The Tournament Director has responded to my open letter. Following her suggestion, I am quoting the full text of her reply without any abbreviations.
“Dear Mr. Pawlicki,
I am in receipt of your open letter. I would like to thank you for your concern. I certainly support your appeal to reduce the disparity between men and women prizes, and I invite you to work together in this direction.
At the same time your letter raises questions, starting with the poster showing me “swimming in Chinese currency bills”. I hope you are not implying that any part of the women prizes from China tournaments ended up in my pockets. Such idea would be insulting not just to me, but to our Chinese colleagues as well whom we should be grateful for organizing many superb competitions.
Also, I believe that as a former FMJD President and Tournament Director, you should have vast knowledge on the topic you are asking about. For example, I believe you know that as per FMJD Statutes, Tournament Directors have no authority to make modifications to the Annexes, just a duty to confirm they are being followed. This even was stated by your former colleague whose email you are forwarding.
I also believe that you were the major contributor, if not the sole author of the Annex 18 specifying in details the requirements to the organizers of World Cup events. Therefore, I am surprised why you are questioning the prize distribution that was approved by YOU years ago and which you have not made any attempts to change until now?
As far as two China World Cups, the organizers of both of these events applied to FMJD to be granted them the 7* World Cup status and confirmed that they will guarantee the total prize sum of 20,000 euro after taxes. They also confirmed that they agree to follow all the stipulations of Annex 18 including required minimums in each prize category. Their applications were approved by me in my official capacity. It was then my job when the R&R of each tournament were published, to make sure that neither open, nor women prizes went below the minimum prescribed in the Annex table. The approved competitions, based on the currency conversion rates in effect on the date of the approval, satisfied the Annex requirements.
Of course, I would be happy if the organizers find the way to increase any prize above the minimum, but, at the same time, I cannot demand them to go beyond their contract requirements. Our Chinese colleagues are on this distribution list, so you can similarly appeal to them with your request, but knowing that in China they have to go through several levels of government approval to get additional funding, I doubt it is possible this year.
I am sure you also understand that the option of keeping the overall prize fund intact, but redistributing prizes in such way that more percentage goes toward women prizes is impossible, as it would make the Open prizes go below the minimum, thus the tournament cannot any longer be 7* event – yet downgrading to the lower amount of stars once the tournament is announced, is prohibited by the Article 10 of Annex 18.
The only available legal option for us to work in the direction of reducing the gap between men and women prizes, is to review the provisions of Annex 18 and make a proposal to the next FMJD GA to change the prize distribution. i invite you, therefore, to work with me on this, so that we can define better proportions and make a change proposal to the delegates of the next GA 2027. I equally feel that current World Cup system can be improved in several areas, and would find your contributions and suggestions very valuable.
Please consider my proposal and feel free to share my response with your readers”
My conclusion is simple – YES, you are right!!! The prizes comply with the FMJD regulations. What caught my attention was the DRASTIC drop in prizes for women. After your explanations, I see that you fought for the rights of men, whose prizes had been too low. In 2025, nobody noticed this. Of course, a solid organizer (CDA) followed your recommendations.
The table below explains everything. I have highlighted in color where the prizes are higher compared to the regulations and where they are lower.
In other words, comparing it to Annex 18, in 2025 the gentlemen received prizes that were lower by about 3,580 euros, while the ladies received prizes higher by about 4,000 euros. Following your suggestion, shifts were made, taking nearly 3,920 euros away from the women and adding about 3,740 euros for the men.
Congratulations on your vigilance. I apologize and ask for your understanding – I was deeply hurt by the lower prizes for the ladies.
I appreciate your inquisitiveness, which makes it all the more difficult for me to understand other decisions in which your involvement is obvious. One must be CONSISTENT and not act selectively!
World Veterans Championships
You confirm the lack of authority to introduce changes to the Annexes. Wonderful. So let’s move to Annex 2. There is a list of official FMJD competitions there.
Do you see “Veterans 50+” there? It is not there!!!! It is “60+”. Just as the General Assembly (Congress) decided in 2019. And this is the regulation which, in line with their competence, the Tournament Director always prepares (or at least approves):
Of course, you could not pressure the organizers in China to add more for the men while maintaining the prizes for the ladies. Everything in accordance with the Annexes. I strongly appeal (and there is still time!!!) to immediately change the regulations to match the official rules.
I will quote your own words:
“as per FMJD Statutes, Tournament Directors have no authority to make modifications to the Annexes, just a duty to confirm they are being followed..“
World Championships
We already have announcements and information about a change in the tournament system. I probably don’t need to quote the Annexes to you. Annexes 12 and 17 specify the tournament system. And there is no room here for independent decisions by either the TD (Tournament Director) or the Executive Board. Of course, there are extraordinary situations, like the recent Women’s World Championship, where, at the request of the USA, the number of participants was swept up to 20 without specifying the tournament system. The round-robin system remained, and with 20 participants, it was impossible to organize such a tournament. On the 2025 General Assembly (Congress), proposals for changes were prepared, but from what I know (health issues did not allow me to stay until the end), there was no time for them.
These two matters lie beyond any doubt within your competence and responsibility. I hope that I will get a chance to play in this year’s World Championships. I will not play in those announced under regulations that contradict the official rules.
Since you are of Ukrainian origin, please also note that you, as the Executive Board, had no right to independently lift the suspension of the Belarusian federation’s rights! Neither you nor the Board stand above the General Assembly (Congress)!
Kudos for the corrections regarding the prizes, but please be consistent. I would very much like to participate in a LEGAL World Veterans Championship that complies with the REGULATIONS.
