British Chess News

Death Anniversary of Dr. IM István (Stefan) Fazekas (23-iii-1898 03-v-1967)
2020-05-03
Signature of S Fazekas from a Brian Reilly “after dinner” postcard from Southsea 1951.
BCN remembers Dr. IM István (Stefan) Fazekas (23-iii-1898 03-v-1967)
From Chessgames.com :
“Dr Stefan (ne Istvan) Fazekas was born in Satoraljaujhely, Hungary. Awarded the IM title in 1953 and the IMC title in 1964, he was British Champion in 1957 and is the oldest player ever to have won the title. He passed away in 1967 in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, England.”
From British Chess Magazine, Volume LXXXVII, Number 7 (July), pages 195-6 we have an obituary written by Peter Clarke :
The death of Dr. Fazekas on May 3rd has deprived British chess of one of its leading and most colourful figures. Ever since he came to this country nearly thirty years ago he took an active part, in the game at all levels, from club to international, rarely missing the chance – even when not in the best of health- to test his strength in competition and express his ideas afresh.
Stefan Fazekas was born on March 23rd, 1898, at Sitoraljaujhely on the Hungarian-Czechoslovak border, but it was not until a few years after the Great War, in which he served and was wounded, that he got the opportunity to play serious tournament chess. By present-day standards, however, events were few and far between, and the game always had to take second place to his medical work. The Doctor’s best international performances, for which he was later awarded the master title by F.I.D.E., came in the ‘thirties. In 1931, for instance, he was 2nd at Kosice, 3rd at Brno and 3rd at Prague. As it remained throughout his career, his play was excessively variable: fine conceptions were always liable to be ruined by blunders or impetuosity. The following game, played at Munchentratz in 1933, shows all going well; it earned inclusion in Le Lionnais’ anthology Les Prix de beauté aux échecs.

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In 1939 Dr. Fazekas brought his family to England and established himself as a successful and much loved G.P. at Buckhurst Hill, Essex. He soon took a dominating part in county chess and went on to win the championship eleven times. In national events his inconsistency seemed too great a handicap, but at Plymouth in 1957, after so many tries, he astounded everyone by winning the British Championship in front of, among others, Alexander and Penrose. The next year fate struck him a cruel blow when he was left out of the B.C.F. team
for the Munich Olympiad. Yet after returning the trophy in protest he overcame his bitterness and took his place once more in the championship tournament-he could not resist
the thrill of the struggle.
Knowing that his best over-the-board days were behind him, the Doctor decided to go in for correspondence chess in 1959, and he at once found himself surprisingly at home in it. Here his old weaknesses could be set aside and his vast experience put to good use. Moreover, his great love for chess enabled him to devote hours of work to the analysis of a single
move if necessary. His rapid successes in this field won him a place in the Semi-Finals of the 5th World Correspondence Championship (where he finished 4th out of 14) and led to his
being chosen as Board 1 for the British team in the 5th Olympiad. On the results of these events he was awarded the title of international C.C. master. That he deserved it may be
judged from this fine strategic win against a grandmaster (C.C.) opponent in the individual tournament.

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At the time of his death Dr. Fazekas had made a score of 5 out of 7 in the Olympiad Final and was still engaged with Zagorovsky of the U.S.S.R., a performance which showed his correspondence play to be close to grandmaster standard. And to end one’s days actually playing a World Champion is a distinction which I am sure would have appealed to this Doctor’s rich sense of humour.
While Dr. Fazekas’ social work as a humanist was for the peace of the world, in chess he was noted as a great fighter, in some ways reminiscent of Lasker. There was no retirement
for him. At Ilford in 1965 and 1966 he eagerly took on and held his own with a generation fifty years his junior, and this year he had once again qualified to play in the British Champion-
ship. The tournament at Oxford will not seem quite the same without him. I and his many friends will miss his wit and ebullience, his generosity, his love of life and chess.-P. H. C.
Dr. Fazekas was Southern Counties (SCCU) Champion twice in 1951-2 and 1952-53.
In Edward Winter’s Chess Notes there is a note from Leonard Barden concerning SFs spoken English (under Chess Note #10361)
Here is his brief Wikipedia entry
István (Stefan) Fazekas
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Birthday of FM David Ledger (03-v-1967)
2020-05-03
Birthday of FM David J Ledger (03-v-1967)
David was Southern Counties (SCCU) champion for the 2004-05 season sharing the title with Tim Hebbes, his brother Steve Ledger and the late Peter Poobalasingam.
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Birthday of WIM Dr. Ruth Sheldon (03-v-1980)
2020-05-03
Happy Birthday WIM Dr. Ruth Sheldon (03-v-1980).
Ruth was born in Manchester and became a WFM in 1993 and WIM in 1996. Her peak rating was 2310 in July 1999.
She was World U12 Vice Champion in 1992, World U14 Champion in 1993 and World U18 Champion in 1998.
She is a lecturer in Religion and Social Science at King’s College, London
WIM Dr. Ruth Sheldon
Here is her rather brief Wikipedia entry.
Ruths’s partial Chessbase record
WIM Dr. Ruth Sheldon during a county match (full caption below)
Caption to photograph above

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Birthday of GM Joe Gallagher (04-v-1964)
2020-05-04
BCN wishes Happy Birthday to GM Joseph Gerald Gallagher (04-v-1964)
Streatham & Brixton becoming BCF National Club Champions in 1989. The team was Tony Kosten, Mark Hedben, Daniel King, Nigel Povah (Captain), Joe Gallagher and Julian Hodgson : quite a strong team
Here is his Wikipedia entry
GM Joseph Gerald Gallagher

GM Joe Gallagher

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GM Joe Gallagher
Winning With the King’s Gambit, Batsford, ISBN 0-7134-6944-7
Beating the Anti-Sicilians, Batsford/Henry Holt and Company, ISBN 0-8050-3575-3
Beating the Sicilian 3
Beating the Anti-King’s Indians, Batsford/International Chess Enterprises, ISBN 1-879479-36-2
The Trompovsky, Chess Press, ISBN 1-901259-09-9
101 Attacking Ideas in Chess, Gambit Publications, ISBN 1-901983-20-X
The Magic of Mikhail Tal, Everyman Chess, ISBN 1-85744-266-0
Starting Out: the Caro-Kann, Everyman Chess, ISBN 1-85744-303-9
Starting Out: King’s Indian, Everyman Chess, ISBN 1-85744-234-2
Starting Out: The Pirc/Modern, Everyman Chess, ISBN 1-85744-336-5
Play the King’s Indian, Everyman Chess, ISBN 1-85744-324-1
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Birthday of GM Danny Gormally (04-v-1976)
2020-05-04
BCN wishes Happy Birthday to GM Daniel William Gormally (04-v-1976)

Danny won the Southern Counties (SCCU) championship in the 2002-03 and 2010-11 (sharing with David Howell) seasons.
Here is a ChessBase interview with Danny
Danny Gormally Caption Competition
and another interview from Chessbase

GM Danny Gormally

Danny Gormally with the ? Trophy
Insanity, Passion and Addiction

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Birthday of FM Koby Kalavannan (05-v-2002)
2020-05-05
Birthday of FM Koby Kalavannan (05-v-2002)
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Birthday of FM Tyson Mordue (07-v-1961)
2020-05-07
Birthday of FM Tyson A Mordue (07-v-1961)
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Birthday of IM Gavin Crawley (08-v-1963)
2020-05-08
Birthday of IM Gavin Crawley (08-v-1963)
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Birthday of FM Stuart Hutchings (08-v-1951)
2020-05-08
Birthday of FM Stuart James Hutchings (08-v-1951)
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Birthday of IM Neil Bradbury (09-v-1964)
2020-05-09
Birthday of IM Neil H Bradbury (09-v-1964)

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Birthday of IM Jack Rudd (13-v-1979)
2020-05-13
Birthday of IM Jack Rudd (13-v-1979)
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Birthday of IM John Cooper (14-v-1954)
2020-05-14
Birthday of IM John Grantley Cooper (14-v-1954)
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Birthday of GM Matthew D Sadler (15-v-1974)
2020-05-15
Birthday of GM Matthew D Sadler (15-v-1974)
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Death Anniversary of Andrew Thomas (11-x-1904 16-v-1985)
2020-05-16
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. Rowena Bruce, the 1946 British Ladies’ Champion. BCM, Volume 118, #6, p.327. The others in the photo are L – R: H. V. Trevenen; H. Wilson-Osborne (WECU President); R. A. (Ron) Slade; Rowena Bruce; Ron Bruce; H. V. (Harry) Mallison; Chris Sullivan; C. Welch (Controller); F. E. A. (Frank) Kitto.
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Birthday of GM James Clifford Howell (17-v-1967)
2020-05-17
GM James Clifford Howell
Birthday of GM James Clifford Howell (17-v-1967)
GM James Howell
From Wikipedia :
James Clifford Howell (born May 17, 1967) is an English chess grandmaster and author. He earned his international master title in 1985 and his grandmaster title ten years later, in 1995. He reached his peak rating in July 1995, at 2525.[1] He became inactive in 1996.
James Howell as Junior British Chess Captain at Goldmark Books Chess Challenge, London England 27 May 1986, Upingham Community College, Kasparov played the BCF Junior Squad. Photo from Alamy
Oxford’s IM James Howell (l) shapes up against Cambridge’s FM Graham Burgess on top board in the Lloyds Bank Varsity match which Cambridge won 5.5 – 2.5. The players reeled off 19 moves of Yugoslav King’s Indian theory before Howell established a dominant B vs N which won the Lloyds Bank trophy for the best Oxford game. Photograph by Lloyds Bank.
Here is a game from the European Junior Championship in 1985. The opponent was Mark R. Burgess :

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James Howell (fourth from left) in 1978 Varsity match winning Oxford Team. James was from Jesus College.
James Clifford Howell (rear, fourth from left)at a Lloyds Bank event
Essential Chess Endings
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Birthday of FM Alan Pollard (17-v-1947)
2020-05-17
Birthday of FM Alan Pollard (17-v-1947)
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Birthday of IM Andrew Martin (18-v-1957)
2020-05-18
Birthday of IM Andrew Martin (18-v-1957)
From ChessBase :
Andrew David Martin (born 18th May 1957 in West Ham, London) is an English chess player with the title of international master. Martin has won various national and international tournaments. He has been playing for years in the Four Nations Chess League, at present (July 2009) for Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher, previously for the Camberley Chess Club. Martin received his title as international master in 1984. He earned his first grandmaster norm in the British Championship of 1997 in Brighton. Martin was a commentator on the chess world championship between Kasparov and Kramnik in 2000.
On the 21st February 2004 Martin set a new world record for simultaneous chess.

He faced 321 chess players at the same time. His result was: 294 wins, 26 draws and only one loss. Martin is known as a professional chess teacher and head trainer of the English youth team. He trains eight schools (Yateley Manor, Aldro, Millfield, Sunningdale, Waverley School, St Michael’s Sandhurst, Wellington College, Salesian College). Martin is a chess columnist, an author of chess books and the author of various instructional videos. He was the publisher of the series Trends Publications. Martin lives in Sandhurst, England, is married and the father of two daughters and two sons. His present Elo rating is 2423 (as of July 2009).
Andrew coaching students
The above is somewhat inaccurate and out of date. Andrew came from East Ham rather than West Ham. He was the editor rather than the publisher of Trends Publications and he lives in Bramley, Surrey with his partner Naomi.
On July 23rd 1981 a world record attempt of continuous blitz games was undertaken at the National Film Theatre in London with much support of the membership of London Central YMCA.
Yours Truly (John Upham) plays Andrew Martin at the NFT
Andrew now plays for Camberley and Guildford clubs in the Berkshire and Surrey Border Leagues and is former member of London Central YMCA (CentYMCA), Wood Green and Barbican clubs.
Andrew plays JJ Ady whilst Simon LeBlanq observes at the London Central YMCA
Andrew has written many books starting as Editor of the “Trends Series” for Tournament Chess owned by Richard O’Brien (Not of The Crystal Maze). He has authored numerous DVDs for Foxy Videos and ChessBase and has a YouTube Channel focused on young and improving players called “Andrew Martin – Chess Explorations“.
Andrew’s first book as author was this one :
Winning With the King’s Indian, Caissa Publishing, Andrew Martin, 1989
Here is one his favourite games :

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Trends in the Slav Defence, Tournament Chess, Andrew Martin, 1990
The Contemporary Anti-Dutch, 1990
Here is a second memorable game :

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Secret Weapons, Tournament Chess, 1991
Short, Tournament Chess, 1993
Alekhine’s Defence, 2001
The Essential Center-Counter, 2004
King’s Indian Battle Plans, 2004
The Hippopotamus Rises, 2005
Play the Benko Gambit, 2007
First Steps : Queen’s Gambit, 2016
First Steps : Caro-Kann Defence, 2018
First Steps : King’s Indian Defence, 2019
Chess Hacker, Andrew Martin, Thinkers Press, 2019
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Birthday of FM Isaac B Sanders (19-v-1998)
2020-05-19
FM Isaac Sanders
Birthday of FM Isaac B Sanders (19-v-1998)
Isaac gained his FM title in 2014 and attained his peak rating of 2360 in April 2019 at the age of 21.
He plays for 4NCL Barbican, Hendon, Oxford University.
FM Isaac Sanders

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FM Isaac Sanders
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Birthday of GM Jonathan Parker (19-v-1976)
2020-05-19
GM Jonathan Francis Parker, courtesy of John Upham Photography
Birthday of GM Jonathan Francis Parker (19-v-1976)
Jonathan Parker
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Birthday of FM Charlie W Kennaugh (20-v-1953)
2020-05-20
Birthday of FM Charlie W Kennaugh (20-v-1953)
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Birthday of FM Glenn L Charleshouse (21-v-1963)
2020-05-21
Birthday of FM Glenn L Charleshouse (21-v-1963)
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Birthday of FM Kenneth Shovel (21-v-1965)
2020-05-21
Birthday of FM Kenneth Shovel (21-v-1965)
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Birthday of IM John Cox (22-v-1962)
2020-05-22
IM John Cox
BCN sends best wishes to IM John Cox on his birthday, this day, in 1962.
John was born in Altrincham, Trafford, Greater Manchester and attended Eton College playing top board in the Sunday Times National Schools Competition.
He became a FIDE Master in 1982, an International Master in 2002 and obtained a peak rating of 2423 in January of 2006.
He is an expert bridge player and an amateur rock climber / mountaineer.
John plays for Cavendish in the London League, Hackney in other leagues and Barbican in the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL).
From the excellent Shropshire Chess web site we have :
John Cox, aged 17, photographer unknown
“Probably the best home reared player to come out of the county, John Cox started to play at age 6 with his father Jeff (see above) joining Shrewsbury Chess Club at age 7. At age10 he became joint Shropshire lightning champion. He was 16 when he won the 1979 county championship though much of his early success was outside the county. He gained his first FM norm at the 1980 Lloyds Bank Masters where he became the first Shropshire player to beat a GM (see below), also drawing with IM’s Ligterink and Pytel. In 1981 he gained his third norm and the FM title at Ramsgate together with his first IM norm. Though now based in London, he is still a regular visitor to the local Wrekin Congress.”

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Here is his Wikipedia entry
John Cox (first from left) at a Lloyds Bank event.
John Cox (left, rear)
John Cox (left, rear) at a Lloyds Bank Varsity match
IM John Cox
Starting out 1.d4 ! by John Cox
Dangerous Weapons : The Ruy Lopez
Starting Out : Alekhine’s Defence
Dealing with d4 Deviations
Starting Out : Sicilian Sveshnikov
The Berlin Wall
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Birthday of IM Andrew Ledger (23-v-1969)
2020-05-23
IM Andrew Ledger, Courtesy of John Upham Photography
Birthday of IM Andrew Ledger (23-v-1969)
Andrew plays for Blackthorne Russia in Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) plus Woodseats, Sheffield and Yorkshire CA in other leagues and the English Counties Championship.
Andrew has two chess playing brothers, FM David Ledger and Stephen Ledger.

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Death Anniversary of FM Neil Carr (10-iii-1968 25-v-2015)
2020-05-25
Death Anniversary of FM Neil Leslie Carr (10-iii-1968 25-v-2015)
Here is his obituary from Stewart Reuben
Here is an article from Kingpin Magazine by Jon Manley
Here is an article from EssexChess
The Neil Carr Scholarship Prize
Here is a game courtesy of Kingpin & the Ilford Recorder

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Neil Carr (far right) at Paul Buswell’s house
Here is a tribute from long time friend and London Central YMCA fellow club member, IM Andrew Martin :

Neil Carr (front right)
Neil Carr (right) with Neil Fox, Stuart Conquest, Paul Buswell and ?
Neil Carr (rear right) at a BCF National Club Final (1992)
Neil Carr, (foreground, right) at London’s South Bank, Peter Sowray in the background.. Photo by Clive Field, London Chess Association
FM Neil Carr, London Chess Classic 2013, courtesy pf John Upham Photography
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Birthday of IM Chris Baker (29-v-1958)
2020-05-29
Birthday of IM Christopher Wallace Baker (29-v-1958)
Chris was born in Coventry, West Midlands and played in the Staffordshire Open in 1975 (the earliest games held in MegaBase 2020).
Chris has played for Guildford in Four Nations Chess League (4NCL).
He has been the trainer of the Welsh junior team and is a fully-qualified arbiter.
He has taught chess in many schools in the Farnham area of Surrey.
IM Chris Baker

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He has authored and co-authored a number of books including the following :
A Startling Chess Opening Repertoire
Simple Winning Chess
Learn From Your Chess Mistakes
Dynamic Black Opening Repertoire
A Startling Chess Opening Repertoire
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Birthday of GM Nigel Short (01-vi-1965)
2020-06-01
BCN wishes Nigel Short a happy birthday on this day (June 1st) in 1965.
In the 1999 Queen’s Birthday Honours List Nigel was awarded the MBE. The citation read simply : “For services to Chess”.
Here is his extensive Wikipedia entry.
For the 1979 Spassky vs the BCF Junior Squad simultaneous display this was written : “Rating 213. World No.1, 13 year old. First Evening Standard under-10s, 1975. First under-14s, 1976. First under-21s, 1978.
British Men’s Lightning (10 seconds per move) champion 1978 – the youngest National Men’s Champion in chess history. Bronze medallist world under-17 championship 1979.
In simuls Nigel has beaten Korchnoi and Petrosian. World Nos. 2 and 4. Now he plays Spassky, World No.3.”
Nigel Short plays Joel Benjamin at Lloyd’s Bank, 1976. 1-0, Maroczy Bind
Anatoly Karpov plays Nigel Short, London, Philips & Drew, French Winawer, 1/2-1/2, Stewart Reuben looking on

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Nigel Short
Nigel analyses with Viktor Korchnoi, unknown date and venue

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Nigel Short

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Nigel Short Simultaneous display at the 2012 London Chess Classic, courtesy of John Upham Photography
Nigel Short : Chess Prodigy (1981)
Nigel Short’s Chess Skills (1989)
New Ideas in the French Defence (1991)
Nigel Short
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Birthday of GM Tamas Fodor (02-vi-1991)
2020-06-02
Birthday of GM Tamas Fodor Jr. (02-vi-1991)
Tamas was born in Kalocsa, in Bács-Kiskun county, Hungary.
He became a FIDE Master in 2003 and a GM in 2013.
He reached a peak rating of 2533 in June 2019 at the age of 28. In the FIDE rating list we have also Tamas Fodor and Tamas Fodor Sr.
According to Chessgsames.com :
“Grandmaster (2012).
Won a double GM norm during the 13th European Individual Championship (2012) where he scored 6/11 and followed with another norm at the Caissa GM event in September 2012, gaining his GM title on 23 September 2012 at the age of 21 years 3 months and 21 days. (1)
Won the 3rd 4NCL Congress in July 2015. (2)
Son of Tamas Fodor Sr.”
Tamas plays for 4NCL Cheddleton, Wood Green (in the London League) and Hendon.

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GM Tamas Fodor
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Birthday of GM Jonathan Levitt (03-vi-1963)
2020-06-03
From Wikipedia (Dutch version) :
Jonathan Levitt , Jon, (born in 1963) is a British chess player . In 1984 he became a FIDE International Master and in 1994 a FIDE Grand Master.
GM Jonathan Levitt, photograph by Cathy Rogers
Levitt wrote chess anecdotes on the (no longer existing) chess portal kasparovchess.com . He also has a chess column in “Oxford Today”. Levitt is also known for his talent tests and he is also a chess teacher. Moreover, he is a master in endgame studies. He takes chess photos, some of which can be seen in Wikipedia.
Jonathan Levitt in play with Michael Adams, Lloyds Bank, 1990, Philidor, 1/2-1/2
Levitt is also the author of several chess books: “Secrets of Spectacular Chess”, “Genius in Chess”, “Advice on Improving Your Game”. He also makes chess videos for the internet.
From chessgames.com :
“Jonathan Paul Levitt was born in Southwark (London), England. Awarded the IM title in 1984, he is now a GM (1991) and a composer of problems. Winner of the Staunton Memorial in 2005. His notable works as an author include “Secrets of Spectacular Chess” and “Genius in Chess”.”
Jonathan achieved a peak rating of 2495 in January 1989 at the age of 26 and lives in Ipswich.
He shared 1st place the GLC Masters in 1986 with 10.5/15 with Neil McDonald :
Jonathan Levitt, ? and Neil McDonald at the 1986 GLC Masters

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GLC Masters crosstable, 1986
and was first equal with Jonathan Speelman in the Third Staunton Memorial in 2005 :
Third Staunton Memorial, 2005
GM Jonathan Levitt, photographer unknown

Here is his personal web site
Genius in Chess
Secrets of Spectacular Chess
GM Jonathan Levitt
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Birthday of FM Martin Taylor (04-vi-1981)
2020-06-04
Birthday of FM Martin R Taylor (04-vi-1981)
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