Homepage Rochade Kuppenheim

Free the Henderson One

Protest against John Henderson's expulsion

to "The Scotsman" chess column


To the organisers of the Braingames World Chess Championship:

After careful reflection those listed below wish to react to the fact that our most honourable colleague John Henderson has been excluded from the Braingames World Chess Championship. As we all got to know John's competent work as a chess journalist at this year's Frankfurt Chess Classic, and are therefore fully aware of his Scottish sense of humour which is nevertheless always in harmony with expert and responsible coverage of outstanding chess meetings. His loyalty to the game and to his readers is beyond all doubt.

In contrast to some British newspapers which choose to place chess articles next to death notices, his lively reporting has seldom thrown a favourable light on critical situations in the chess world. Brainy, informed analysis of the chess scene is becoming increasingly rare, and should therefore be respected as a welcome contribution to the sustainable development of our game.

With all due respect to the organisers' rights to ensure that staging the Kasparov vs. Kramnik chess match runs smoothly we regard the integrity of human rights and freedom of access to journalist as basic elements in a public sport event. If allegations of abusive action are made, there should be proof in the form of official complaint. If this is not the case we urge that John Henderson's accreditation should be reinstated immediately. This is imperative not only to protect his individual rights but also to ensure the best possible standards in chess journalism for the chess world in the future.

IM Otto Borik (Schachmagazin 64)

Hartmut Metz (press officer at Frankfurt Chess Classic)

Harald Fietz (bulletin compiler at Frankfurt Chess Classic)

Robert Miklos (webmaster at www.rochadekuppenheim.de, John Henderson's German Internet platform)

25.10.2000

Axel Fritz (webmaster at www.schach.com): "es ist hart für veranstalter kritisiert zu werden und die quelle der kritik an ihrem busen zu nähren. aber es zeigt ihre größe, kritische journalisten trotzdem und vorbehaltslos zu unterstützen. hieran müssen journalisten sie messen."

Dear Sirs,

I also feel solidarity with Mr. Henderson.

I'm chess journalist and chess publisher (editor of Schachverlag Kania) too. I'm running a weekly chess column at STUTTGARTER ZEITUNG. The following text will be published there at Saturday 28th October. My apologize that it's only a short note and not the main story (this is, of course, the match itself)...

Best regards, Harald Keilhack (http://www.kaniaverlag.de)

Here is the aforementioned text:

...

Für einen Eklat am Rande sorgte der Rauswurf des renommierten Schachjournalisten John Henderson (CNN, The Scotsmen, Twic), nachdem dieser einen satirisch angehauchten Artikel veröffentlicht hatte. Ein Affront gegen Presse- und Meinungsfreiheit.

...

Others who participated: Gerhard Gorges, Michael Lorenz.

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