100th British – Rd. 5

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.