The British Championships at Torquay get under way tomorrow with a couple of “extra” features to whet the appetite.

In the morning, titled players Keith Arkell and Gary Lane, will attempt a speed chess record, trying to see how many games they can complete in 1 hour, playing at a rate of 60 seconds per player per game for all moves. This is called “Bullet Chess” and it will be interesting to see how close they can get to 30 games.

In the afternoon, a simultaneous match will be held, outside if the weather permits, by the Grandmaster Nick Pert, who will take on as many as 30 opponents at a time. All are welcome to participate.

The championship itself gets under way on Monday afternoon at 14.15 hrs. Anyone not able to attend in person can follow developments on the event website englishchess.org.uk/BCC/ and keverelchess.com/blog for other insights into the event.

Meanwhile, here is a game by the very first British Champion in 1904, William Napier, seen here playing Capt. Claude Chepmell, then of Plymouth, who died in Bristol in 1930. The notes are by the winner, in the style of the day.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.Bxc4 e6 6.exd4 Nf6 7.Nc3 a6 It is obviously opposed to every principle of chess to neglect the development of 3 pieces, because one has no immediate outlook. 8.0–0 b5 9.Bb3 Bb7 Black’s game is assailable in so many ways that I very nearly lost in my anxiety to come at the Black king. 10.Re1 Be7 11.Ne5 Nbd7 No better is 11…0–0 on account of 12.Qe2 and it is difficult to see how 13.Nxf7 can be prevented. e.g. 12…Nd5 13.Nxf7 Rxf7 (13…Qb6 14.Nh6+ etc.) 14.Qxe6 and Black is helpless. 12.Nxf7 Not to be resisted by flesh and blood! Neither at the time nor subsequently was I able to find a valid defence for Black, though it is possible one exists. 12…Kxf7 13.Rxe6 Kf8 14.Bf4 Rc8 The alternative was 14…Nb6 15.d5 Nbxd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 (16…Nxd5 17.Qh5 Qe8 18.Qf3 Nxf4 19.Qxf4+ Qf7 20.Qxf7+ Kxf7 21.Rb6+ and should win.) 17.Rxf6+ Bxf6 18.Bxd5 Ra7 19.Qh5 g5 20.Qh6+ and wins. 15.Qe2 Rxc3 of no avail. 16.bxc3 Nd5 17.Bd6 N7f6 If 17…Bxd6 18.Rxd6 Qg5 19.Rxd7 wins. 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Bxe7+ Nxe7 20.Re1 Qd5 21.f3 h6 22.Rxe7 1–0.  

Last week’s problem was solved by

1.Nb5 with the unstoppable threat of Nxc3 mate.

This 2-mover, in which every piece is still on the board, won prizes for the late Godfrey Quack of Budleigh Salterton.

White to mate in 2

As this is the 100th British, a number of extra events have been organised, some of them of a traditional nature, others being done for the 1st time.

Bullet Chess Challenge:

The first of these was the Bullet Chess Challenge, sponsored by Think Drink. The start was originally scheduled for 10 a.m. but was put back to noon, to allow (a) the sponsor’s directors to be present and (b) for the players involved to be fully awake with brains in gear.

These were (a) Keith Arkell, a Grandmaster now domiciled in Paignton - Keith has been British RapidPlay Champion and is well-versed in the thought  processes needed for very quick chess, and (b) Gary Lane, born and bred in Paignton, now domiciled in Australia, where he has been their national champion.

The aim was to set a world record for the number of games completed by two players at the board in 1 hour, a record to be recognised by the Guinness Book of Records, subject to their strict conditions. The players to sit directly opposite each other one one board with another one adjacent, to be used when the previous one was being re-set. Matt Carr and Tom Thorpe were the two young ECF Arbiters in charge of re-setting the boards and clocks. Dave Welch kept score and was time-keeper.

Bency Silvester (MD) and Dr. Stefan Hesse (Director) of Think Drink duly arrived on cue and after a few last-minute discussions about the rules, play got under way. The speed of moves was bewildering to the mere mortal, their hands becoming little more than a blur. After 28 games, the score was 14-all; Keith Arkell lost the 1st game, and although he took the lead he was never more than 2 games ahead, as Lane kept pulling back. However, after the 14-all stage, two things happened (b) Arkell lost the nerves he’d had in the first half and Lane began to lose some focus, as it seemed to him that they’d been playing for hours on end. Consquently, Arkell won the last 9 games 8 – 1, making the final score 22 – 15. However, it was certainly not a one-sided affair, being very competitive throughout.

Afterwards, Bency Silverster and Dr. Stefan Hesse of Think Drink,  presented both players with cheques for £200, and commended them for their brain-draining efforts. They certainly needed some brain-boosting refreshment after that!

Last minute check on the rules.

Dr. Stefan Hesse of Think Drink makes the 1st move.

A handshake gets it all started.

Re-setting clocks & boards.

General view of the hall.

37th and final game gets under way.

Players & sponsors relax with an after-match drink.

The simultaneous match on the Sunday before the big event get off the ground, is one of the traditional extra events. This year it was given by Grandmaster Nick Pert. As often as is possible, it is held out of doors, in or near somewhere the public can see the action, and join in if they so wish. At Torquay, however, the venue is just so near and yet so far from the sea front, that the logistics of getting all the equipment, tables, chairs sets, etc. makes the outdoor option prohibitive. Also, the weather on Sunday afternoon was extremely unpredictable, and a torrential downpour at tea-time proved the wisdom of discretion.

So 20 boards were set up in the venue, yet strangely, in spite of the record entry and many players milling around the building, only 14 actually sat down to play, mostly youngsters. Pert’s progress around the boards was slow and steady, giving the oppostion plenty of time to think about their moves. Not that that did them any good, as Pert won all 14 games. However, book prizes were awarded to 4 players, including the 2 youngest and the last to finish.

The first move is made.

Early days

Who's happy to be here?

Prizewinning sisters - pleased, or what?

The 4 awardees with GM Nick Pert.

 While the special extras were going on, there was a 6 round RapidPlay tournament going on in the main playing hall. The prizewinners were as follows:

1st Danny Gormally 6 pts. £140.00

2nd= Andrew Greet;  Mark Hebden; Simon McCullough; Mark Talbot;  all 5 pts. £17.50

Grading prize: Ollie Willson 4 pts. £40.00 

Rd. 6 - Bd. 1 Greet vs Gormally.

Andrew Greet gets his cheque from Lara Barnes.

…… and finally, the last event of the day was probably the craziest – a 9-man simultaneous match. Put as simply as possible (which is far from easy) all 9 players play their 8 opponents simultaneously. Simple maths shows that this involves (9 X 8 ) / 2 = 36 games  on 18 tables, all of which took up a considerable area of the hall. This formula has been devised by David Gilbert, who has organised several such events at his club, but only with 7 players hitherto, never 9. Before the start, he ran through the rules with the assembled players and then it was all go, with everyone running hither and thither, trying to keep up with their 8 games and clocks. It perhaps shouldn’t have been a surprise that the quicksilver “Jumping” Jack Rudd was the winner at the end of the night. He’s been running round chess halls all his life, calculating at the speed of light, and this was truly his metier. If there was a world championship at this form of the game, he would surely be a candidate.

The wall chart, colour-coded.

Dave Gilbert explains the do's and don'ts to the assembled players.

Off they go!

Jack Rudd looks well up for it; on the way to a win.

As the clock wound down to 2 p.m. with players and dignitaries rapidly assembling, things took on a swan-like demeanour – relaxed and graceful on the outside, while paddling like fury beneath the surface. Being the 100th such opening, there were several unusual features.

Firstly, a Guard of Honour organised, to accompany the platform party to their places, and then stand sharply to attention throughout the half-hour proceedings. These were, in fact, six members of the Combined Services Chess Association who were all due to be playing later in the week. By name, they were: Commander Charles Chapman R.N.; Major Ron Townend (Army); Squadron Leader Glen Parker R.A.F.; Lieutenant Dave Ross R.N.; Sergeant James Blair R.A.F.; and Sergeant Munroe Morrison R.A.F. In full dress uniform, with shoes polished to a mirror-like finish and trouser creases sharp enough to cut bread with, they made an impressive show.

Speeches started with me standing in for both John Wheeler (President of W.E.C.U.) and Paul Brookes (President of D.C.C.A.) welcoming everyone on behalf of the Union and the county association. I gave way to Stewart Reuben, who had devised a spectacular end to his speech. He recalled the success of last year’s Olympics Opening Ceremony and the bit where the Queen parachuted in from a helicopter. He had prepared a child’s toy parachute with 2 chess piece queens attached, to be tossed from the balcony and gracefully landing among the assembled throng, all of which I was supposed to video on a borrowed camera I’d never used before. The evening before, in rehearsal the parachute worked perfectly, landing serenely in one of the aisles. This time, however, it all happened so quickly, by the time I’d put down my SLR camera and picked up the borrowed video camera, the parachute had already landed ….. on the shoulder of the only blind person in the auditorium. Nevertheless, an excellent idea, typical of Stewart’s Powers of Lateral Thinking. 

Then came a remarkable speech by 13 yr old Stephen Whatley, who seemed to pack the whole 100 year history of the event into a well-delivered six-minute talk. This was followed by ECF President Roger Edwards, born in the Stoke area of Plymouth, now long-term resident in the Stoke area of Staffordshire, and wearing a pair of my shoes (don’t ask!).

Last of all, it was the duty of Torbay Council Chairman, Cllr. Julien Parrott, to officially open the Congress, and he spoke very well indeed. Then everyone processed into the playing hall where the usual photo-opportunies were taken, with Cllr. Parrott making (or appearing to make) the first move on top board. Then a hush descended over the multitude and the show was finally on the road.

Several impressions occurred in the opening minutes. Firstly, the very size of the Championship was impressive, with row upon row of tables, each with 2 games in progress, involving 105 players, and there was a titled player on every board up to Bd. 36 – comprising 4 complete rows of Masters of one kind or another. Put another way, 72 of those 105 players were either a master or were playing one. Naturally, as cream rises to the top, these masters will gravitate to the top tables by the 3rd or 4th round.

Also, gone are the days when appeals went out for teams of schoolchildren to act as monitors for the giant chessboards behind the top 4 games. It used to be one of Lara Barnes’ jobs to organise them into relays and ensure they were paid the correct amount for the hours put in. Now it is all done on smart-looking electronic display screens linked up directly to the boards, where the last move made is indicated by a coloured arrow on the board. These are being used for the 3rd year.

Also, no less than 35 boards are fully wired up so that the games can be followed on-line. That’s a big jump up from the handful it used to be, and a big, on-going  job for Dave Clayton (Lancs) and Matthew Carr of Cannock, whose job it is to keep all the plates spinning. The boards also appear in the Analysis Room where commentators Andrew Martin and Vaidyanathn Ravikumar can pick up the games directly from the event website, and with the help of Fritz (other engines are available) can insert variations etc. No longer do they have to rely on juniors, running back and forth between the main hall and the commentry room in the bowels of the building,  bearing slips of paper with the last few moves scribbled in an uncertain hand.

There were no great suprises in yesterday’s 1st Rd. Among the titled players, just Glenn Flear and Richard Palliser dropped a half point, but that will probably be of little significance at the end of the day.

There will be Game of the Day awards in the shape of £20 cheques, to be determined by Andrew Martin and presented at the start of each subsequent round. The Rd. 1 prize goes to Gawain Jones for his game vs Reid (see on-line). Unfortunately, he was late for the presentation at 2.30, but pleased to find it on his table when he did arrive.

Gawain Jones looking pleased at his Best Game prize.

Stephen Gordon & Dom Mackle both wondering what the next move should be in this line.

Rudd already looking impatient, waiting for move 2.

General view of the playing hall.

Westcountry players Alan Brusey (l) and Stephen Dilleigh.

Local players Keith Arkell (l) & Steve Homer.

Junior Coaching:

As in recent years, coaching is available for all juniors, free at the point of need, but funded by a very generous bequest by the late John Robinson. This year, it is being held by two senior players; Sheila Jackson, former British Ladies Champion (1975 / ‘78 / ‘80 & ‘81) and   Vaidnyanathan Ravikumar. They may be found at the far end of  the auditorium. Ask in the Office for details of times and availability.

Sheila Jackson with pupils.

Happy in their work!

“Big Wheel turning…..”

(From a lyric by ELO)

The last time we came to Torquay, in 2009, the fun thing to do on the sea-front was a chess match in the helium balloon that was moored near the venue. This consisted of a 2-game match between Jack Rudd (Devon) and Andrew Greet (Cornwall) – one game played on the way up to 400 ft above the promenade and a return game on the way down. This was filmed, with interviews of the contestants by the splendid James Essinger, and the video posted on YouTube, still viewable in 2 parts (type in “chess at 400 ft.”).

This year it is all a little more informal, with the Big Wheel substituting for the balloon, (now departed). This Wednesday afternoon (31st July) is the time set aside for Chess on the Big Wheel. Just turn up at the wheel with a pocket set of some kind in mid-afternoon ( c. 15.00 hrs) and you will be allowed on free of charge, a freebie negotiated by Stewart Reuben.

The Big Wheel

This is not just any old big wheel.  The new attraction has come to the Torquay straight from the  London Olympic Park where it was at the centre of the celebrations next to the Olympic village.

At 60 metres high it is taller than Nelson’s Column, and  has 40 enclosed, lit gondolas, and weighs in at 365 tons.  The Torquay Big Wheel is a great place to take in the fabulous  views over the Bay while playing a friendly game of chess.

So if you missed out on the Olympic Park experience, this could be the next best thing. Don’t miss out a 2nd time!

General view

Get a pod with a view!

Looking at the picture above reminds me that perhaps we should not forget the sorry fate of the first official British Chess Champion. Who he? Of course, we mostly know about Napier’s win in 1904 and the subsequent domination by Atkins, but that was only under the auspices of the BCF. But long before that, the British Chess Association organised several British Championships, the first being in 1866, and won by Cecil De Vere, who beat every one of his 4 opponents 3-0. He died of TB in the quayside building on the extreme right of the above photograph, just a few minutes walk from this year’s venue. He was only 29. He was buried in Torquay cemetary, a mile or so from the venue. So the real 1st champion and this year’s, whoever that may be next week, will, for a short time, be just yards apart.

The full sorry story of his life is recorded in his biography “The English Morphy”? (Steinitz’s description),  available now at the Chess & Bridge bookstall.

Look for the blue cover

5 p.m.

OK. so what actually happened?

At 3 p.m. there were 30 people assembled at the entrance to the wheel, carrying a variety of sets & boards, from the neatest small magnetic sets to a big floppy board. Stewart Reuben took names and pairings, and then the thing started. However, it soon became clear that there had been a misunderstanding; Stewart thought he’d wangled free use of 3 or, at best, 4 circuits of the wheel, but the company had, in fact, pencilled them in for a whole hour! Fine for the players – not so good for the photographer who had no opponent and no head for heights.

Syringa & Imogen Camp; Martin Simons & Jordan Lewis et al. lining up for the Big Wheel.

Stewart Reuben taking a roll call.

Syringa & Imogen get down to play.

Play in the adjacent pods

View from the top. The Riviera Centre is top right.

All done. Looking back, one notices the wheel's sunflower-like centre.

What’s the problem?

Another of Stewart Reuben’s bright ideas for this 100th event is to have a problem-solving competition. He has collected a set of 10 and Trefor Thynne, President of the Torbay Chess League, has arranged to have them displayed in the windows of various shops, cafes, restaurants etc. around the town.

They are not problems in the manner of Comins Mansfield, that Devonian “Genius of the 2-mover”, who could challenge, tittilate and hope to defeat the world’s best solvers with his devilish constructions. These positions are meant to be accessible even to relative beginners, more likely to give pleasure at finding the correct move order, than frustration at an inability to do so.

To give an idea, here are 2 of the 10 to give you a taster. 

Problem 4 of 10. White mates in 2.

A pawn down, but White (to play) can win. How?

Who’s on-line in the mornings?

As the number of electronic boards goes up each year, the question arises of how to get the best use out of them. In recent years, they’ve generally hosted some of the junior sections, but this year, as an experiment, some of the other sections are getting their moment in the spotlight. Yesterday, for example, it was the turn of the U-140 Championship, with the result that, round about noon, Dave Gilbert, one of that number and an organiser of the 9 Man Simul , rushed into the Office, beaming widely, saying what a brilliant move it was, as within minutes he’d already had 2 congratulatory e-mails from friends and family who were following his victory live. 

Dave Clayton, the man in charge of the boards, tells me this week is an experiment to see how it goes. If successful, next week he may be able to predict which sections are featured live on the event website. However, the needs of the main Championship must always come first, and may affect what is possible in the mornings.

Round 3 Starts:

While some chessplayers were whizzing round in the Big Wheel, back at the ranch the afternoon events were getting under way. First of all, the previous day’s Best Game prize.

Did someone call my name?! Yang-fan Zhou hears of his Rd.2 Best Game Prize.

Gary Lane starts off against Stephen Gordon.

Dan Fernandez on his way to a win over the "Ginger GM", Simon Williams.

 

Bearded Richard Palliser on his way to the Rd. 3 Game of the Day vs Arkell.

 

What do these reprobates all have in common?

This gang of ne’er-do-wells was discovered lurking near the entrance to the venue shortly before the start of Rd. 4.

Answer/s to the above question are:-

(a) They are all playing in the 100th British Championship.

(b) They are all currently resident in Devon.

l-r: Alan Brusey (Newton Abbot); Robert Thompson (Kingskerswell); John Stephens (Exmouth); IM Gary Lane (Paignton / Sydney); GM Keith Arkell (Paignton); IM Jack Rudd (Bideford) & Steve Homer (Powderham). 

Missing is Dominic Mackle (Newton Abbot), making a total of 8 - surely some kind of record.

Before play started, there were prizes to be presented to the winners of the problem-solving competition the evening before. This comprised of 6 positions with 5 points available for each, the proceedings overseen by GM Christopher Jones. Prizewinner were announced by Lara Barnes and cheques handed over by Alex McFarlane.

Four solvers got the maximum 30 points, and the tie-break was the speed of correct solving.

4th in 60 minutes Peter Horlock. (£10)

3rd in 38 minutes John Lawrence of Paignton (£15)

2nd in 36 minutes Ali Jaunooby (£20)

1st in 34 minutes Giles Body of Lympstone Nr. Exmouth (£30)

Ali Jaunooby - Runner-Up in the Problem-Solving Tourney.

Giles Body receives his winner's cheque.

Rd. 4. Howell (3) vs Zhou (3)

Rd. 4. Gordon (3) vs Fernandez (3)

Rd. 4: Gormally (3) vs Kosten (2.5)

Rd. 4: Palliser (2.5) vs Hebden (2.5)

Rd. 4: Chapman (2.5) vs Hawkins (2.5)

These top 5 games finished like this, with a bit of everything in the mix – 2 Black wins; 2 White wins; 2 miniatures; 2 finely-balanced endgames and a short draw.  Howell, Gordon and Hebden are intent on setting a hot pace, while Chapman is also having an excellent start to the week.

The Palliser-Hebden game started at a great lick, but at the end White’s 3 remaining pieces were all on the edge of the board, unable to cope with a phalanx of 4 central pawns all shuffling forward with menacing intent.

As can be seen in the above photograph, Fernandez seems to spend a lot of time throughout the game, calmly gazing into the middle distance when it’s his move.

The afternoon started with the announcement of Andrew Martin’s Rd. 4 Game of the Day, which went to Tony Kosten for his win over Danny Gormally, one of his less difficult decisions.

Unlike yesterday, when the outcomes of the top 5 games had a bit of everything, today’s results had a certain unformity – i.e. four White wins.

The Gordon – Howell game was a risk-averse affair, as one might have expected, as it keeps them in joint 1st place, but they are now joined by Hebden and Wells on 4.5/5. It’s always the case that a player’s fortunes can swing wildly at this stage in the tournament – towards the end of the first week. It seems but a few hours ago that Gormally was joint leader with a 100% score; now, after consecutive losses he’s little higher than 50%. Defending Champion, Gawain Jones, started brightly with a Game of the Day win, but after 3 draws, he was playing almost unnoticed amongst the crowd (Bd. 11) – riding in the peleton, to use a Tour de France analogy, but nothing a couple of wins won’t put right. 

Kosten receiving his Game of the Day cheque from Alex McFarlane.

Stephen Gordon makes his move against David Howell.

Hebden re-joins the leaders after beating Ghasi.

Wells joins the leading pack after beating Kosten.

Hawkins keeps in touch with a win over Eggelston.

Consecutive losses for Gormally will keep him off the top tables for a while.

The Gambit – a one-act play: 

Stewart Reuben has arranged for 6 performances of a chess-based play to be performed on the Friday and Saturday.

The play’s origins can be found when, at a creative writing workshop, the author, Mark Reid, was tasked with finding a story in the newspapers and using that as a basis for a script. He chanced on an article on the relationship between the two former world chess champions, Anatoly Karpov and his successor, Garry Kasparov. Karpov was a protégé of the Soviet Communist system in contrast to the more free-thinking, outspoken, Western-influenced Garry Kasparov. This relationship was fractured after their world championship match in which Karpov had a big lead which was gradually being whittled away as he apparently weakened under the pressure of the younger Kasparov’s late charge. Suddenly, with Karpov on the verge of being overtaken, the match was stopped on the grounds of Karpov’s physical and mental exhaustion. Kasparov suspected political interference behind the scenes, the authorities not wishing their man to be overthrown by someone they regarded as a “loose cannon”.

At the time, the author was also experiencing a broken friendship, so could empathise with their situation, and the idea for the play was thus germinated.

The play starts 25 years after their feud with Kasparov, played by Nick Pearce, visiting his old adversary (played by Ben Rigby) in his flat. Their 50 minute dialogue explores the breakdown in the relationship between them, but asks the question as to which direction Russia should go as the old Soviet system breaks down. As we know, Kasparov today is very active in Russian politics, tending towards the anti-establishment.

The set is minimal – just two chairs, a table, chess board and set. As they talk, they play the moves of what is clearly the last game of their 1985 match.

Having the kind of brain he possesses, Stewart Reuben was not simply content to arrange for 5 performances in the Riviera, but though it a good idea to have the play performed on 

Karpov & Kasparov start to replay their game.

Receiving the plaudits.

l-r: Kasparov (Nick Pearce) & Karpov (Ben Rigby) with author, assemble for a unique performance on the Big Wheel.

Helen Evans joins in as the audience of one.

Clearly wondering if this was such a good idea!

With captive audience.

Off they go.

The Rd. 6 draw for the top 5 games on the demonstration boards was as follows:-

Peter Wells joins the top table after his win against Kosten, as does Dominic Mackle after his win over Gary Lane. The other newcomer was Keith Arkell.

Mark Hebden receives his Best Game prize from Chief Arbiter David Welch .

Howell v Wells.

Arkell v Fernandez.

Mackle v Lalic

Williams v Hawkins.

Of these 5 games, Howell kicked on with a win to put himself in a clear lead on 5.5. The Hebden v.  Gordon draw put them 2nd=, while there is a whole phalanx of 9 players on 4.5, as some fell back with draws allowing winners like Arkell, Ghasi and Kosten to make up ground with wins. Though undefeated, defending champion Gawain Jones has conceded 4 draws, and needs a good 2nd week to get back in contention.

Guess what! The Seniors' Championship stated today. Ken Norman has the T-shirt and is playing Devon match captain, Brian Hewson. (1-0)

Senior chess activity is becoming so popular that new grade-limited sections have been introduced to cater for the number involved. So as well as the 65 players in the main section, there are 24 in the U-130 Seniors section and 19 in the U-150. Do the maths and that’s 108 entries in total . This latter tournament was held during the 1st week, allowing these stronger players to enter the Open section as well if they so wished, while the U-130s are held concurrent with the main section.

The U-150 was won by local player, John Gorodi, who has a grade of 159. How so? Well, that’s his new grade, whereas his grade when entering was 141. In circumstances like this it would be very hard, for example,  to deny a player whose grade had just gone up from 129 to 131 a place in the U-130, after he/she had taken a special week off work and booked his hotel room for Week 2. Anyone who thinks Gorodi was, perhaps a little lucky in this respect, should bear in mind the fact that he suffered a nasty car crash on his way home on the Wednesday evening and was barely strong enough to travel in to play for the last 2 rounds, and could barely walk up to collect his trophy. (see below).

John Gorodi, inaugural British Seniors U-150 Champion receiving his tropy from ECF President, Roger Edwards.

The round started with Howell in a clear lead, a half point ahead of Hebden and Gordon followed by 9 on 4.5. By this stage, the cream has risen to the top with 9 of the top 10 players having GM titles or norms and most of the chasing pack have titles. Outstanding in this respect is the exception, local player and current Devon Champion (his only title), Dominic Mackle, riding high among the GMs with a score of 4.5.

Carr to Carr transfer: Matt, live boards techie, presents the Rd.6 Game of the Day prize to Neil. Pure coincidence.

Bd. 1: Howell kicks off against Hebden.

Bd. 2: Gordon v Williams.

Bd. 3: Hawkins v Ghasi.

Bd. 4: Lalic v Kosten.

Bd. 5: Wells v Arkell.

Top 5 bds. with spectators lined up.

Bds. 8 & 9; Rudd v Gormally & Meszaros v Flear.

It was a Black Day indeed for the top boards – not a White win to be seen anywhere. Howell maintained his half point lead, but Williams, Ghasi and Arkell hauled themselves into 2nd = on 5.5. Defending champion, Gawain Jones, made progress with a win over Chapman to reach 5 pts.

Nette Robinson – Chess Artist:

Nette (short for Annette) Robinson, is an artist who is putting on an exhibition of her chess-based work at the venue.

Originally from Essex, she graduated from Chichester University in Art & Music before taking a post-graduate diploma in jazz from Chichester College. She is a saxophonist and vocalist, having fronted several British jazz groups, most notably Michael Garrick’s Lyric Ensemble.

Given her two skills, she started a series of paintings of jazz legends, but a couple of years ago, she experienced a damascene moment when, from nowhere, she felt the urge to get involved in chess – to learn the moves and history of the game, and naturally enough, to portray this in paint.

She has joined in with this commemorations, and produced a picture based on the deciding move in the deciding game in the 1st Championship between Napier and Atkins. (see below). Other picires are monochrome portraits of key figures in chess; Fischer, Alekhine, Capablanca et. al but the most colourful ones represent positions in key games. These are reminiscent of the later works of Mondrian, Van Doesburg and the de Stijl Group, which is very much where she’s coming from. See what you think.

Explanation below.

See above.

Explanation below,

See above

The commemorative picture.

Old entry records smashed!

Now well into the 2nd week and there will not be many last minute  entries coming in, so it’s a good moment to take stock of the overall response to this 100th Championship.

This is the 4th time since 1997 that Torquay’s Riviera Centre has been the venue, and in the past this has almost guaranteed a total entry of about 1,000, although the record is held by Edinburgh 2003 at 1,009 entries. Last year there were 854 at N.Shields and in 2011 there were 951 at Sheffield. However, these numbers pale before this year’s total of 1,200 – a new record that will surely stand for decades to come.

Looking at the Seniors’ entries alone, their total of 108 for the 3 sections is as high as the total entry for some of the early years – pre-WW1

No Play-off!

It has always been the rule that there can only be one name on the Championship trophy. In recent years, where this has been necessary, it has been held immediately after the prizegiving is over. Throughout the final round, organisers offer up silent prayers that there will not be any play-off to hold up their getaway, but if there has to be one, please let it be only between two players, as three or four would take up most of the day.

Right from the start, the tie between Napier and Atkins was settled by a 4 game play-off …. the following year! The only exception to the one-winner rule was at Nottingham 1954 when Barden and Alan Phillips could not be separated after 10 play-off games, so it was left at 5-5 and they shared the title.

This year, however, for the first time, there is no provision for a play-off, raising  the possibility of there being 2 or 3 champions. How will this affect the top players’ inclination to offer or accept a draw in the last round when it could guarantee at least a share in the title, as opposed to a place in a play-off? Time will tell.

Rd. 8 starts:

The afternoon session started with a total of 346 players sat at their boards.

Many-times opponents Hebden & Arkell share a joke before the start.

Gawain Jones joins in.

Did someone call my name? Yes - it's the Game of the Day anouncement (Wells v Arkell)

Williams v Howell.

A handshake starts it.

Ghasi v Zhou

Mackle v Jones

Top boards in the Seniors: Colin Davison vs Ken Norman & Terry Stuttard vs David Friedmann.

At the end of the day, there was evidence of great commitment to the cause with only a single draw among all those with 5 points or more. This is how they finished:

Extra Commemorations:

The Essex ckub, Wanstead & Woodford, have extra reasons to be in a commemorative mood, for not only is it the 100th British Championship, but it is also their Club’s 70th anniversary and several of their members played in the Essex U-160 team.

To this end they had special T-shirts printed and are wearing them around the Centre. Here they are – front and back

"British" logos on the front: l-r: Peter Nickels; Devdoot Barman; Kevin Sweeny; Phillip Staniland; Mark "Grace" Murrell & Mike Walden.

..... and Wanstead logos on the back.

Blitz Pairs Championship:

Last evening the special event to be held was a blitz pairs competition. 15 teams of 2 entered, the team members alternating the move but not consulting, and having 15 minutes for all moves.

In 1st place were Oops! consisting of Steven Jones & Robert Thompson (l). 2nd were Disaster Squad consisting of Andrew Horton (in yellow) & Paul Talbot. The four framed by Alex Holowczak (l) & Stewart Reuben.

3rd ere Chocolate Tournament comprising Adam C Taylor & Akito Ogama. 4th were the Wild Hackers comprising Jamie Horton (in red) & Phil Olbison.

Both pictures courtesy of Chris Kreuzer of the Richmond Reivers team 

Ladies Seniors’ Championship Cup:

Just a few minutes ago, (6.00 p.m.) it was agreed that an offer to create a new category and to donate a trophy for it, should be accepted. This will be for a Ladies’ Seniors’ Championship, and a trophy will be donated by the Gibraltar Tourist Office, and will be known as the Gibraltar Cup. Mrs. Whatley will expedite matters with such speed that the cup will be available, fully engraved, for presentation on Saturday morning.  The Federation is grateful to her and the GTO for their generosity.

It all started at the Grand Dinner on Saturday evening, when Mrs Whatley and her immediate neighbour at the table, former British Ladies Champion, Dinah Norman, were talking about the number of trophies available to all the junior girls, and the lack of them for older ladies. She was shocked when Dinah told her there was no prize at all for the best perfomance by a lady player in the Seniors’ Championship. Next morning she got straight on the phone to a Gibraltarian Government Minister and asked whether they could donate a special cup. As they were already sponsoring her son, Stephen Whatley, to play throughout the whole fortnight, the cost of a cup would be no problem.    And so, within a matter of hours, the whole thing was agreed.

This move can only serve to increase further the interest in Seniors chess, which is already apparent in the form of two new sections for seniors and the total entry of 108.

Start of Rd. 9

At the 2.30 start time, there was not a single player present at the top 5 boards, and it took 15 minutes ’till the last one arrived. Under FIDE rules they would have been defaulted, but we tend to take a more relaxed view on these things.

Howell v Gormally.

Lalic v Hebdon

Jones v Ghasi

Gordon v Palliser

Bd. 5: Meszaros v Williams

Chapman v Hegarty - both norm-seekers.

Newton Abbot clubmates paired together; Steve Homer & Robert Thompson

 

By the end of the round, David Howell had pulled even further ahead of the field, after his opponent, Gormally, walked into a mate, while the other 6-pointers all drew. The top boards finished as follows:-

Junior Prizewinners:

Here are some pleased-looking winners at their presentation last week.

Srinidhi Dwaraknathan: British Girls' U-8 Champion.

Chris Tombolis: British U-8 Champion (Joint)

Haolin Zhao; British U-8 Champion (Joint).

William Golding; British U-8 Champion (Joint).

Ranesh Ratnesan: British U-8 Champion (Joint)

Start of Rd. 10:

Winner of the Rd. 9 Game of the Day, Jonathan Hawkins gets his prize from Dave Clayton. Paul Talbot (r) approves.

Ghasi - Howell

Hebden - Zhou

Palliser - Jones

Arkell - Gordon

Meszaros - Lalic

These games ended with the following results:-

All this means that David Howell has won the British Championship with a round to spare. In the final round the two top seeds meetat last, but it is too late for Jones to do anything about it. On the other hand, there should be quite a struggle among the other 7-pointers for a share of the prizemoney.

The top end of the Championship Rd. 11 draw looks like this.

The afternoon started with the presentation of the Rd. 10 Game of the Day to GM Glenn Flear.

l-r: Glenn Flear; Lara Barnes & John Edwards.

So, Mr. Jones - we meet at last!

Much interest shown in the start on Bd. 1

Wells v Hebden

Gordon v Meszaros.

Zhou v Gormally.

Lalic v Arkell

Sarah Hegarty - Ladies Champion candidate.

There was bound to be an element of anti-climax at the start of the round, knowing that the big prize had already been decided, but this didn’t prevent a large crowd of spectators and photographers gathering around the top board. In fact, if Jones had been able to spring a surprise, it would undoubtedly have take a little of the shine off Howell’s prize, so there was no sign that he was in danger of resting on his laurels. The others, too, were fighting amongst themselves for a place on the prizelist. In spite of the fact there were draws a-plenty, they were mostly hard-fought – only Lalic and Arkell settled for a quick draw.

The fact is that Howell likes Torquay. He won there in 2009, and nowhere else. When I first did the publicity job, at Torquay in 1997, I was asked by the local TV company to obtain the oldest player in the building to act out a short encounter with the youngest. I located an old gent, while a colleague, Victor Cross, brought along a 5 year old boy, who quickly outplayed his vastly senior opponent while the camera rolled. The boy was called David – David Howell.

With all play finishing by the Friday evening, the prizegiving ceremony took place promptly at 09.30 the next morning.

The Chairman of the Torbay Coucil, Cllr. Julien Parrott, and the Lib. Dem. MP for Torbay, Adrian Saunders, were in the platform party and both had encouraging words for the assembled audience, and after a few words from the ECF President, Roger Edwards, they handed out the many trophies beautifully arrayed on the front table.

As is traditional, the final words came from the newly-crowned British Champion, David Howell, who had secured the prize with a round to spare. The 22 year-old’s relaxed and modest demeanour throughout the fortnight and making this closing speech, a nerve-wracking prospect for most, was all the more remarkable for the full circumstances. His father, who had taught him the game since the age of 5 and worked hard to get him to many events both at home and abroad, died three months ago. and David, who is reading philosophy and English at Cardiff University, was allowed to defer his 2nd Year exams until the middle of August. This meant that while others were preparing like mad for their next opponent, David was having to prepare like mad for his exams, finishing assignments and revising. However, he did not let this side-track him, as he was determined to win for his father’s sake. The remarkable victory was dedicated to him.

David with proud Mum & sister.

Granny & Uncle wanted to be included - and why not - this one's for the family!

Sarah Hegarty was declared Ladies' Champion, seen here with all their glittering prizes.

If the main trophies seen here look especially sparkling, that’s because they are. Over recent years they have looked increasingly fragile and time-worn, but they have had a fundamental make-over; polishing, fixing bits from dropping off etc., with the result that’s all too plain to see.

Sara Hegarty, 1999 Girls' U-10 Champion, finally gets to the top of the tree.

Akshaya Kalaiyala tied with Sarah for the British Ladies Championship but missed the trophy on tie-break. However, her time will surely come.

Multiple prizewinner Akshaya Kalaiyala; U-12 Champion / U-18 Girls' Champion & English Womens' Champion (jt)

Mark Hebden; Grand Prix winners and 2nd= in the Championship.

4th= were (l-r) Lalic (checking the cheque is for the right amount - £250); Arkell, Wells, Zhou & Gormally.

Yang-fan Zhou - British U-21 Champion.

1st in the Major Open, Matthew Dignam recieves his prize/s.

Matthew Dignam with the Dundee Trophy and a bound copy of the 2012 BCM.

Stewart Reuben with the Boxall Salver for services to the Congress.

Joint winners of the Seniors' Championship; Paul Timson, Graham Chesters, David Friedgood & Roger Emerson.

Seniors' Ladies Champions (jt.) Dinah Norman & Gillian Moore, with a small piece of history - an actual trophy (the Gibraltar Cup).

The 100^th British Championships at Torquay reach the half-way stage this afternoon. In the main tournament there is a record 106 players of all ages and depths of experience, but by this stage it is the Grandmasters and International Masters who are gathering together to form a leading group. For each of the 11 rounds there is a Game of the Day award, determined by Andrew Martin, for which there is a small prize, always welcomed by cash-strapped chess professionals. In Rd. 1 it went to the defending champion, Gawain Jones for this sparkling win.

 White: G. Jones (2643). Black: J. Reid (2151).

Sicilian Defence.

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bd3 g6 5.dxc5 dxc5 6.e5 Nh5 7.h3 Nc6 8.Nf3 Qc7 9.0–0 Bd7 It’s suicide to try and win the e-pawn viz. 9…Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Qxd7# 10.Qe2 h6 11.e6 Bxe6 12.Bxg6 Ng7 If 12…fxg6 13.Qxe6 threatening a powerful check on g6. 13.Be4 0–0–0 Now White must attack the enemy king a.s.a.p.  14.Na3 Bd5 15.Nb5 Qb6 16.Bxd5 Rxd5 17.c4 Both attacking and defending – the best kind of move. 17…Rd8 18.b4 White is seeking to open lines that his pieces can utilise before Black has a chance to complete his development. 18…Ne6 19.bxc5 Qa5 If 19…Nxc5 20.Rb1 creates threats. 20.Rb1 Bg7 21.Qc2 Rd7 22.Bd2 Qa6 23.Rb3 Ncd4 24.Nfxd4 Nxd4 25.Nxd4 Bxd4 26.Rfb1 Qc6 27.Bf4 e5 28.Bg3 e4 29.Qc1 e3 30.Rxe3 Bxc5 White’s offer of the exchange is declined. It could have gone thus: 30…Bxe3 31.Qxe3 Rg8 32.Qf4 threatening mate on b8. 31.Rf3 Qg6 32.Rb5 b6 33.Rxc5+! bxc5 34.Qb2 1–0 White is the exchange down, but, thanks to the long open lines and diagonals he has played for, he is threatening mate on b8 and the rook on h8.

Most of the top games can be followed live each day on the event website www.britishchesschampionships.co.uk which also contains all results and many downloadable games from completed rounds. Also, there is a front page link to keverelchess,com which covers other aspects of the fortnight, including many of the special events, such as the Bullet Chess Challenge, the 9 player simultaneous and the Chess on the Big Wheel.

Last week’s 2-mover was solved by 1.Qb4! threatening 2.Qd4 and Black’s 7 tries to avoid it merely allow other mates.

This one should be a little easier, although White is in danger of losing his knight. How should he respond?

White to pllay & mate in 2

The British Championships at Torquay finished last night, and the prizegiving will be held this morning. At the time of going to press, it looked very much as if David Howell was going to reclaim the title he first won in 2009 when the event was last held at the Riviera Centre. With 2 rounds still to play, he stands on 8 points, one point clear of his nearest rival.

One local success was John Gorodi of Newton Abbot winning the British U-150 title. He is 87 and one evening he crashed his car on the way home, but discharged himself from hospital the following morning in order to play his penultimate game, and finished win/win to clinch the title.

Also, Giles Body of Lympstone won a difficult problem-solving competition.

The response to this 100^th Championship has been tremendous; the previous record of 1,009 at Edinburgh in 2003, was totally smashed with 1,200 entries in all.

This bright game came from Rd. 7 of the Championship. Neil Carr had won the Game of the Day in the previous round, and then came up with this offering.

White: J. Reid (2151). Black: N. L. Carr (2290).

King’s Indian Defence  [E90]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0–0 6.Nf3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.Nh2 Qe8 9.Be2 Nf4 10.Bf3 Better is to continue developing with 10.0–0.  10…f5 11.g3 Nxh3 12.Bg2 fxe4 13.Nxe4 If 13.Bxh3 then Bxh3 prevents castling for a while. 13…Bf5 14.Ng4 h5 15.Nh6+ Bxh6 16.Bxh6 rather than move his rook with 16…Rf7 he plays 16…Bxe4 hitting both f2 and the bishop on g2 17.f3 Black is not backing down. 17…Bxf3 18.Bxf3 e4 19.Bg2 Now the threat that has been veiled for several moves can be played. 19…Nf2 forking queen and rook. 20.Qd4 A counter-threat of mate on g7. 20…Nd3+ preventing castling. 21.Kd2 Rf2+ 22.Ke3 Qf7 both covering the mate on g2 and adding to the pressure down the f-file – attack and defence in one move. 23.Raf1 Nd7 24.Bxe4 If 24.Rxf2?? Qxf2+. 24…N7c5 25.b4 Re8 with a threat of mate that White doesn’t spot. 26.bxc5?? Qf3# the bishop is pinned. 0–1

Last week’s problem was solved by 1.Nc6+ Ka6 2.Qa5 mate.

One of the special events at the British Championships is a problem-solving competition, where 10 positions are posted in shop windows around the town. They are relatively easy and meant to be solvable by everyone.

This is one of the ten. White is a pawn down, but can win if he plays the right move. What is that?

White to play and win.

It’s the first week of September; it’s Torbay; so it must be time for the Paignton Congress.

True enough, but this year there are fundamental changes. For the 1st time it’s not at Oldway Mansion – it’s not even in Paignton, but at the Livermead Hotel, near Torquay railway station. Inevitably, entries are down, mostly because of the proximity in time and distance, of the British Championships, held recently just a few hundred metres from this very spot. Players coming from a distance would probably need to be highly motivated to make the long journey twice in a month. However, a late surge has brought the numbers up to c. 150.

Apparently, two of them reported to an empty Oldway Mansion, presumably out of force of habit, or maybe just curiosity, but by 13.45 everyone was in place for the welcoming remarks of the DCCA President, Paul Brooks.

These pictures set the scene……

Sea front entrance to the new venue.

Standing on the same spot, but looking towards Torquay.

... and in the opposite directon towards Paignton.

The playing area is on the ground floor to the left.

Paul Brooks welcomes allcomers.

Colin Gardiner receives his Grand Prix award.

At last... play gets under way.

General view of the Premier Section.

Arkell vs Chris Fegan - a repairing of Game 2 in Keith's recent autobiography.

The games in the Premier Section went thus:-

The Monday may traditionally be Rd. 2 in the afternoon tournaments, but it’s the start of the 5-Rd. A.M. event. Today, started with the presentation of a Grand Prix award to Richard Desmedt, seen here, left.