
Events Search and Views Navigation
June 2022
July 2022
Birthday of IM Lawrence Cooper (16-vii-1970)
BCN wishes Happy Birthday to IM Lawrence Cooper (16-vii-1970) Lawrence was born in Stone, Staffordshire and attend Walton High School, Stafford. Lawrence Cooper, Demis Hassabis, Cathy Hasslinger and Dharshan Kumaran in around 1986. Possibly at a Lloyds Bank event. He became a FIDE Master in 1989 and then an International Master in 2001. Lawrence was awarded the FIDE International Organiser title in 2011 and the FIDE Arbiter title in 2016. Tim Dickinson and Lawrence Cooper at the 2012 London Chess…
Find out more »Birthday of IM Nigel Povah (17-vii-1952)
BCN wishes IM Nigel Edward Povah all the best on his birthday, July 17th in 1952. Nigel Povah, from Knightmare, Volume 2 (1976-77) drawn by Chris Jones. Nigel was born in Wandsworth, London. He became a FIDE Master in 1980, an International Master in 1983 and an International Correspondence Master in 1983. He became England's 7th ICCF GM in 1989. His predecessors were : 210048 Markland, Peter Richard ENG GM 1984 210060 Penrose, Dr. Jonathan ENG GM 1983 210178 Webb,…
Find out more »August 2022
Birthday of IM Malcolm Pein (14-viii-1960)
BCN sends IM Malcolm Pein best wishes on his 61st birthday. IM Malcolm Pein at the King's Place Rapidplay 2013, photograph courtesy of John Upham Malcolm Bernard Pein was born in Liverpool (South). South Lancashire and his mother's maiden name is Max. (Gaige, Felice and chessgames.com all incorrectly have Malcolm L. Pein). Malcolm Pein This was written about Malcolm aged 19 just prior to the 1979 Spassky vs the BCF Junior Squad simultaneous display : " London University and Liverpool,…
Find out more »Birthday of Leonard Barden (20-viii-1929)
Ninety-two today is Leonard Barden, born Tuesday, August 20th, 1929. His mother's maiden was Bartholomew and she became Elise EM Barden when she married Leonard's father who was William C Barden and in 1939 they lived at 89, Tennison Road, Croydon. 89, Tennison Road, Croydon From The Encyclopedia of Chess (Batsford, 1977) by Harry Golombek OBE: "British Master and joint British Champion 1954. Barden was born in Croydon and learned to play at his school, Whitgift, which became a frequent…
Find out more »Birthday of FM Kevin O’Connell (28-viii-1949)
BCN wishes happy birthday to FM Kevin O'Connell (28-viii-1949) Kevin J O'Connell Kevin John O'Connell was born on Sunday, August 28th 1949 in London. Kevin attended Ilford County High School and The University of Essex following by an MSc in Sports Sciences at The University of Essex. The Batsford Chess Yearbook According to The Games of Robert J. Fischer : "Kevin is an Essex county player and bulletin editor". Kevin J O'Connell According to How to Play the Sicilian Defence…
Find out more »October 2022
Birthday of FM Alexander Longson (01-x-1982)
Birthday of FM Alexander Longson (01-x-1982)
Find out more »Birthday of WFM Sarah Longson (née Hegarty) (02-x-1988)
We send best wishes to WFM Sarah Longson (née Hegarty) on her birthday this day, (October 2nd) in 1988. From Sarah's web site : "I have played competitive chess since the age of 7 when I became UK U7 Girls Chess Champion and appeared on Blue Peter where I met the then world champion Garry Kasparov. Since then I have represented England in many international competitions and in 2013 won the British Ladies Championship." In 2016 Sarah and partner FM…
Find out more »April 2023
Death Anniversary of BH Wood MSc FCS OBE (13-vii-1909 04-iv-1989)
We remember "BH" Wood MSc FCS OBE who passed away on Tuesday April 4th, 1989 in the district of Birmingham. He was buried alongside his wife Marjorie in the Sutton Coldfield Cemetery Extension which was opened in 1934 as an extension to the Holy Trinity Church. Yorkshire Childhood Baruch Harold Wood (generally known as BH Wood, or simply "BH", by the chess world) was born on Tuesday, July 13th 1909 in Ecclesall, Sheffield, Yorkshire. The registration district was Ecclesall Bierlow.…
Find out more »May 2023
Death Anniversary of Andrew Thomas (11-x-1904 16-v-1985)
Signature of ARB Thomas from a Brian Reilly "after dinner" postcard from Southsea 1951. Here is his Wikipedia entry ARB Thomas in play with FEA Kitto BCN remembers Andrew Rowland Benedick Thomas (11-x-1904 16-v-1985) We cannot improve on this excellent article about ARBT on the Chess Devon web site David Hooper (seated right) in play at the West of England Championships in Bristol, Easter, 1947. His opponent , ARB Thomas , was that year's champion. Among the spectators is Mrs.…
Find out more »