Archive for May, 2024

Embracing inactivity with regards to classical chess

Posted in My own endeavours on May 3, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Last month I participated in a classical tournament for the first time in eight years – I didn’t enjoy my chess. It wasn’t a mistake to play because my family enjoyed the experience as a whole -and I was chuffed to see my daughter helping out! Nonetheless, what can we learn from such experiences? What is that one thing, above all else, we should take from chess and apply to life itself? In my humble opinion, it is learning from your mistakes. Okay, so why exactly was it I enjoyed the occasion but not the chess? I shall leave you in the capable hands of GM Speelman.

“…one doesn’t always mind losing, it depends on how you lost. If you played extremely badly you can mind or if its very important but if you are beaten by a very good player in a very good game you mind quite a lot but its not so terrible…”

Grandmaster Clash 16.26 (see previous post)

I agree it is how you lose that matters and not that you lost. I didn’t like being out of practice and being conscious I was playing below par. I didn’t like the sense in which I felt I was letting myself down. I didn’t like seeing carelessness in my play. I didn’t enjoy being out of shape, too rusty, and not really up for it: it wasn’t that I lost, it was how I lost that stopped me from enjoying my chess. Furthermore, I didn’t care for the victories either because once again I felt I was not up to it. Yes I won a prize. A medal and some money but I finished the final game is quickly as I could and left hours before they were awarded. I was done with playing chess like that by then.

Today I saw this:

I have the time. I have the money. I like the city it is hosted in. I will not participate.

The month before there is a tournament in Phuket. I like Phuket. I will not participate.

To reiterate: chess teaches us to learn from our mistakes, and I believe this skill is transferable. I will not endure a repeat of last month this summer. Case closed.

Classical chess is to stay out of reach. A bit of blitz or rapid here and there yes -nothing too serious. That’s it. That’s as far as it goes.

MJM

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Grandmaster Clash

Posted in Documentaries on May 3, 2024| Leave a Comment »

For the longest time, I have believed the greatest documentary ever made on chess was the BBC production Grandmaster Clash. Impartiality aside, that it shoots the English Olympiad conquest of 1988, coupled with it being one of the very first documentaries I ever saw, just may have something to do with it.

Written by Steven Fry, it is very well-produced and makes for great viewing. After searching for well over a decade, and even writing to the BBC to see if they had it in their archives, finally I can link it for you. It’s a well-written, well-directed must watch – no doubt about it.

MJM

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The missing link?

Posted in Chess on May 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chess lovers: what is the missing link between The Damned —– and —– Nirvana and how could there be a chess connection? Any ideas? Tough questions huh? Okay let’s make it easier then.

Nirvana. Truly fantastic trio from Seattle (and surrounding areas). Have a listen to this:

———–missing link ———-missing link————missing link ————— missing link ———-missing link————missing link —————missing link ———-missing link————missing link missing link ———-missing link————missing link ————- missing link ———-missing link————missing link —————- missing link ———-missing link————missing link ————– missing link ———-missing link————missing link———missing link ———-missing link————

The Damned. Top notch UK punk outfit. Attention please.


The missing link is this: Killing Joke. Tune in.

The Damned ‘life goes on‘ —– Killing Joke ‘eighties’ —— Nirvana ‘come as you are’. ‘Come as you are’ was borrowed (for want of a better term, perhaps ripped off lifted is better) from the song ‘eighties’, everyone knows this. But what most people don’t know is that the song ‘eighties’ was borrowed (ripped off lifted) from ‘life goes on’ by The Damned.

So where lies the chess connection? The missing link Killing Joke wrote a song which alludes to chess in the chorus and uses chess metaphors. It’s called ‘Chessboards’ and can be found on their album ‘Brighter than a Thousand Suns’. In my opinion, it is a strong contender for being the best song written about chess ever -truly great chorus! Here it is. Please do have a listen.

Best Nirvana song: Lounge Act

Best Killing Joke song: Euphoria

Best The Damned song: New Rose

Are you converted? In case you don’t know, music is much better than chess.

Mark. J. McCready

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W. Ward plays for Luton

Posted in History of Bedfordshire Chess on May 2, 2024| 1 Comment »

Before the motorization of vehicles, there is evidence that matches were played at mutually agreed venues, halving journey times. We find William Ward, future champion of London, playing for Luton in such an arranged match. Please see the reportage below.

This is quite an important find as it helps us understand William Ward’s movements between Luton and London better. Not before Feb. 18th 1897 then, but before November 1898? Why was St. Albans chosen? It is important to note that at the tail end of the industrial revolution when rail was made available, most matches were between cities and towns who were connected by it. At the time of the match it was possible to travel to St. Albans by train from both Luton and Watford. As the links below show you trains were up and running from 1868 and 1858 respectively.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Line

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_railway_station

William Ward has been written about numerous times in this blog. The best post is, I think this. https://mccreadyandchess.wordpress.com/2016/02/12/our-clash-of-future-champions/

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Local Chess Presentations, 1905

Posted in History of Bedfordshire Chess on May 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

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Luton’s early matches against St. Albans

Posted in History of Bedfordshire Chess, tagged on May 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chess in Bedfordshire (1933), pg. 1

Chess in Bedfordshire (1933), pg. 2

We can assume, then, that arranging matches with local clubs was a priority. Regarding the renewed matches with St. Albans, at least one has been reported on.

Reportage which refers to the matches against St. Albans and embellishes them can be found below.

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The Luton News & Bedfordshire Chronicle 1986 by columnist Tom Sweby

Posted in History of Bedfordshire Chess on May 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Wednesday December 31st 1986, The Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle

Thursday, November 27th 1986, The Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle

Thursday, November 6th, 1986, The Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle

Thursday, October 16th 1986, The Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle

Thursday, September 25th 1986, The Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle

I feel obliged to comment here due to a lack of clarity. As Mr. Sweby knows all too well since he reported on him numerous, GM Sergio Mariotti played in the Beds. league in the 70/71 season. He was an IM at the time and went on to become a GM 4 years later. James Plaskett also was not a GM when he played in our league and became one afterwards in 1985. But since GM Plaskett developed as a player in Bedfordshire and played in our league for many years as well as play for Bedfordshire, he is perceived as homegrown talent. But strictly speaking, the first person to play in out league and go on to become a GM later was in fact GM Sergio Mariotti.

I have to comment here. As this website shows, no one but no one has put more effort into preserving Tom Sweby’s column than I have -not one single person on this planet has done more than I. Yes of course I used to know him personally and even called him up to borrow books once. Close friends were taught by him also. I know what his style is and what his limitations are. I hate to say it but he is sloppy as a writer and frequently lacks precision. In attempting to draw attention to great players who preceding those present I am quite sure Tom has made a rather embarrassing mistake. If an Irish champion had played for Luton before, I would already know. I have since done research and been in contact with more than one chess historian over the matter. There is no evidence anywhere to suggest this is true and Sweby never mentioned this before ever also. We had a Welsh champion yes, Donald Curtis. Why would he mention an Irish champion but then leave out a Welsh champion, whom he has reported on and knew personally? I suspect Tom simply got mixed up during the writing process and I can assure you, it was not the first time that happened, nor the last for that matter.

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