The big smoke and the shy Lutonian

October 1, 2023 by mccreadyandchess

Deep in the darkest winter, when Covid came and ravaged the country, I was stuck indoors, unable to go out, unwilling to because it was so cold.

Under candlelight I played chess online for the team MK Phoenix, who participated in the London League, the 4NCL as it’s known.

But I grew up in little Bedfordshire, and there I played most of my chess. I knew of the London league back then because some of our league players played in it also, but only our very best. And so, I grew up weary of them, the prestige that league had, and never thought myself good enough to gain an invite for a team there.

But everything changed during lockdown and play in it online I did. I only played 5 games or so and scored 50%. Here is the final position from one of my games, the best of them I think.

Yes I am white and obviously I am winning. In the chat, my opponent said ‘well played’ at the end of the game. I never let him off the hook and held the initiative throughout.

Here is a link to the game itself. Division 7, round 4, you will need to scroll through the drop down menu.

https://www.4ncl.co.uk/replay/onlines3/round4.htm

Posted in My own endeavours | Leave a Comment »

Rolling with the punches

September 28, 2023 by mccreadyandchess

Some time ago now, perhaps a decade or more, I was tasked with finding a better location for Bangkok Chess Club, which I did. The one I found was described as ‘perfect’, and so I was invited to the opening evening (which I declined for a reason I cannot quite remember).

More recently, I spent a month or so at Luton Chess Club and although there was a strong sense of relief that my club has a stable home now, in becoming used to playing chess in pubic houses -which is what Bangkok Chess Club does- playing chess in an empty university library left me feeling rather flat. It felt like I was playing chess in a morgue, and so most evenings I left to go home early even though the library closed at 10pm.

If a rather unappealing choice of location wasn’t bad enough, it is also the case that the chess club is at the whims of the University too. That means next week there is no chess club because the University staff are going on strike. So the chess club is shut next week, like it or lump it. Why are they going on strike? They aren’t being paid enough, and want more.

I can’t say I am overly impressed by how things stand regarding my home club but also accept that just having a home itself is a noticeable improvement on recent years despite there being more room for improvement. Let’s hope it attracts more members and finds somewhere to play with a bit of life in it some time soon.

Just how comedic is this strike? Not as comedic as that which I have linked I suspect.

Me and the little one 2014.

Posted in Luton Chess Club | Leave a Comment »

Moving with the times in order to survive

September 24, 2023 by mccreadyandchess

In returning home recently, and reacquainting myself with friends and former playing partners stretching back some 35 years and more, a few things stood out – one in particular.

I can’t say I am entirely comfortable as being seen as the ‘go-to guy’ with regards to the history of chess in Bedfordshire and Luton, but then no one else writes about either, so it’s understandable I suppose…if a little embarrassing.

On this site, you can can choose which category you browse through and quickly find documented evidence of the history of Luton Chess club, some of which is more than 150 years old already. We can agree, then, that I speak with some authority when I say that Luton chess club has faced upheaval and uncertainty many times before in its less than illustrious past. Much more recently, having no fixed playing venue and a pandemic putting the brakes on everything put the future of the club in serious doubt, difficulties compounded by the fact that I am most usually abroad and not unwilling but unable to take over the running of the club, as I have been asked many times over already.

Numbers dwindled to the point where we had to withdraw from the Bedfordshire league and almost folded the club -that’s how critical it became. That never happened and how much better things are now. With the patronage of the University of Bedfordshire in play the club has a premises to use and money for equipment too. There is, however, a caveat in play. And that is to fulfil obligations towards the university by opening the club up to the students who study there. What better way to do that than appear on Freshers Day for both the Luton and Bedford campuses and grab those just joining for a game or two, and giving them the info they need to join the club thereafter if they so fancy it! Don’t believe me? Well see the pics below of club members in action in both campuses and decide for yourself whether I am making it all up or not. (btw, etymologically speaking the term ‘campus’ means ‘field’ in Latin and is first attributed to the use of the field adjacent to the now named Princeton University in New Jersey, USA.)

Mark. J. McCready, 07.15 am Sunday September 24th

Al-Fursan, Dammam, KSA

Posted in Luton Chess Club | Leave a Comment »

Gets a mention but its all too complimentary

September 22, 2023 by mccreadyandchess

Bedford’s Neil Hickmann -who when we last met over the board was quick to point out that he always lost when we played was quickly reminded that in the opening game of the 93/94 season he did actually defeat me with the From gambit -has brought out a publication entitled ‘Memorable games of British Chess’, reviewed here:

Memorable Games of British Chess

As I read, I stumbled across the following passage.

I am very happy to announce that someday very soon, I shall veer away from the content I have posted more recently -often to shock and challenge the conservatism rampant in chess – and focus more on research, which I like doing.

Mark. J. McCready, 03:01 am, Friday September 22nd 2023

Al-Fursan (Fursan means knight in English), Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Posted in Chess | Leave a Comment »

Soviet Chess Crossword

September 19, 2023 by mccreadyandchess

This took about 45 minutes to make.

https://crosswordlabs.com/view/soviet-crossword-2%5B/url%5D

soviet-crossword-crossword-labsDownload

Posted in Chess | Leave a Comment »

Angry chair

September 19, 2023 by mccreadyandchess

Stuck in the memories section of my fb account is this one from 12 years back.

Posted in Chess | Leave a Comment »

I’m not the only one

September 16, 2023 by mccreadyandchess

If you are thinking the title comes from a Nirvana song then you would be right but that’s not what the post is about. If you thought I am the only McCready in town playing chess then you would be wrong, and I can prove it.

If you click on the link below and scroll down, you can find an article written in 1940 in The New York Sun.

https://www.chess.com/article/view/american-woman-part-i

The McCreadys

Further information can be found here, once again you need to scroll down.

http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/Women_in_Chess_1.html

MJM

Posted in Personal Interest & Experience | Leave a Comment »

Just throw money

August 3, 2023 by mccreadyandchess

In England, the government has agreed to invest £500,000 in promoting chess for children. What this is likely to achieve I don’t know. Most likely not very much as throwing money at things doesn’t usually accomplish anything. Promoting chess-playing members of society who could work as a source of inspiration appears to be off the agenda.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rishi-sunak-chess-revival_uk_64ca7387e4b044bf98f8f0c9

Mark. J. McCready, 11.52 am August 3rd,

Nonington, Kent, England.

Posted in Chess | Leave a Comment »

A (or many thereof) question of why?

July 29, 2023 by mccreadyandchess

Clearly it is the case that a break from chess is long overdue, should such a thing indeed be possible?

With online chess banished, what do I do with OTB chess? OTB chess carries a sense of occasion which factors in social elements. Given that I am soon to relocate, and am keen to make new friends, is a break from OTB chess justifiable? Do I resign myself to being just a spectator, should I find a chess club where I am relocating too in the hope of gaining friends and acquaintances? Can’t I just limit the amount I play instead? What is more important? The social or competitive aspect of chess for me? Is a break a necessity or merely a preference? Is my judgment sound or poor? Why so many questions over something relativity insignificant?

Because it is contentment not improvement that is in play here; therefore, the social dimension of chess is significant, and to be factored in.

Whether anything will come about I don’t know. I’m more impulsive than I am rational. Not only am I far from your archetypal chess player, I’m also a lazy sod and a lazy git as well as being both shy and anti-social.

Of this there is no doubt: you will hear about it one way or another and quite soon.

MJM

Posted in Life beyond the chess board | Leave a Comment »

The backstabber

July 29, 2023 by mccreadyandchess

Don’t ask me why but I went and did it last night. Played two 5 minute games on line. How did I allow this to happen? Is it because I am human filth? Probably.

An elation and some cider around 9pm last night put me in the mood for some chess. When it was done I punched myself in the face hard. I then ran onto the streets and tipped some bins over whilst screaming my head off. I returned and had a cold shower with my clothes on.

Today, to discourage myself further from more misadventure, I shall strip off in the street and throw one of my shoes in the sea. This evening, I shall sleep rough on the street. No blanket. No cider.

There can be no more of this online chess business. Remain banished it must. Should there be another incident like last night’s, I shall set fire to myself on the roof. And that’s that.

Comment from fan of site ‘er, ‘as ‘ee gone off online chess then?’

Reply from owner of site (me) ‘you ask anymore questions like that and I’ll smash your bloody face in!’

Comment from Webmaster ‘What’s he got so fired up about this time?’

Reply from owner of site (me) ‘Right! That’s it, you’re both dead.’

Comment from CEO of WordPress ‘Hey, stop using our platform to post content about chess that lacks decorum.’

Reply from owner of site (me) ‘You slag. You just wait. I’ll do you an ‘all.‘

MJM

Posted in My own warped humour | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »