If your numbers are on the up and my grade is ‘improving’, as some would say, does that constitute progression or regression? Perhaps the question is a little vague and requires further qualification: what if I become concerned about my actual rating -which admittedly is artificially low- does wanting an impressive rating rank higher than playing contently with no real care over results? Do we start with what lies within us and work outwards or begin with what lies external to us -and depending upon the interpretation of that- work inwards to establish our own thoughts and feelings? Who calls the shots?
…and so I sit solemnly in the eve of this cold winter’s day, alone in contemplation as I gaze into a pale blue sky. And within that contemplation, a lament that lies luminated by twilight and not the end of twilight. And there the embers burn: the process of unlearning yields a greater harvest than the process of learning burns away until it dies, strangled by the cold that comes across the field. And why does this ‘acceptance of yours’ do that you may ask? For the very simple reason that unlearning consists of dialogue and self-correction for it is retrospective whereas the process of learning involves ill-gotten imperatives supported by the odd senseless, unreflective and over-simplified monologue. To err is human, yes indeed, to correct oneself is an indication that peer correction is no longer present, hence they burn so slowly for it is more drawn out, for if that be lost time, then lost time it be…
…and the light that burns half as bright burns half as long…
…and I cannot say how nor when nor can I say why or when but beyond the summer and autumn bluster I have taught myself what went missing in my play very early on is back and back to stay. It constituted a shift in style that went unnoticed and pushed me into more positional play before I gave up chess way back when. And the activity and directness with which I began only went missing until the process of unlearning and the persistence I pressed on with in those ungodly hours clustered above all that washed away below. It taught me that opponents crack under pressure, it taught me attacks on the king unnerves everyone, it taught me to never give up, and so I rediscovered the way forwards. Not consciously for it came about by itself…a long awaited return to the fold if you like. And it be this: active play, direct attacks, and only then gentle pressure with incorporated positional elements…with win followed by win followed by win…
…and the result is an enriched understanding of chess, sharpened thought processes, and a level of play above all others before, in sum I am playing by far the best chess of my life, and identity-conferring too, and with what’s planned soon to be scaled, I will reach my own summit. There is not much of that climb left now….and because of that: to sit alone on a soulless, blisteringly cold winter’s day is a subdued Nirvana…
…and time it waits for no man, my future it is revealed…
They make for hard work, that’s for sure -especially when a rook is lost in your first round game, courtesy of a mouse slip that me bopping away to 80s synth-pop is responsible for! Ah well… .
Although online chess is truly international, as indeed the modern game is comparatively speaking, we all have roots whilst surfing the cyber-waves flowing towards transience. And although the following note can be read by anyone around the world, it is understood by whom?
We can but hope the only response be ‘What’s this obscure shit?
Or perhaps more pertinently ‘Is he on something?’
Anyway back to top notch tunes by our American friends.
…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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