Comments on: Remembering FM John Littlewood (25-v-1931 16-ix-2009) http://britishchessnews.com/2020/09/16/remembering-fm-john-littlewood-25-v-1931-16-ix-2009/ We focus on the British Chess Scene Past & Present! Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:37:44 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 By: Norman Stephenson http://britishchessnews.com/2020/09/16/remembering-fm-john-littlewood-25-v-1931-16-ix-2009/#comment-25600 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 08:22:36 +0000 http://britishchessnews.com/?p=9512#comment-25600 Hello John,
– a very nice piece about one of my chess heroes.
I never played John but brother Norman gave me a lesson in chess at the British, 1968. I also knew brothers Frank and Pete and played Bridge with them quite a lot – they were regulars in the Yorkshire team. I met youngest brother, Mike, at Whitby and spent time with him during the tournament there. What a gifted family!
I am somewhere among the front row, seated spectators in the photo at Hastings when John played Botvinnik (another chess hero of mine). BH and I had gone through to stack up the bookstall. Later, chatting to John at one of the Seniors Championships, I said that I thought Botvinnik had been
lucky. John smiled and said: ‘Norman, he saw everything’.
At the Whitby Open 1961, in the last round, I was playing GM O’Kelly who was a full point ahead of John in 2nd place. I was white and after an hour or so had a decent position against his Rubinstein Sicilian. The GM offered me a draw which put me in the prize list – the money would pay for me to get to Aberystwyth for the U-21s – and I accepted. On the next board, John smiled at me and immediately offered a draw himself, clinching 2nd place.
We met with Bob Wade in the analysis room and he criticised me for accepting the draw. I said: “Sorry, John – I needed the money or I couldn’t go to the British next week”. John laughed and replied: “It’s just a lark for us, Norman – but it’s a living for players like O’Kelly”. For me, John was the apotheosis of the amateur chess player … few came close to him in that regard.

regards,
Norman

]]> By: Happy Birthday IM Paul Littlewood (18-i-1956) | British Chess News http://britishchessnews.com/2020/09/16/remembering-fm-john-littlewood-25-v-1931-16-ix-2009/#comment-13033 Mon, 18 Jan 2021 00:11:08 +0000 http://britishchessnews.com/?p=9512#comment-13033 […] on born on Wednesday, January 18th, 1956 in Skegness, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. His father was John Littlewood and his mother’s maiden name is Hadwick. Paul’s chess playing uncle was Norman […]

]]> By: Remembering FM Peter Clarke (18-iii-1933 11-xii-2014) | British Chess News http://britishchessnews.com/2020/09/16/remembering-fm-john-littlewood-25-v-1931-16-ix-2009/#comment-11532 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 18:32:32 +0000 http://britishchessnews.com/?p=9512#comment-11532 […] by John Littlewood […]

]]> By: Best wishes WGM Sheila Jackson (11-xi-1957) | British Chess News http://britishchessnews.com/2020/09/16/remembering-fm-john-littlewood-25-v-1931-16-ix-2009/#comment-10395 Mon, 09 Nov 2020 18:49:27 +0000 http://britishchessnews.com/?p=9512#comment-10395 […] this year she has reached British Ladies Championship standard. John Littlewood was now her coach. John at the time was also coaching his son Paul, who was later to become British […]

]]> By: Rob http://britishchessnews.com/2020/09/16/remembering-fm-john-littlewood-25-v-1931-16-ix-2009/#comment-5104 Wed, 16 Sep 2020 11:48:06 +0000 http://britishchessnews.com/?p=9512#comment-5104 A wonderful piece.. I look forward to playing these games through and reading the articles at leisure.. Thank you

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