GM Mariotti, Italy’s first GM, played in the Beds. league for the 1970-71 season, hence the reason I take an interest in his games. I recently learnt that he liked to play the Dutch defence, Stonewall variation, and sometimes played it very well. The position below is from such a game and contains a move I could not play. With two pieces en prise I would be more interested in saving them than playing what is played below.
As the manufacturers of Pringles may say ‘Once you pop, you can’t stop’, and so another question has been posted on the forum I often go to. Difficulty level: a little easy.
You can post an answer in the comments if you like.
What do we do with a hot summer Sunday in south London? Laze around in Greenwich with little to do or go down to Trafalgar Square and enjoy the company of friends and the Chessfest?
I went to it 3 years ago and was suitably impressed; Trafalgar Square is a part of London I have grown to love as the national gallery is there, and I have much time for that place, and when the chessfest rolls into town it has even more to offer. The hatched plan was to meet friend and 2100 player Mark Ruston, then play against GM Adams in a simul and this I did. I was not deterred from GM Adams being the greatest English chess player of all time! But it must be said, I have only played competitive chess once in 10 years and I don’t play online anymore, so I didn’t perform too well against both of the aforementioned…in fact it was pretty bad! Thankfully, it still remained pleasant all round despite the blazing sun and my less than impressive performances. Mark said I should blame it on the sun. Well it was 30C today and I had to leave by 3.30pm because I was already sunburnt. I saw GM Speelman, GM Adams, GM Sadler, IM Pein, GM Royal, IM Martin, and WIM Bodhana. I spoke to GM Adams, GM Sadler, GM Speelman, and IM Martin. I am happy to say, the most courteous and nicest to talk to was GM Adams. Below are pictures from the position in my game, it was a French Defence by transposition. The last picture shows writing aids 🙂
Chessfest 1: quick scan of the scene including position for my game against Mark.
Video Chessfest 2 shows GM Speelman and GM Sadler.
WIM Bodhana and great celebrations.
Chessfest 4 GM Salder teaches chess to kids
Chessfest 4: me against GM Adams. Yes that is grey haired me wondering what to do.
Chessfest 5: video full of misery and sunburn -discretionary viewing advised
Dennis Victor Mardle, topic of many Tom Sweby columns was born in Luton and played for Luton before going on to bigger and better things. He represented England twice in the Anglo -Dutch matches, in 1959 and 1960. He played the same fellow in both matches, a certain Eduard Spanjaard. In 59 he drew one and lost one to him, but in 60 he drew one and won one. Details with match report and the quick victory can be found here 1960 Netherlands v Great Britain.
Trivia means three ways in Latin but this question has more than three possible answers, here it is.
Our Mr. Paul Habershon was supplanted twice only at the top of the B.M.S team throughout his many years on Board 1 for his team that reigned as champions in 75. First to do it was GM Plaskett. Who seconded him please?
Because I read a lot, I encounter chess triva often. And so it is the case I just cant stop making questions about it, as I get a real buzz from it. And it is true sometimes -not all times- it goes down really well and stimulates real interest. Here’s the latest on the ECForum.
Please note this post is placed in the trivia category where you will find hundreds of other trivia questions. Aside, do you fancy a bit of Dutch punk with a Japanese twist?
…on what this site initially became…on what this site is now becoming…on what this site cannot become…
On what this site initially became…
…once upon a time, the chess-related musings of an adrift academic were bound playfully and electronically in this online journal of sorts. They grew and grew as the decade did too. I kept on because I love to write whether I had much to say or not; therefore, being read by others was usually of little or no importance, comparatively speaking. Content was based on personal thoughts and experience on various topics with no intended audience borne in mind. With topics broadening, my own take on things always shaped the narrative I constructed: I often thought I was insightful but never that I was right. Sometimes imagination gave rise to originality: and of that I have always remained proud. I often introduced humour, believing that I am funnier than I really am. Sometimes, I found my own style antithetical to the conservatism I believe chess is plagued by -oftentimes that has put a gracious smile on my face… .
On what this site is now becoming…
…this site is now becoming a collaboration of chess in Bedfordshire: much more so of the past than the present -that has become the dominant trend. I document the history of chess in Bedfordshire as much as I can, and as time has passed I have become more thorough and resourceful. However, I am not a trained historian as my background lies principally in philosophy but yes it is true I did study some modules on history as both an undergraduate and a post-graduate too; furthermore, I have trained myself up, particularly in terms of postmodern history. Since 2015, I have only read history and historiography as well as those philosophers who have been so influential on postmodern history, such as Nietzsche (whom I once wrote a 19,000 word dissertation on, entitled: Can the Will to Power be Found in The Birth of Tragedy?), also Richard Rorty and Foucault and I suppose certain structualists such as Claude Levi-Strauss too. Regarding postmodernism, mostly I keep to Hayden White, Keith Jenkins and Alan Muslow.
Some friends and former playing partners back home describe me as the ‘go to guy’ for the history of chess in Bedfordshire. This compliment says more about the lack of interest in the subject than my own endeavour. As mentioned, I am too adrift from academia to feel chuffed by it. Rather, I tend to lament that my historical research, like my chess, just isn’t what it should be. Even though I may well have a broad understanding of Bedfordshire chess history courtesy of the volume of research put into it, all of which began in 2014, this is not something I am particularly proud of. Nonetheless, out of courtesy compliments are graciously received. If the truth be told, I just see it as my job and only that – after all someone’s got to do it and no one else is that interested!
Amongst the many others, I have created three categories: ‘Bedfordshire Chess’ and ‘History of Bedfordshire Chess’ and ‘Luton Chess Club’. This website is slowly moving towards a consolidation of those (all of which can be found in one of the toolbars to the right).
On what this site cannot become…
…I like to be both creative and amusing when I can be, factor in that playfulness has been an ever-present factor, the content of this site should be thought of as multifarious. It could be said I continue to enjoy undermining the conservatism I believe chess is underpinned by even after all these years, and often try to use humour to do it still, believing I have got better at it. Consequently, despite the general direction its going in, this site cannot only be about Chess in Bedfordshire and nor will it be. It may become noted for that yes -in fact that’s been the case for years already even by established historians, archivists, and whoever else. External factors aside, this site is titled McCreadyandChess. I cannot, nor will I not, remove my own personal thoughts and experiences of chess from the posts of this site -especially if I think they are funny or original for they constitute my writing at its very, very best. In addition, the number of categories alone tells you that breadth of content is important to me. I am proud of my site, it is identity conferring and that is how it shall stay -end of story. All you really have are: ‘Some thoughts on the beautiful game’, which, incidentally, just happen to be my very own; nothing more, nothing less, take of it whatever you please… .
A side note on how to read old Tom Sweby's columns
Not perhaps, but quintessentially, Old Tom Sweby is best thought of as a passionate devotee to the newspapers he wrote for. He was well read and knowledgeable of the Bedfordshire chess scene and well beyond, given that he was the president of the S.C.C.U. once upon a time. He was generally well-respected and rubbed shoulders with many, if not all, of those eminent within British chess circles. It would, however, be a critical mistake to see his column is primary source material entirely. That it is not. You will also find secondary source material quoted too, and the reliability of that is not quite as Tom hoped. Given that he wrote for decades, this is to some degree inevitable, and after all we are all prone to error whether we realize it or not. Thankfully, with regards to old Tom Sweby, they are infrequent and for the most part old Tom continued to document events and developments in the Bedfordshire league from the get go as best he could but, of course, everything lies open to interpretation. Despite this, and generally speaking. this does indeed make him informative and thus worth reading. Dare I say his columns constitute a narrative describing the latest developments, match reports and changing nature of the Beds league...he knew his audience and wrote according. This manifested itself over decades but brevity was always in play courtesy of the restictions imposed by writing a column. Should you wish to read a in instrumental figure of the Beds' league post WW2, you are quite welcome to peruse what has been posted here... . :-) I should, however, point out that as the decades wore on he gradually moved on away from narratives concerning the Bedfordshire league towards affairs both historical and international. The reasons for this are multifarous, old age was a predominante factor presumably, however, the bottom line is with regards to how the Bedfordshire chess scene developed post WW2: old Tom Sweby is your go to guy. He wrote more about chess in Bedforshire than anyone else did but given he was a Lutonian and writing for a Luton newspaper there is both bias and greater coverage of his hometown than the rest of the county.
Gallery
I’m either 10 or 11 here
1982, myself versus Brian from Sunderland.
At the Thai Junior chess championships. My daughter of course.
Pattaya 2011
2011
Thai Junior Championships
2008
2011
Around 2011
2011
Pattaya 2009
2011
Kuwait 2008
2012
2012
2011 BKK Chess club
2011
2011 Thai Open
2011 Thai Open
2013 approx
Around 2014
2010
2012
Around 2011
2011
2011
2013
Around 2011
Around 2011
2020
2011
2008
2011
2013 or thereabouts
2010
2017
2014?
2010
2024
2024
2024
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