bring English chess in line with FIDE ratings and the rating systems in most of the rest of the world, including – the other countries in the UK, most other National Federations, correspondence chess, online rating systems

• It would help comparability between English grades and other ratings

• It would make the grades more meaningful for younger players who are accustomed to four digit ratings from playing online

• It is likely to reduce substantially the cost of introducing the monthly grading system (as it will be easier to replicate existing software using four digit calculations)

The Board recognises that this will be a significant change. We have therefore set up an online consultation form at https://britchess.wufoo.com/forms/ecf-monthly-grading-consultation/ which all players are invited to complete. The consultation period will end on 15th March 2019.