July / August 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ENGLISH FEDERATION £1.50 The National Chess Library is ... Officially Open!

Charles Clarke MP officially opening the library, pictured with Gerry Walsh, Margaret Wallis and Stuart Laing. Photograph reproduced by kind permission from UCH.

Charles Clarke MP examining his father’s books. Relative of with Lothar Schmid. Photograph by Robert Gurney. Photograph reproduced by kind permission from UCH.

Gerry Walsh, Lothar Schmid and Charles Clarke MP. Guests gathering prior to the opening ceremony. Photograph by John Saunders. Photograph by Robert Gurney. Editorial Opening of The National Chess Library Tuesday 10th June 2008 saw the official this venture, dignitaries from Brighton opening of The National Chess Library at University and UCH, five members of the the University Centre Hastings. It was a very Harry Golombek family, Eric Croker a major successful event for both the University donor to the library and representatives Centre and the English Chess Federation. from Green Insurance Brokers, who very kindly stored the collection free of charge The event began with guests being in their offices for three months whilst a greeted on arrival and served with light new home was being sought. refreshments. Once assembled everyone made their way to the impressive lecture This was a landmark occasion in the theatre of UCH for the opening speeches. and the best way to secure the future of the library is to invest in its The welcome address was given by Professor continued growth. I appeal to everyone Stuart Laing Pro-Vice-Chair of Brighton who can help to do so by donating their University, this included a presentation own collection of chess books to the of an award to Frances Warrell a student National Library. This can be done by of UCH from Special Library Association individual donations of duplicates, if you for her dissertation on the Chess Library. are downsizing or by legacy. Professor Laing was followed by Gerry Cynthia Gurney, Editor Walsh ECF President who spoke on the To mark the occasion BBC Southern Counties History of the Library and also introduced Radio staged an interview between Kat an honoured guest Lothar Schmid German Downes (BBC) and Con Power (Hastings Grand Master and renowned collector of International Organiser) earlier in the day. chess books (possibly the largest private Presentation to Frances Warrell. collection worldwide) who had flown in Photograph by John Saunders from Germany especially to attend the After the speeches all those attending opening of the library. Lothar Schmid made their way to the library itself where gave a warm congratulatory speech which Charles Clarke performed the cutting of included some banter between himself the black and white ribbon, after which and his great chess friend much venerated guests were free to wander, browse and International Master Bob Wade who was look at the displays featuring trophies from in the audience. Finally Charles Clarke past glories and varied chess memorabilia MP former Home Secretary spoke about including the Bratby portrait of Harry his father Sir Richard Clarke (renowned Golombek, then to partake of the delicious statistician and inventor of the BCF/ECF champagne buffet provided by UCH. grading system) and his collection. Charles Clarke reminisced on the impact that his Included in the esteemed guest list were father’s dedication to chess and it’s grading many civic dignitaries from Hastings Photograph reproduced by kind permission system made on his childhood. Council who have greatly supported from UCH. Contents ECF BATSFORD COMPETITION National Chess Library ...... FC Editorial ...... 2 Congratulations to the  -- ECF News ...... 3, 4 MAY/JUNE Winner National Club Finals ...... 5 --#- County Championships ...... 6 Carl Portman from - $+- Junior News ...... 7-9 Banbury, Oxfordshire The correct answer is -'--)! International News ...... 10 1. Qd5! Obituaries ...... 11 --&! Book Reviews ...... 12 Matthew Fox, Comm., The Sun-Herald, 1961 "- - Littlewood’s Choice ...... 13 WHITE TO PLAY $- Grand Prix ...... 14 AND MATE IN 2 Results Round-Up ...... 14, 15 ---- Calendar of Events ...... 16 Please send your answer (just the first move is sufficient) on a postcard to the ECF Office, The Watch Oak, Chain Lane, Battle, East Sussex TN33 0YD The first correct entry drawn on 10th September 2008 will win a Batsford Copy Deadline 10th September 2008 voucher for any book on their current list.

2 CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 ECF News Chess Sets for St Peters English Chess Federation President and Normanby resident Gerry Walsh will join local MP Vera Baird and St Peters Roman Catholic College Deputy Head Hartley Ward at the college on Friday 20th June 2008 to hand over 10 free new chess sets. Vera Barid MP & Gerry Walsh with pupils © Northern Echo This is one the first such handovers of the national programme of chess sets for schools coordinated by the English Chess Federation and backed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. In December, Vera hosted top young chess players from up and down the country to play chess in the Houses of Parliament, with keen chess playing MP Charles Clarke urging them to continue with their sport. Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe spoke at the event and indicated his support for English Chess. Vera Baird said “Although I did play chess with my father as a little girl, I won’t pretend I’m now a chess player myself but I know many children love it. It’s proven to improve concentration and mental ability and it’s so impressive that the ECF have shown such dedication in organising this scheme. Every child should have the opportunity to play chess.” Gerry Walsh said “This national programme is picking up pace and I’m proud that one of the first schools to have taken advantage of it is in Teesside. The ECF supports all young chess players as well as taking our young champions to international tournaments. There are vital issues around the funding for chess, however, with its recognition as a sport still not finalised. Hopefully these new sets will mean we will have future chess champions from Teesside.”

the first schools to have taken advantage HASLINGER, Stewart G, 2511g; GORDON, School welcomes gift of it is in Teesside.’’ Stephen, 2508m; ARKELL, Keith C, 2506g; of chess sets GORMALLY, Daniel, 2504g; WILLIAMS, This article was reproduced by kind Simon K, 2496g; FLEAR, Glenn C, 2493g; permission from the Northern Echo Feckenham First School DAVIES, Nigel R, 2478g; TRENT, Lawrence, (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk) 2470m; PERT, Richard, 2468m; ARAKHAMIA- Presentation GRANT, Ketevan, 2448m; HOUSKA, Jovanka, A school is making all the right moves 2405m; LALIC, Susan, 2344m thanks to the presentation of chess sets. St Peter’s Roman Catholic College, Normanby, We look forward to seeing you at the British has been given ten sets. Championships in Liverpool. The donation is one of the first in a national scheme coordinated by the English Chess Federation (ECF) and backed by the New Sponsor for National Department for Children, Schools and Schools Championship Families and the Department for Culture, Yateley Manor School are the new sponsors Media and Sport. Gerry Walsh with Jacqui Smith MP (Home of the National Schools Championship. This Normanby resident Gerry Walsh, who is Secretary), Beverley Hartigan (Head important and prestigious annual event president of the ECF, joined Redcar MP Vera Teacher) and some school pupils. involves hundreds of schools from all over Baird for the presentation at the school, the UK and many thousands of children in Editors Note: At the time of going to print yesterday. friendly chess combat. a special ECF Council meeting has been Ms Baird said: “Although I did play chess arranged for 26th July to discuss the way Headmaster Francis Howard said: “Yateley with my father as a little girl, I won’t pretend forward for the Chess for Schools project. Manor has a long history of supporting I’m now a chess player myself, but I know junior chess and we are delighted to many children love it. provide this sponsorship”. “It’s proven to improve concentration and British Championships IM Andrew Martin, the ECF Manager mental ability, and it’s so impressive that of Coaching, has been on the staff at the ECF has shown such dedication in 2008, Liverpool Yateley Manor for some 17 years, teaching At the time of going to press we have 600 organising this scheme. Every child should chess to children from age 5 to age entries which is 90-95% of the total entries have the opportunity to play chess.” 13. The South of England Junior Chess received last year. Championships and the English Junior Last December, the MP got top young The following titled players will be Closed Championships are also held at the chess players from across the UK to take on appearing in Liverpool this year: School. MPs at chess in the Houses of Parliament. JONES, Gawain C, 2549g; PERT, Nicholas, Speaking on behalf of the English Chess Mr Walsh said: “This national programme is 2547g; CONQUEST, Stuart, 2536g; LALIC, Federation, Andrew Martin said: “We picking up pace, and I’m proud that one of Bogdan, CRO, 2533g; HEBDEN, Mark, 2520g; look forward to an excellent tournament

CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 3 in 2008/9 with many new schools posts are shown on the website www. nominations for any of the other vacant participating and we anticipate working englishchess.org.uk/organisation/general posts and those may be filled by the Board with Yateley Manor for many years to in downloadable form and available in if appropriate candidates come forward. come. hard copy form from the office. A note Andrew Martin of which incumbents will be seeking re- The Direct Member Representatives ECF Manager of Coaching election, will be shown on the website are: in downloadable form from 30 July 2008, Honorary Life Vice Presidents, available in hard copy form from the office Vice Presidents, Corporate Vice Nominations for Election from that same date and will be sent to Presidents, Honorary Life Members, each earlier enquirer automatically. Life Members: Stewart Reuben, 11 at the ECF AGM Bevan Court, Clevedon Road, Twickenham To be eligible for election, nominations The voluntary posts to be elected at the TW1 2TS. Tel/Fax: 020 8892 6660, e-mail: with the required level of support, must AGM on 18 October 2008 are: [email protected]; one vacancy President be received at the ECF Office, The Watch Chief Executive Oak, Chain Lane, Battle, East Sussex TN33 Full Direct Members, Family Director of Finance 0YD no later than 13:30 on Wednesday 10 Members, Veteran Members, A minimum of 2 Non-Executive Directors September 2008. Student Members, Special Members, Up to 4 Executive Directors (currently Managers and other officers are appointed Members with Disabilities: William Directors of Marketing, Home Chess, by the Board and by individual Directors Armstrong, 6 The Heights, Leek, Staffs International Chess and Junior Chess and and are not subject to election by Council. ST13 7LQ. E-mail: [email protected]; Education) However, this is an appropriate time for Peter J B Wilson, 11 Clos de Gibauderie, The FIDE delegate anyone interested in this type of essential St. Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1XQ. Tel/Fax: The Chairman of the Finance Committee work to indicate their interest to the Board 01481 713441, e-mail: director.marketing@ Members of the Finance Committee through the ECF office. englishchess.org.uk The Chairman of the Governance Committee Standard Members, Junior Members: Members of the Governance Committee Player of the Year 2008 Robert Gurney, 212 Hillside Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 2QT; one vacancy Each candidate for a Post must be either: (a) A retiring Director, FIDE Delegate or Basic Members, Basic Junior Chairman of a Standing Committee Members: two vacancies seeking re-election to the same Post; The Board are seeking to fill the vacancies or for a second Representative from among (b) A nominee of the Board for a Post; or (c) A person proposed by any of the Honorary Life Vice Presidents, Vice following full* members: Presidents, Corporate Vice Presidents, (i) any Director; Honorary Life Members and Life Members (ii) the FIDE Delegate; and Standard Members, Junior Members. (iii) the Chairman of a Standing As well as the two vacancies to represent Committee; Basic Members and Basic Junior Members. (iv) any two Trustees; To find out more, contact the ECF Office, (v) any Representative Member of a 01424 775222, offi[email protected]. Constituent unit; (vi) any two Representative Members of Counties; Proposals for Discussion (vii) any two Direct Members’ Representatives; and Decision at the AGM (viii) any two of a Trustee, a Representative It is open to full members as specified in Member of a County and a Direct (c) (i - ix) above to submit proposals to Members’ Representative; or The English Chess Federation is pleased to the AGM of ECF. It is recommended that (ix) any five Individual** Members or announce the winner of the 2008 Player proposers should consult the Chairman Representative Members. of the Year Award - for the second year of the Governance Committee to ensure * Full Members are Constituent Units, running the award goes to David Howell. that their proposed papers are in an County Associations, Chess Leagues, Michael Adams came a close second appropriate format and are sound from Chess Congresses, Other Organisations, followed by in third place. a constitutional point of view. John the Directors, the FIDE Delegate, the Philpott may be contacted by e-mail at Chairmen of the Standing Committees, chair.GovernanceCommittee@ the Trustees (of the Permanent Invested Direct Member englishchess.org.uk or by telephone at Fund), Patrons, the Past President and the reasonable hours on 020 8527 4063. Past Chief Executive. Representatives Four present Representatives have been For inclusion in the agenda for the AGM ** Individual Members are any of the Full re-elected unopposed to serve for another final papers must be received at the ECF Members listed above. term from the end of the AGM 2008 to Office, as above by 13:30 on Wednesday 10 Updated brief job descriptions for these the end of the AGM 2009. There were no September 2008.

4 CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 National Club Finals played in London on Sunday 6 July 2008

The Open finalists. The National Club Finals kicked-off on a dull wet Wimbledon Finals day under the control of ECF Senior Arbiter David Sedgwick. The 5-section 24 boards were hosted by London Chess League at their Barbican HQ in Golden Lane, where light refreshments could be consumed along with the occasional orange juice or something stronger in the downstairs bar for those chess- players that “like their Sunday beer”.....so not much orange juice was consumed !!

The matches started promptly at 1:30, but most finished well within the 5-hour time limit. The final match results were Open: Wood Green 6-0 Maidstone Major: Hackney 3-2 Diss Appointed Major Plate: Wood Green 3.5-1.5 Wanstead & Woodford Minor: Hackney 2-2 Ashfield - Hackney won on boardcount (played at Syston) Minor Plate: Bushbury 3-1 Tunbridge Wells Celebrating Wood Green winners totally U100: Snodland 4-0 Forest of Dean ignoring the photographer because Nadal One very interesting game was the b1 clash for Maidstone v Wood Green in the Open was on one of his match points !! Taylor,M 2342 - Pert,N 2547 National Club Finals, Maidstone v Wood Green 1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 c4 c6 4 Nc3 dxc4 5 a4 Bf5 6 Nh4 Bg4 7 h3 Bh5 8 g4 Bg6 9 Nxg6 hxg6 10 e3 e6 11 Bxc4 Bb4 12 Bd2 Nbd7 13 g5 Nd5 14 f4 N7b6 15 Bb3 c5 16 a5 cxd4 17 exd4 Nc8 18 Bxd5 Bxc3 19 Bxb7 Bxd2+ 20 Qxd2 Rb8 21 Bc6+ Kf8 22 Bg2 Ne7 23 0-0 Kg8 24 Rac1 Qd6 25 Rc5 Rb3 26 Rc3 Rb5 27 Re3 Kh7 28 Re5 Rhb8 29 Rxb5 Rxb5 30 Qc3 Nf5 31 Rf2 Qb8 32 Qd3 Rxb2 33 Rxb2 Qxb2 34 d5 exd5 35 Bxd5 Qc1+ 36 Kg2 Qf4 37 a6 Qxg5+ 38 Kh1 Qc1+ 39 Kh2 Qf4+ 40 Kh1 Qf2 41 Bg2 Ng3+ 42 Kh2 Ne2 0-1. The prizes were kindly presented by ECF Chief Executive Chris Majer - just in time for Hackney Team with Mike McNaughton (he people to rush home to see Nadal’s epic win against Federer. was disappointed !!)

Major Plate Finalists U100 Finalists Minor Plate Finalists

CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 5 County Championships

Once again the cream of the County teams gathered at Moat College, Leicester. This increasingly popular venue, with its ease of access and spacious playing hall is ideally suited to this event and we are very grateful for the continuing support of the school which is gaining an excellent reputation as a science college. Lancashire thought they were lucky to defeat Surrey in the semis, and faced Middlesex with trepidation. The closeness of the match was reflected in the number of times that controllers were asked as to the status of the board count. Eventually, the holders triumphed over Middlesex by 9-7. The Minor Counties final saw Norfolk trying to go one better than their runners-up spot last year against the Midlands Minor Champions, Shropshire. Here the result was never in doubt after Norfolk gained an early lead eventually winning 10-6. Essex’s match against Surrey saw the swansong as a county captain after 102 matches of John Philpott. This match was always very close with Surrey ending John’s dream of a winning exit by 8½ - 7½. An Essex player allowing a mate in one did not help. Yorkshire, regular visitors to this event played Hertfordshire in the U150s in another match which was not as easy as it looked with Yorkshire running out 10-6. Norfolk had had two close matches on their way to the final, winning one by a mobile phone gambit, but Sussex ran them very close until the last three boards resulted in a 9½ - 6½ wins for Norfolk giving them an usual double. The U100s between Nottinghamshire and Hertfordshire looked like being a runaway win for the latter but late wins for Nottinghamshire could not quite prevent a 7-5 win for Hertfordshire. Applause for the venue was also shared with the appreciation for the controllers, headed by John Shaw assisted by Adrian Elwin. Dave Welch and Cyril Johnson with administrative assistance from Liz Gist and Tarek Rahman.

6 CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 Junior News

PLATE - Round 1 ECF National Schools Bolton School Juniors (11.1)* 2 4 Greenwood Academy Irvine (15.3); Nottingham HS B w/o scr Foremarke Hall; Aylesbury GS (14.5) 1 5 Championship 2007-8 QE Barnet (15.4); Wellington College (15.1) 6 0 Charterhouse Square School (10.2); Wilson’s School (13.11) 6 0 Kings House A (11.0); The competition got under way in November with an Holway Park Primary (10.10) 0 6 Winchester College B (15.7). Byes: increased entry of 136 teams. The twelve Local Zones were Woodbridge School; Leeds GS completed by early March. Quarter-Finals There was an innovation this year: two one-day Last Chance Bolton School Juniors 1 5 Leeds GS; Nottingham HS B (13.5) 3½ 2½ Saloon events, one north one south, for teams that missed Woodbridge School (14.6); QE Barnet (14.11) 2½ 3½ Wilson’s School out on qualification from the Zonal stage. The Southern event (15.1); Winchester College B (15.9) 1 5 Wellington College (14.10) unfortunately was cancelled when only two teams entered; they played each other for the qualifying place. The Northern event, on Semi-finals 1st March in Nottingham, was more successful. Nottingham HS B (13.7) 2½ 3½ Wilson’s School (15.1); Leeds GS (15.3) The National knockout stage concluded on Friday & Saturday 4th 1 5 Wellington College (15.5 & 5th July at Uppingham School. Some familiar faces got there, as Third Place Play-off always, but the Plate featured three teams that had never reached Leeds GS (15.3) 2 4 Nottingham HS (13.7) this stage before. The exception was Nottingham High School B. Final (Remarkably, this is not the first time Nottingham HS have had both Wilson’s School (15.1)* 3 3 Wellington College (15.5) A and B teams in the final Gathering.) Leeds GS, weakened by the unavailability of players, were even a board short. They lost both Final their matches but did well to score three wins. The Plate Final was Nottingham HS A 5.6.08 Millfield School between two other newcomers: Wilson’s School and Wellington 1 Ankush Khandelwal 196 (B) 0 1 Peter Poobalasingam 188 (W) College, themselves both below strength. Their match was tight 2 Michael Keetley 148 0 1 Rhys Cumming 138 all the way, with Wilson’s at the end fractionally better in a board- 3 Jonathan Day 127 1 0 Sharon Soni 117 count decision. 4 Daniel Lin 132 1 0 Harry Streeter 103 5 Ted Pinegar 122 ½ ½ George Galliano 75 The Championship contestants were likewise missing some players. 6 Joel Lamy 0 1 Matthew Turner 79 RGS Guildford, who have often reached this stage in the last few (16.8) 2½ 3½ (15.10) years, never really got going. Haberdashers, always a force to be Plate Final reckoned with, could not quite handle Millfield in the semi-final. Wilson School 5.7.08 Wellington College Nottingham High School A, Champions for the last three years, lost 1 Anand Krishnan 124 1 0 Akash Jain 162 their title to Millfield in a very close Final. Millfield, like Wilson’s, are 2 Mani(etc) Peri(etc) 120 0 1 Alex Galliano 158 first-time winners. 3 James Schenck 0 1 Adrian Archer-Lock 111 4 Michael Rogan 106 1 0 Chris Fraser 89 NATIONAL STAGE 5 Keith Barker 88 1 0 David Lee 83 (For full match results, see www.sccu.ndo.co.uk/times.htm) 6 Owen Wright 0 1 George Wilson 45 (15.1) 3 3 (15.5) CHAMPIONSHIP – Round 1 (by 7th April) Wilson’s School won on board count. Manchester Grammar School (15.3) 5 1 Methodist College Belfast (17.3); King Edwards Birmingham (15.11) 4½ 1½ Magdalen College School (15.8); Millfield School (15.7) 6 0 Monmouth School (16.3); Haberdashers Askes B (11.8) 4 2 Norwich School (15.0); Kings House Schools Finals at Richmond B 0 6 Haberdashers Askes A; Eton College (15.2) 1½ 4½ Whitgift School (14.4). Byes: RGS Guildford; Nottingham HS A Pontin’s Brean Sands Quarter-Finals (by 9th May) Wednesday 2nd July and Thursday 3rd July saw 6 National Manchester Grammar (15.5) 1 5 Nottingham HS A (16.3); Haberdashers Schools’ titles decided. The U16, U14 and U12 sections of A (15.10) 4½ 1½ K Edwards Birmingham (16.0); RGS Guildford (15.0) 4 2 the UK National Schools Team Championships were played Haberdashers B (13.2); Whitgift (14.3) 1½ 4½ Millfield (15.7) along with the English Primary Schools’ Chess Association U11, U9 and small schools’ championships. Semi-finals Millfield School (15.10) 3½ 2½ Haberdashers A (16.1); RGS Guildford In the U16 competition three schools moved to the front after three (14.6) 2 4 Nottingham HS A (16.8) rounds and stayed there. Haberdashers’ beat Magdalen College 3-2 and drew with Elizabeth, Barnet to take the trophy with Third Place Play-off 24½ points ahead of Queen Elizabeth’s on 22½ and Magdalen on Haberdashers (16.4) 5½ ½ RGS Guildford (14.6) 20½. Board prizes were won by players from 5 Schools (there were Final two ties) Saravanan Sathyanandha (1) Athman Sivakumar (3) and Nottingham HS A (16.8) 2½ 3½ Millfield School (15.10) Tom Senior (4) of Haberdashers’ Amit Desai (2) of Queen Elizabeth’s, CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 7 Harry Mann (2) of Torquay Boys’, Tom Lilburn (3) King Edwards’ Henry Broadley, Joshua Cavendish, Robert Fitzgerald, Chantelle Birmingham, Jacob Trefethan (5) and Ben Stone (6) of Magdalen Foster, Conrad Green, Felix Haxby, Amy Hoare, Daniel Lea, Joseph College. The U14 competition was dominated by Haberdashers’ McPhillips, Ram Mohan, Shyam Moham, Gautham Reddiar, Adam who only dropped three points in the whole tournament finishing Taylor, Milo Thrumble, Jamie Tilston and Roy Zhang. The England 6 points ahead of King Edward’s with Torquay Boys’ a further team hit the floor running and coasted through the first round to two points behind. Haberdashers also won the top four board the tune of 14.5 – 4.5 but we have played the Dutch too often to prizes with Shyamel Patel, Daniel Lande, James Lawrence and think this would last. That evening the Dutch requested an early Aneesh Aggarwal whilst the board five went to Marco Saccardi of start for the rapid play as their national team was playing that Queen Elizabeth “C” team. In the U12s Aldro “A” team were never strange game with the round ball – and not playing it very well behind in the tournament and entered the last round with a 2 as it turned out. We invited the U11 school teams to send their point advantage. They should have sealed it with a win against board one to join the two international teams in the rapid play Broadclyst, the only primary school in the competition, but ended and a total of 53 players took part. The Dutch demonstrated their up losing 2-3. They then had an anguish wait whilst their nearest superiority in this form of chess with only Roy Zhang able to keep rivals, RGS Guildford and Queen Elizabeth’s battled it out. This pace with the leaders. He lost in the final round to Tjark Vos who game ended in giving Aldro the championship with 15½ ended up with maximum points whilst Roy got the prize for the points, 1½ clear of RGS who came second on tie break and Queen best English Player and Stephen Chung from Merchant Taylors’ Elizabeths’. The board prizes here were fairly well distributed with Crosby got the best non international prize with 3 points. He Oliver Demerger (1) and Jeff Leung (2) of Torquay Boys’, Ben Collins claimed the scalps of two English and one Dutch international. (3) of Queen Elizabeth’s, E Ghent (4) and O Timms (6) of Aldro and After their disappointment on the soccer field and their heavy James Royle (5) of Broadclyst all proving successful. loss in round one we warned our team that they would be back thirsting for revenge. They got it to the tune of 11-8 but we had the In the EPSCA events the U11s proved to be a rerun of the Hemsby points in the bag and took the match 22.5-15.5. It was pleasing to semi-final with Dulwich College Prep, Eltham College and see every England player getting at least half a point whilst Joseph Haberdashers’ fighting for top spot. Going in to the final round McPhillips, Gautham Reddiar, Adam Taylor and Jamie Tilston are Eltham held a half point lead over Dulwich and Haberdashers’ to be congratulated on scoring two points. We look forward to with each team playing apparently similar opposition. There was our trip to Holland next year whilst our next match this year is in much tooing and froing but eventually both Haberdashers’ and Flanders at the end of August. Eltham won 3-2 whilst Dulwich secured that vital half point to tie with Eltham and take the title on board count in the drawn match between the teams. In the U9s there were three teams on 15½ point after 5 rounds, National Girls’ Team Eltham College, Magdalen College and Nottingham High. In round six Eltham beat Nottingham 4½ - ½ whilst Magdalen lost 1-4 to Championships 2008 Holmfield. This put Eltham in a seemingly unassailable 3½ point Possibly the best in the world! Girls lead. This proved true although Magdalen College fought hard all travelled from all across the UK to take part in this the way against them holding them to 3-2.. Meanwhile Hallfield fantastic event, which was held in the glamorous setting of and Nottingham High “B” had drawn giving Rosemead, 4-1 Claremont Fan Court School. winners over Nottingham High “A” the chance to come through in to second place. Finally, disappointingly only two small schools entered so Heathfield and Blagdon went head to head over two rounds. Heathfield won round one 4-0 thus only needing a half point to secure victory. Blagdon held them 2-2 in the second round but Heathfield ran out winners 6-2 Finally a great vote of thanks needs to be given to Tony Corfe for the tremendous work he puts in, not just at the events but throughout the year. Fortunately he has got a very able assistant in Traci Whitfield – the two of them did 4 stays at Pontins as well as attending some of the preliminary tournaments. The enjoyment gained by the young (and not so young in some cases) is great to see. Long may they continue. We were delighted to be able to start this tournament, as in previous years with an elite presentation for the top English juniors. Thank you to the Principal of Claremont Mrs. Farrar and the main Anglo Dutch Match 2008 sponsor of the National Girls’ Team Championships Matthew Pierce Our annual match against Zukertort Chess Club from Amstelveen for their help and support. near took place over the weekend 21st-22nd June at Thank you to the International Chess School for providing the Pontins Holiday Centre, Prestatyn, Denbighshire North Wales. The excellent prize of 6 months free chess coaching for the winning format is the first round of the match on the Saturday morning, some under 18 team. free time to enjoy Pontins followed by a rapid play in the evening then the second round of the match on the Sunday morning. The Everyone, without exception, had a great day. The chess played teams consisted of 19 players this year with the England Under 11 was superb. The weather, venue and tournament atmosphere was players being; Greg Ackerman, Peter Batchelor, Nathasha Bogoda, perfect. Congratulations to all competitors.

8 CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 1st The first day we had an opening ceremony Surrey Sharks with many of the top brass from Kiev and Katherine, Alicia, Eleanor, Amber the Ukrainian chess federation there. These included the mayor of Kiev who made a very quick speech explaining that they were voting as he spoke and he was not sure if he was still the mayor! Also there was Ruslan Ponomariov who acted as a filler in the ensuing rapid play. What an opponent to have as your first Ukrainian. He was, in fact a charming and very friendly young man. The Ukrainians took the first We have a fantastic team of people, whose three places in the event with James help makes this event such a success. Thank Abrams being the top English player. The you to Mike Basman, Ray Ryan, Pauline next two days were spent sightseeing in Foster, Fiona Petrie, Maya Haria, Rosalind the morning and playing matches in the Kieran, Jake Miller, Paul Gladstone and Harriet afternoon. We had expected to have two Hunt for providing the excellent coaching. teams of eight with the Welsh team and Under 9 various Ukrainian teams as opponents. In Congratulations to the section winning fact they produced two teams of 12 and Best Under 7 team Surrey Sharks. we had to “lend” 4 players to the Welsh. As Under Seven Smashers they took higher boards than they would Egene, Natasha, Teresa, Francesca Under 14 have been for England they had harder 1st = Best School team opponents which was a consolation. Midlands Queens Old Palace Queens Monday we toured the city by boat and Astghik, Gabby, Philomena, Katie Victoria, Sophia, Kateeja, Callisto there was nearly as much water on land as Brave Bishops in the Dneiper. In the match the stronger 3rd Evie, Lucy Ukrainian team defeated the Anglo-Welsh Mother Hubbard and Bute House team whilst the English defeated Ukraine Fiona, Tara, Asha, Skye Under 18 “B”. We had a walk round central Kiev on 2nd 2nd the Tuesday morning seeing many fine Cruel Kings Flamingos sights and doing some souvenir shopping. Shefali, Aneesa, Alice, Tamara Sheila, Danae, Anuurai, Kavitha, In the afternoon it was back to the chess. The stage was set for a grand finale and the 1st 1st match did not disappoint. At 6-5 to England Old Palace Queens The Right Move (with us down on tie break) our player Victoria, Sophia, Kateeja, Callisto Selina, Jessica, Hannah, Angelica appealed under 10.2 and his opponent I always like to introduce new exciting accepted the giving us the narrowest elements to this tournament. Chess TV is of wins. We then went back to the hotel, a big hit, where games are beamed live which is part of the catering department of to the parents. Tournament tee-shirts also the university and had a most magnificent proved really popular this year. end of tour banquet. Even our fussier Claire Summerscale players tucked in to the Ukrainian food. The final morning was spent on last minute shopping and we also spent some time in Junior Squad class with our hosts before heading to the airport and returning to England. Trip to Ukraine May 2008 ECF A group of 16 English juniors flew out 3 of the Under Seven Smashers to the Ukraine in a reciprocal visit EMAIL Under 11 following a group of young Ukrainians ALERT Best School team visiting Devon at Easter. We went Wimbledon High School from Birmingham and Heathrow and Register your email address Rachel, Georgia, Isobel, Susannah met up at Amsterdam where a group of 8 Welsh joined us. The idea was at 3rd to visit the Dominanta School, play www.englishchess.org.uk Wimbledon High School some chess and look round the city. Rachel, Georgia, Isobel, Susannah Although the matches were not quite to receive news items 2nd what we expected some good chess as soon as they are Kentish Belles was played and some interesting Yasmin, Elizabeth, Vishal, Sophie visits made. known to us

CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 9 ECF Online International Grading List News 2008 The latest ECF Online Grading List was released on 21 July 2008 at 8th European Individual www.englishchess.org.uk/grading/ Championship for Women This list is complete and official, but provisional. It includes games up to Gawain, myself and Peter in the old city of the end of May 2008. A revised version Plovdiv. incorporating corrections (but no new This year the 8th European Individual events) will appear in late August 2008 Championship for Women was held in time for the start of the new season. in Bulgaria’s second largest city The August version will be official for all Plovdiv. This little known city has ECF Standard play events throughout actually a rather large history being the season. The printed list, available at one of the oldest cities in Europe the start of September, will be identical being a contemporary with the to the August version. legendary cities of Troy and Mycenae. With a roman theatre, old town, a very modern In the online list you can choose to see shopping centre and an abundance of excellent restaurants we had masses of things to active players only (those with a current do as well as play chess! grade). Or you can include inactive Arne, myself and Gawain at the Roman players who are not currently graded Theather believed to have been built around but have been graded in the past. Recall year 200. that you can get extra information on a player, including all his grades since The European Individual championship is 1994, by clicking on his grading code one of the Continental Qualifiers for the (Ref). Women’s World Championship so as usual the tournament was fiercely competitive “NEW GRADES” with over 157 participants competing for The central grading team has been the 13 places available. In fact it seems to working on a complete revision, me that each year the level gets tougher designed to undo the perceived with the amount of points needed to deflation of grades over the years. The qualify increasing! Two years ago 7.5 points switch to “New Grades” is planned for was enough to guarantee qualification and play-off for a medal while this year only 8 2009-10. For the coming season, Old points could guarantee safe passage to the World Championship. Grades (as in this list) remain current. The tournament itself was incredibly closely fought with many players sharing the lead It has been announced that, for - in fact it was so narrow that going into the tenth round up to ten players were in the information only, New Grades are to running for the first place. However it was the 18 year old Ukrainian Katerina Lahno’s tenth appear alongside them. They do not round win over the experienced Russian Ekaterina Kovalevskaya that allowed her to break appear here. They will appear in August away and secure the title with 8.5/11. Katerina played as usual in her uncompromising with the start-of-season version of the manner and made an impressive rating performance of 2615. The Silver and Bronze medals list. were determined by a play-off between six players on 8 points. After a day of very tense rapid blitz and games it was Lithuanian Victoria Cmilyte and Ukranian Anna Ushenina who emerged with the silver and bronze medals respectively. There were three English players playing in ECF the Women’s championship, myself Dagne Ciuksyte and Diana Mihajlova. Dagne after 2009 DIARY a promising start finished on 6 points and Diana, who was in Plovdiv as a chess Available September 2008 journalist (and a relative latecomer to the game) scored 1 point. I scored 7 points out Crammed with useful of 11 but was rather disappointed with my information this clear, easy to performance, as a disastrous loss in the use Diary is a must for all! last round, cost me a World Championship place and would have sealed what was an Peter and Gawain at the Cafe next to the Visit www.englishchess.org.uk otherwise excellent tournament. Roman Theather. or ring 01424 77522 Despite the highs and lows that follow such European Individual Championships I would to order your copy wholeheartedly recommend this tournament to anyone! Jovanka Houska.

10 CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 Former Chess Correspondent Elected President of Midlands Chess At the Annual General Meeting of the Midland Counties Chess Union at Syston, Leicestershire, Peter Gibbs was elected President. Peter is now an elder statesman of the game, but in his youth he represented England for the team tournament in Leningrad (now St Petersburg). He competed several times in the British Championship and his best placing was 7th. For nearly 40 years Peter was Chess Correspondent for the Birmingham Post. Peter has helped Blind players over many years starting after he had coached a talented blind player at his local club. He has frequently acted as Arbiter (referee) at the British Championships for Blind players and more recently he was Team Manager for an English side of Blind Junior players in international team tournaments. Other elected Midlands senior officials were: Julie Johnson (Leics, Chief Executive Officer), Andrew Leadbetter (Staffs, Finance Director), Graham Humphries (Staffs, Director for Junior Chess), Sean Hewitt (Leics, Events Director). Just how devastating the new Midlands’ President can be over the board is shown in the super-miniature below. The game was played in a qualifying round for the British Championship against the Worcestershire player Reg Bonham, the World Champion. White: R.W. Bonham Black: P.C. Gibbs British Championship Qualifier 1955 King’s Indian Defence 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 0-0 5 0-0 d6 6 c4 c5 7 Nc3 Nc6 8 h3 Bd7 9 Kh2? cxd4 10 Nxd4 Nxd4 11 Qxd4? Ng4+! 0-1 An important milestone was passed Obituaries on Monday 19 May. Leonard’s chess column in the London Evening Patrick Taylor and Argentina in connection with their Standard became the longest- It is with great sadness that we report that business. running ever in the world. He has Patrick Taylor of Monarch Assurance, an He retired in 1975 and was retained by beaten ’s Honorary Life Member of the ECF, died in the engineering company as a consultant. record in San Francisco. hospital on the Isle of Man on Friday 23rd After the formal retiring age of 65, he The Monday to Friday column is a May. He was 74. took part- time work with Reddiplex, the model of its type. There is always a A tribute by John Saunders is available on plastics extrusion firm in Droitwich and chess diagram and a story about it. the BCM blog (http://bcmchess.blogspot. finally retired from paid employment at The solution to the puzzle is given com/2008/05/rip-patrick-taylor.html). the age of 81. at the bottom of the page. He often Tom joined Worcester City Chess Club when publicises forthcoming events. In 1972 he was 22. In the 1958-9 season, Tom was the Evening Standard became sponsors Wilfred (Tom) Widdows board 4 of an extremely strong Worcester of the Islington Congress of which I was It is with sadness I report the death of Tom, City side that won all seven matches in the director. There were 1508 players for very many years a stalwart of Worcester Worcestershire County League, the team in 1973. This was the first sponsorship City Chess Club and Worcester Chess dropping only two game points in the of chess in this country after Council Association reported to me by Bill Watson. whole season. Not only a player, Tom was support of Hastings and the Sunday The text of Bill’s letter reads: “He died on a well-respected Competitions Secretary Times National Schools Championship. for over 30 years for Worcestershire Chess The Grand Prix was my idea, but it 29.6.08 and the funeral is on Wednesday next (9.7.08) at Worcester Crematorium Association who dealt fairly and firmly with was he who sold it to Cutty Sark and occasional disputes. administered it until Leigh Industries at 1pm. No flowers. Donations to Air withdrew. Later he and I collaborated Ambulance via Funeral Directors (CRUMP), He was Life Vice President of the on the Lloyds Bank Masters. He also Hanbury Road, DROITWICH.” Worcestershire Chess Association. In has columns in the Guardian and the A feature article published in 2002 by addition to chess, Tom was a bridge player Financial Times. Worcester Evening News states Tom was with his wife, June, in Droitwich. He is a past British Champion. Also born in South Wales in 1912. Tom learned At the close of the second World War, Tom his work for junior chess was hugely to play chess at the age of 7 being taught took on the job of Chess Correspondent valuable and many of our leading players by his father Thomas, a railwayman. for Worcester Evening News. owe him an immense debt of gratitude. In 1920, the family moved to Worcester Writing under the byline , For example, he would update the when Tom’s father’s job was transferred to his first column appeared on October 9, grades of juniors every week. This was a Shrub Hill Railway Station. Tom attended 1945 and he put down his pen in 2006 cornerstone of encouraging them to play. Stanley Road School and then Worcester and is almost certainly the world record It is so satisfying to be able to highlight Technical School. Tom left school aged holder of the title “longest serving chess the work of chess administrators who 15 to work as an apprentice draughtsman correspondent” of any newspaper in the are still with us. Let us hope Leonard for Heenan & Froude Engineering world. continues with his column for such Company. He later served the successor The Worcester chess scene has lost a much a long time that his record becomes company Redman Heenan as manager respected member. completely unassailable. of the company’s environmental services Ray Dolan Stewart Reuben and travelled several times to Brazil

CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 11 Book Reviews by Gary Lane The Greatest Ever Chess Opening Ideas by Christoph Scheerer published by Everyman £15.99 There are so many opening ideas that have been formed through the years that it is an impossible task to compile the perfect list. Therefore, one has to rely on the author to choose his own guide and just sit back and enjoy some banter. It is important that the historical background is correct and an incredibly long bibliography seems to be encouraging. Therefore, it is amusing to read that Scheerer found out about the oldest game ever played by looking it up on Mega Database 2008. Still, it does get better with anecdotes and historical notes which are very interesting. Now you might not be able to use the book to win quickly at the next weekend tournament, but it will help to settle an argument about the first time that 3...a6 was played against the . There are 50 examples and a whopping 368 pages to explain them all. I was intrigued that he had managed to refute the Schliemann Defence against the Ruy Lopez in seven pages. If you are a connoisseur of the line then don’t worry too much because the author has underestimated the chances of a side-line (5...Nf6) by not noticing the critical game Kramnik-Radjabov, Monte Carlo Rapid 2007. It is naturally intriguing to find out what the German author thinks is the most important English game amongst contemporary players. Will it be ’s innovations on the way to the World Championship match or Michael Adams’s impressive repertoire enabling him to stay in the world’s top ten for so long or maybe even with one of his robust openings? The honour falls to Miroslav Houska for an attractive miniature against David Tebb at the British championships 1998. The combination of old and new games bring the opening ideas to life and it is certainly to be highly recommended. A great read for people who want to know how an opening evolves and how it stands up to the test of time. The series name by Everyman is hopefully a winner because I have already written The Greatest Ever Chess Tricks and Traps which is due to be published in September. Moral Victories by David Lovejoy published by Echo Publications £14.99 David Lovejoy really wanted to write a biography on the great chess player Savielly Tatakower. After all when he was growing up in England his games fascinated him, so it seemed the right thing to do when researching in his adopted country of Australia. The only snag is that Tartakower travelled a lot in life and it is difficult to create a definite record of events, so he used the material as the basis of an historical novel. It works well and his background as a newspaper editor means that the prose is of a high standard. There are also some excellent notes at the end to help the keen reader work out what is a genuine fact and what has been made up. A chess novel that is worth reading. Engaging Pieces by Howard Goldowsky £12.99 published by Daowood Brighton This is a collection of chess writing which involves lots of interviews, fiction and some opinion. The US slant might leave some people wondering about some of the personalities but in general it is an enjoyable read. He also thankfully updates his articles. For instance he points out that his first ever interview with book author Michael de la Maza “....shows ,in places with its clunkiness.” His useful tips on how to improve the writing style are soon forgotten when he mentions in passing that he tried for ages to contact de la Maza before someone pointed out that for the past year he was working in the same office building. A pleasant way to enjoy chess on a train or plane.

12 CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 10.f4 14…0-0 15.Nd2 Ng6 16.g3 Of course, 10 Bxe3 h6 11 Nh3 Bxh3 12 Rae8! 17.Qf2 Littlewood’s gxh3 Bd6 gives Black a splendid position, Since 17 Qf3? h6 loses a piece. so Euwe decides to capture the e3 pawn with his queen, then retreat his knight to 17…Bd3 18.Re1 Rxe1+ 19.Qxe1 Choice f3 heading for e5, but the subtle 11 Qh5+ Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be! has been given as an improvement on 11 --$,- What a refreshing change for me to Qf3 (as played in the game) in order to stop leave the age of computer chess and Black’s knight reaching g6 later. -!-!' go back to my teen-age years when '-'#%(- my hero was undoubtedly . 10…Bd6 The natural development by 10…Nf6 One is spoilt for choice but I’ve chosen --'-  a powerfully played game against ex- also seems promising. The interesting but -  - World Champion . hardly error-free game Kinnmark-Ciocaltea, 1967, continued 11 0-0 Bd6 12 Nf3 0-0 13 - )-  18th World Championship Ne5 Bxe5 14 dxe5 Bg4! 15 Qd3 e2 16 Re1 Nh5 17 Na3 Nxf4?! 18 Qg3! Qg5 19 Bxc6   - 1948 bxc6 20 h3 h5 21 hxg4 h4 and now, instead   Max Euwe of 22 Bxf4 Rxf4 23 Qd3!, White blundered with 22 Qf3?? allowing the neat finish 22… ■ Paul Keres 19…Bxf4! 20.gxf4 Rae8! 23 Nc2 Qxe5 24 Nd4 Nh3+! and if 25 Exchanging queens does not help either, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 Qxh3 Rf1+! mating in three moves. because 20 Qe6+ Qxe6 21 Nxe6 allows 21… 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 f5!? 11.Qf3 Qf6 12.Qxe3+ Nge7 Be3+ 22 Kh1 Rf1+! 23 Kg2 Rf2+ winning. Needing to win this game, Keres chooses 20…Nxf4 21.Ndf3 the risky Siesta Variation of the Ruy Lopez, 21 Ngf3 allows 21…Qg6+ 22 Kf2 Nh3+ 23 never refuted but demanding high tactical *--,-$ Ke3 Bc2! 24 Qe2 Qh6+, and 21 Qh4 Ne2+ understanding of its complexity. -'!"!' 22 Kg2 Be4+! mates quickly. 6.exf5 Bxf5 7.d4 '-(#%- A later attempt to refute the line by 7 21…Ne2+ 22.Kg2 h6 23.Qd2 0-0!? Bd3 8 Re1 Be7 9 Re3 e4 10 Ne1 gave --'-)  Qf5 24.Qe3 hxg5 25.Bd2 Be4 Black enough chances after 10…Bg5! 11 -  - 0 - 1 Rh3 Nf6 12 Nxd3 exd3 13 Rxd3 0-0 14 Rh3 Qe7 15 Na3 Rae8 16 Nc2 Ne4 as in the - - game Smyslov-Lutikov, 1961, which was  -- eventually drawn.  - ECF 7…e4 8.Ng5 Keres suggests the interesting piece White’s time-wasting has given Black an CLUB & CONGRESS sacrifice 8 0-0 exf3 9 Qxf3 with good excellent lead in development and Euwe’s attacking chances but hardly in Euwe’s next weak move is practically the final nail style. 8 d5!? is another seemingly valid in his coffin, leaving the white squares INSURANCE FOR attempt to refute the gambit but I leave fatally unprotected. 2008 NOW AVAILABLE that for the reader to analyse … 13.Bxc6+? bxc6 14.0-0 Contact the Euwe probably intended to play his knight 8…d5 9.f3 ECF Office for further details to e5 via f3 but after 14 Nf3 0-0 15 Ne5 *-%,#($ Black has 15…Bxb1! 16 Rxb1 Bxe5 followed 01424 775222 -'!-!' by 17…Qg6 forking b1 and g2. British Chess '-(--- Magazine’s

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CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 13 78th Richmond Rapidplay English Chess Federation 13 July 2008 90 participants took part and Grand Prix 2007/8 Results prizes totalling over £700 were Sponsored by CCF MindGames Ltd Round-Up awarded for the following results: We are extremely grateful to John and Christine Open: 1st= GM Bogdan Lalic, IM Graeme Constable for their generosity in donating the Buckley 5/6; U180 Grading Prize: John trophies for the 5 categories of the Grand Prix. White 3.5/6 These handsome presentation trophies should KJCA Sutton Valence be presented to the winners of the sections at Junior Rapidplay Major (U160): 1st Joshua Pineda 5.5/6; the players’ local club or at a congress which they attend. 1 June 2008 2nd= and also U140 Grading Prize Michael Under 18: Anthony Gregory, Maidstone CC, Mutale and Raul Lamorena 4.5/6 Final Leader Boards 14 July 2008 158, 4; William Jones, Lewisham CC, 154, Intermediate (U120): 1st= Theodore Bold indicates players who are counting the maximum 4; Sheila Dines, Sanderstead, 143, 4; Tim Dias, Martin Durrant 5/6; 3rd= Michael number of events. Weaver, Maidstone CC, 103, 3½ Nightingale, Keith Bateman 4½/6; U100 Junior Prix Under 14: Victor Jones, Lewisham CC, Grading Prize: Ravi Haria, Richard Dulley 1 Jones, Victor GL, Kent Junior Congresses ...... 697 153, 4½; Gautham Reddiar, Orpington, 66, and Rohan Shiatis 4/6 2 Weller, Jean-Luc, York RI ...... 659 3 Clarke, Brandon GI, Littlethorpe ...... 645 3½; Duncan Bell, Beckenham & Bromley Minor (U80): 1st= Barry Miles, Harvey CC, 82, 3; Alexei Davis, Mottingham, 77, 3; 4 Fitzgerald, Robert C, Sussex Junior ...... 617 Kandohla 5/6; 3rd John Davis 4.5/6; 4th= 5 Clanchy, Nicholas, Kent Junior Congresses ...... 602 Raunak Rao, Lewisham CC, 66, 3; Abigail Jake Simms, Ben Simms, Zhihan Li, Vincent 6 Jain, Radha, Pinner ...... 602 Sathyamurthy, Herne Bay CC, 51, 3; Billy Lee 4/6 7 Sanders, Isaac B, Highgate School ...... 601 Sargent, Westerham CC, 28, 3 8 Jones, William EG, Kent Junior Congresses ...... 595 9 Zhou, Yang-Fan, Richmond Juniors ...... 595 Under 11: James Selway, Bromley, 40, York Celebration of Chess 10 Harvey, Marcus R, Bicester RHS ...... 591 5½; Oliver Petrick, Sevenoaks CC, 25, 5; Held outside in Parliament Street Samuel Wahts, Maidstone, 24, 5; Mano Graded Prix (150-174) with prizes donated by the Council. 1 Sathyamurthy, Herne Bay CC, 32, 4; Folarin Evans, Paul A, AXA Lytham ...... 614 Under 11: 1st Cameron Blair Dunnington; 2 Hjort, Helge, Hendon ...... 590 Ogunsola, Weald of Kent CC, 28, 4; James 2nd Joshua Levine, Talbot Road Leeds; 3 Gamble, Raymond J, Spondon ...... 553 Wagstaff-Hall, Sidcup, 23, 4; Rowan Hancox, 3rd Louis Romer Sherburn in Elmet; 4th 4 Bryant, Richard BE, Telepost (Shrewsbury) .....551 Forest Hill, 22, 4; Hector Huser, Balham, Chris De- Planta, Stockton on Forest; 5th 5 Cutmore, David A, Wood Green ...... 541 22, 4; Conor Murphy, Lewisham CC, 13, 4; 6 Almond, Richard J, Hastings & St Leonards ...... 530 James Nelson, Bootham Junior School; 7 Jaszkiwskyj, Peter, East Ham ...... 522 Edward Bottomley, Rotherhithe, 4 6th David Noyvert, Saint Lawrence. 8 Mitchell, Stephen R, Slough ...... 492 Under 9: Yasmin Giles, Lewisham CC, 42, Merit awards to Matthew Paw, 9 Hegarty, Sarah N, Ashtead ...... 479 10 Cutmore, Martin J, Wood Green ...... 473 5½; Lawrence Lee, Barnet Knights CC, 40, 5; Hempland and Sarah Woodmansey, Heworth Green, best girl Owen Messere, Lewisham CC, 8, 5; Thomas Graded Prix (125-149) Morton, Hayes, 10, 4½ Under 18: 1st Yasmin Niksaz, Wetherby; 1 Desmedt, Richard E, Netherton...... 622 2nd Joe Towse, Millthorpe; 3rd Amand 2 Goodfellow, Russell R, Tunbridge Wells ...... 606 Hipshon. Harrogate Ladies College; 4th 3 O’Gorman, Brendan, DHSS ...... 597 KJCA Grand Prix Final James Knighton, Archbishop Holgate; 5th 4 Clegg, Robert, Huddersfield ...... 578 29 June 2008 Peter Hornsby, Ampleforth; 6th Ewan Miller, 5 Connor, Michael I, Great Lever ...... 545 6 Combie, Alex B, Newark & Southwell ...... 526 Under 18: Sheila Dines, Sanderstead, 143, Hempland; 7th= Andrew Barns, Millthorpe 4½; William Jones, Lewisham CC, 154, 3½; 7 Jackson, Paul G, Coulsdon CF ...... 520 and Andrew Woodmansey, Archbishop 8 Waldock, Adrian DP, Guildford ...... 519 Anthony Gregory, Maidstone CC, 158, 3; Holgate 9 Papier, Alan, Bristol & Clifton ...... 511 Robert Maguire, Beckenham & Bromley CC, 10 Price, Andrew, Leamington ...... 506 117, 3; Matt Bunn, Snodland CC, 111, 3 2007-8 British Ladies Graded Prix (100-124) Under 14: Akash Jain, Pinner CC, 162, 1 Walker, Roger W, Belper ...... 581 4½; Victor Jones, Lewisham CC, 153, 3½; Correspondence Chess 2 Gartside, Carl, High Peak ...... 575 Jasdeep Gahir, Lewisham CC, 106, 3½; Championship 3 Boustred, Noel J, Gosforth ...... 556 4 Jones, Laurence AG, Lewisham ...... 553 Sheila Subbiah, Chislehurst, 54, 3½; Justin The 2007-8 BLCCC has resulted in a tie 5 Allen, Timothy S, Battersea ...... 542 Brown, Beckenham & Bromley CC, 51, 3½; between the defending champions Sue 6 Barnell, Terry E, London E * ...... 542 Duncan Bell, Beckenham & Bromley CC, Howell of Redhill and six-times former 7 Farthing, Andrew P, Worcester ...... 534 82, 3; Alastair Thomas, Sittingbourne, 45, 3; champion Valerie Craven of Leeds on 8 Buckell, David J, Pendle ...... 534 Elliot Briery, Kensington, 38, 3 9 Rush, Steven J, Rhyl ...... 520 3/4 (both games between them ending 10 Naldrett, Geoff W, Insurance...... 509 Under 11: Radha Jain, Pinner CC, 109, 6; in draws). They each win ¬£37.50 and Raunak Rao, Lewisham CC, 66, 5; Alexei hold the Lady Herbert Trophy for 6 Graded Prix (U100) 1 Foley, Phil T, Upminster ...... 635 Davis, Mottingham, 77, 4½; Gautham months. Third was Astghik Stepanyan of 2 Fraser, Alan R, Beckenham & Bromley ...... 555 Reddiar, Orpington, 66, 4½ Birmingham on 0/4. 3 Miles, Barry S, Middlesex CCA ...... 548 Under 9: Rohan Shiatis, Coulsdon CC, 62, 4 Jain, Dinesh, Pinner ...... 519 Entries for the 2008-9 BLCCC should be sent 5 Scorer, David M, Pendle ...... 503 5½; Raphael Kalid, Anerley, 58, 5; Yasmin to Keith Escott, 43 Orchard Rd, Erdington, 6 Everitt, David, Haywards Heath ...... 494 Giles, Lewisham CC, 42, 5; Alexander Selway, Birmingham B24 9JB by the closing date 7 Stone, Mark R, Petts Wood & Orpington ...... 491 Bromley, 15, 5; Hector Huser, Balham, 22, of 30 September 2008 (entry fee ¬£7, 8 Saunders, Peter, Bristol & Clifton ...... 483 4½; Conor Murphy, Lewisham CC, 13, 4½; cheques payable to British Federation for 9 Robson, Caroline J, Barnet Elizabeth ...... 480 10 Smith, Phil, Rolls Royce Derby ...... 476 Owen Messere, Lewisham CC, 8, 4½ Correspondence Chess).

14 CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 4NCL Rapidplay 28-29 June 2008 The second 4NCL rapidplay was held over the weekend of June 28 & 29 and retained the same venue as last year; Harben House in Newport Pagnell but suffered a drop in entries, from 15 to 10. After some consultation with team captains this lead to the schedule being revised from a 10 round swiss to a 9 round all play all. The time limit was 20 minutes per player with an additional 10 seconds per move. Last year the event was deservedly won by Barbican who strength in depth told as Jovanka defeated John Bentley and defeated their nearest rivals Hilsmark Kingfisher in their Ameet defeated Alan Walton in a mind boggling game when individual match in round 4. Although there was no Hilsmark a draw would have won the match but he eventually found team this year the NACCPO (National Alliance of Childhood his way through a maze of complications to force a winning Cancer Parents Organisation) team bore an uncanny ending. resemblance to the 2006-2007 Hilsmark 4NCL squad and was The last of the three clashes came on Sunday morning, a slight also captained by a former Hilsmark captain, who is responsible concern to me as my teams generally struggle with the early for writing this article. morning rounds. At the start of the match I would have happily My association with the NACCPO charity is due to a friend settled for 2-2 and the likelihood of a subsequent tournament of mine, Rachael Olley, (who I used to work with) whose son triumph. My pre match nerves weren’t helped when I received Connor developed leukaemia. Thankfully, Connor recovered a phone call to say my board four was still on the M1 as the after several years’ treatment and although he still has to have match was due to start but thankfully Ameet arrived and a certain tests is basically okay. As Rachael became involved close looking match was under way. I still can’t explain the with the charity I became a supporter and have raised money final score, all boards were fiercely fought and I have to confess through simultaneous displays as best I can. NACCPO supports I was somewhat concerned by Jovanka’s two pawn deficit as I children and young adults with cancer and their families from was by Keith appearing to have one less. Somehow we ended all over the UK and receives no Government funding so every up winning 4-0, which I still can’t quite believe. penny raised is vital. Although that effectively decided the tournament NACCPO The idea to name my teams in the rapidplay after the charity had a scare in the following round against Guildford where were to give the charity some free publicity and I was therefore possibly complacency set in or it was just one of those matches. conscious that winning the event would be the best way In any case, the loss of 6 minutes time on my clock to locate to maximise the coverage. Therefore I invited players who I our board 2 proved a good investment as a surprise loss by considered would give us a good chance of winning the event Gawain against Ian Thompson and a draw by Jovanka meant although in view of the difficulties and cost of getting the Keith was required to grind out an endgame to win the match. players to the venue I tried to ask people who either drive or The last two rounds didn’t change the final placings with the at least had minimal travel expenses. I have to say I was more exception of a surprise victory by NACCPO B over Bristol which than happy with the players I ended up with; Grandmasters allowed them to leapfrog into 4th place. Gawain Jones and , International Master & Woman The final placings then were NACCPO first with 9 match wins Jovanka Houska and finally Ameet Ghasi the out of 9 and individual scores of Gawain with 7.5, Keith with former British Rapidplay Champion. Ideally I would be first 8 and Jovanka and Ameet with 8.5 all out of 9. 3Cs, led by reserve and only play when they wanted a rest but as it turned Stephen Gordon on board 1 who scored 7.5/9 (to add to his out I was pressed into action in the second team alongside 8/8 from last year), finished second thanks to their win against Martin Burrows, Arne Hagesaether and Sean Hewitt. Barbican who finished third. My thanks to David Welch and Our main rivals were Barbican, the defending champions, who Neville Belinfante for organising and controlling the event like last year had a strong squad of five players who could play and to all the players and captains who supported the event. in any order and 3Cs, who despite being forced to drop out I hope to see far more of you next year, it really is a fun event of the 4NCL due to the southern location of the venues have and I said that last year even though my team didn’t win! at least appeared in both rapidplays. There were two teams If anyone is interested in finding out more about the charity making their debut; Metropolitan Police (who included retired then you can view their website at http://www.naccpo.org.uk/. Grandmaster William Watson on board 1) and The Welsh Old The easiest way to help them is to make http://www.everyclick. Boys. com/rachaelolley your homepage and then you make money for them every time you carry out a search. NACCPO is also Effectively the event was decided by the matches between registered with ebay (user ID naccpo) - so people can elect the three favourites. The first clash came in round 2 when to donate a % of their auction fees to the charity (and benefit wins for Stephen Gordon and Alan Walton gave 3Cs a slightly from having the ebay for charity symbol on their auction, thus surprising victory against Barbican. Then in round four 3CS attracting more buyers) and get a % of their listing/auction faced NACCPO knowing a match victory would give them a fees re-credited by ebay. great chance of winning the entire event. Ultimately, NACCPO’s

CHESSMOVES – JULY / AUGUST 2008 15 Calendar of Events (For a more comprehensive list of events visit our website at www.englishchess.org.uk) * denotes English Chess Federation Grand Prix @ denotes FIDE Rated Event # denotes British Championship Qualifying Tournament ~ denotes ECF Graded Event ~*# 15-17 Aug 26-29 Aug ~* 12-14 Sep THANET CONGRESS ELITE & ROOKIES JUNIOR COACHING 2nd WHITBy STARS BARRED WEEKEND Canterbury Christchurch University, Broadstairs. SQUAD WEEK 2 CONGRESS A D Hargreaves (Tel: 01227 274885, Swiss Cottage Community Centre, The Conservative Club, Upgang Lane. Email: [email protected]) London NW3 3NR. N Boustred (Tel: 0191 236 9871, Email: [email protected]) 15-25 Aug J Wallace (Tel: 07879 655581, 12th MIND SPORTS OLyMPIAD Email: [email protected]) ~* 14 Sep 22nd LEAMINGTON RAPIDPLAy Royal Horticultural Halls Conference Centre, ~ 30 Aug London SW1P 2QD. Royal Spa Centre. OxFORD RAPIDPLAy TOURNAMENT G Greenland (Tel: 01926 424360, Mind Sports Olympiad Brookes University Headington Campus. J Kelly Email: [email protected]) (Email: [email protected]) (Tel: 01494 462468, ~* 19-21 Sep ~* 16-17 Aug Email: [email protected]) NORTHUMBERLAND CONGRESS UK CHESS CHALLENGE TERAFINAL 30-31 Aug Parks Leisure Centre, The Source, Meadowhall, Sheffield. M Basman WORLD FIRE FIGHTER GAMES CHESS North Shields North Tyneside. (Tel: 07715 041320, Liverpool Echo Arena & Conference Centre, 14 Abi Adams (Tel: 0191 296 1078, Email: [email protected]) Monarchs Quay. Email: [email protected]) ~*@ 16-25 Aug V Fisher (Tel: 07859 911588, ~ 20 Sep JESSIE GILBERT CELEBRATION Email: VojtechFisher@merseyfire.gov.uk) Chess ENGLISH CHESS CHALLENGE - CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL, Coulsdon. competition a part of the world fire fighter games OF CHAMPIONS’, Coulsdon Howard Curtis & Scott Freeman taking place in Liverpool. Howard Curtis & Scott Freeman (Tel: 020 8645 0302, (Tel: 020 8645 0302, ~*#@ 31 Aug - 6 Sep Email: [email protected]) Email: [email protected]) 58th PAIGNTON CONGRESS 18-21 Aug Oldway Mansions, Paignton. ~* 20 Sep ELITE & ROOKIES JUNIOR COACHING Linda Crickmore (Tel: 01752 768206 before 10 SJC CROWBOROUGH JUNIOR RAPIDPLAy Beacon Community College, SQUAD WEEK 1 pm, North Beeches Rd. Swiss Cottage Community Centre, Email: [email protected]) London NW3 3NR. Margaret Burch (Tel: 01483 534061, ~* 6 Sep J Wallace (Tel: 07879 655581, Email: [email protected]) Email: [email protected]) GOLDERS GREEN RAPIDPLAy, ~* 21 Sep St Alban’s Church Hall, London NW11 7QG. 23rd CROWBOROUGH CC CONGRESS @ 22-24 Aug Adam Raoof (Tel: 07855 036537, Beacon Community College, North Beeches MARyMASS CONGRESS Email: [email protected]) Rd. Irvine Royal Academy, Kilwinning Rd. ~* 6-7 Sep D Grant (Tel: 01892 654071, S Clark (Tel: 01294 278638, Email: [email protected]) Email: [email protected]) CCF AUTUMN CONGRESS 84-90 Chipstead Valley Rd, Coulsdon. Howard ~* 26-28 Sep ~ 23-25 Aug Curtis & Scott Freeman SPECTRUM CHESS - 3rd PORTSMOUTH 44th BERKS & BUCKS CONGRESS (Tel: 020 8645 0302, CONGRESS Polehampton Junior School, Twyford. Nigel Email: [email protected]) The Hilton Hotel, Farlington. Dennis, Boundary House Norman Went (Tel: 01708 551617, (Tel/Fax: 01491 576052, ~* 7 Sep Email: [email protected]) 79th RICHMOND RAPIDPLAy Email: [email protected]) ~* 27 Sep ~* 23-25 Aug White House Community CCF RAPIDPLAy, Coulsdon. 36th HEREFORD WEEKEND CONGRESS Association, TW12 3RN. Howard Curtis & Scott Freeman Aylestone School, Broadlands Lane. James Coleman (Tel: 020 8661 0722, (Tel: 020 8645 0302, W A Archer (Tel: 01432 265712) Email: [email protected]) Email: [email protected]) ~*@ 23-25 Aug & 6-7 Sep 8 Sep ~ 28 Sep LEICESTER FIDE RATED ALL PLAy ALL WILTSHIRE 5 MINUTE CHAMPIONSHIP BRIGHTON RAPIDPLAy TOURNAMENT Plough Inn, Littlethorpe. The Brown Jack Pub, Wroughton. Royal Albion Hotel. S Hewitt (Tel: 07845 518 972, Tony Ransom (Tel: 01225 774538, D Roy (Tel: 07952 573096, Email: [email protected]) Email: [email protected]) Email: dr@piecesoffate.org) 28 Sep ~*@ 23-25 Aug ~*@ 9-18 Sep ENFIELD JUNIOR RAPIDPLAy 2nd LEyLAND CONGRESS 4th EUROPEAN UNION INDIvIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Hazelwood School, Palmers Green. Wellfield Business & Enterprise College. Bob J Arnold Lutton (Tel: 01268 280932, Liverpool World Museum, Tinton (Tel: 01257 451046, Email: [email protected]) Email: LeylandChessCongress2008@ William Brown Street. ~* 28 Sep googlemail.com) D Welch (Tel: 0151 733 1866, KJCA SOUTH-EAST LONDON JUNIOR Email: [email protected]) 25 Aug RAPIDPLAy CCF OPEN BLITZ, Coulsdon. ~* 12-14 Sep Colfe’s School, Lee SE12 8AW. Howard Curtis & Scott Freeman 7th LEEK CONGRESS Sue Maguire (Tel: 020 8656 6420, (Tel: 020 8645 0302, Westwood College. Email: [email protected]) Email: [email protected]) R Milner (Tel: 01782 550112) LJCC Qualifier The views expressed in ChessMoves are those of the Editor and Contributors they are not official policy of the ECF unless specifically stated. For details of Advertising Rates please contact the ECF direct at THE WATCH OAK, CHAIN LANE, BATTLE, EAST SUSSEX TN33 0YD tel: 01424 775222 fax: 01424 775904 email: [email protected] website: www.englishchess.org.uk