I ask the above question due to the President’s statement in the Jan Chess Life about how FIDE may do online rated play. About 5 years ago I was at an international chess tournament in a European country. One of the players had AGM next to their name. When I asked I was told that this was the GM title for online play. The FIDE Arena (for rated online play) has been in existence for over 10 years. Can someone tell me how FIDE can supposedly now be starting online rated play when they have had it for a while.
The arena titles are jokes. An AGM is to a GM as military music is to music.
I have seen a draft of FIDE regulations for online play that are in the same spirit as the recent changes to chapter 10 of the Official Rules of Chess.
As one who has been ridiculed for my stance against online titles in years prior
to covid19, I now realize how much in error my thoughts truly were. I have seen the light. And by golly, it is time, HIGH TIME, for leaders in US Chess and around the world to see the light as well. Covid19 is here for still a good while longer. OTB tournaments are still FOR A FACT dangerous to health. Time, HIGH TIME, for US chess to grant online chess ratings equal and due respect that of OTB ratings, with floors, USCF online titles,
etc. And time to give the organizers and TDs of these wonderful online events due and proper respect as well, by giving them the same TD accreditation as that of OTB.