BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//British Chess News - ECPv6.17.4.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:British Chess News X-ORIGINAL-URL:http://britishchessnews.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for British Chess News REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20190101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200904 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200905 DTSTAMP:20200904T143051Z CREATED:20190823T081815Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200904T143051Z UID:1036-1599177600-1599263999@britishchessnews.com SUMMARY:Birthday of GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953) DESCRIPTION:We send best wishes to GM Michael Stean on his birthday\, \nMichael Francis Stean was born Michael Francis Stein on Friday\, September 4th\, 1953 in Pancras\, London. His mother’s maiden name was Feldman. Michael has a brother\, Howard. \nMichael Stean\nHe attended Latymer Upper School and Cambridge University. \nHis early chess days were spent at Richmond Junior Chess Club. \nHe became an International Master in 1975 and England’s third (OTB) Grandmaster in 1977 winning £2\,500 from the Jim Slater Foundation. \nHis peak FIDE rating was 2540 in January 1979. \nHis mother (Jean) presented a trophy to the Marlow Congress (now the Berks and Bucks Congress) which became the Mrs. Jean Stean Cup. \nTony Miles and Michael Stean at the FIDE Zonal in Amsterdam\, 1978. (Source: http://gahetna.nl)\nAccording to British Chess (Pergamon\, 1983) by Botterill\, Levy\, Rice and Richardson : \n“Stean was educated at Cambridge University\, He was equal first in the British Championship\, Clacton\, 1974\, although only 4th in the playoff. He has been an important member of Korchnoi’s team for the last 5 years\, and this perhaps has been responsible more than anything for the rounding out and maturing of his style from the sharp tactical play of the early 1970s to the solid positional GM (especially with the White pieces) of today. \nKorchnoi\, Stean and Keene try out matching vests and T-shirts from The University of Sussex sports centre\, Falmer\, East Sussex. It is likely that the yellow one was only worn for this press photo shoot.\nStean is a fine author; Simple Chess and the Sicilian Najdorf are both excellent books. \nMichael Stean at the 1977 Lord John Cup\nTemperamentally he is generally pleasant\, good humoured and self confident\, although he suffers from intermittent poor health which might help to explain his at times erratic results.” \n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. \n \n \n \n\n\n \n\nAccording to Chessgames.com : \n“Michael Francis Stean was born on the 4th of September 1953 in London\, England. He finished 3rd at the 1973 World Junior Chess Championships behind Alexander Beliavsky and Tony Miles. Awarded the IM title in 1975 and the GM title in 1977 (The third Englishman to attain the title after Miles and Keene). \nHe finished 1st= in the 1974 British Championship but lost the play-off. He played on 5 English Olympiad teams from 1974 – 1983 and has won 1st prizes at Vrsac 1979\, Smederevska Palanka 1980 and Beer Sheba 1982. \nA specialist in Opening Theory he served as one of Viktor Korchnoi’s seconds in the 1977 – 1981 period. He is the author of Simple Chess\, an introduction to chess strategy.” \nMchael Stean\, Hastings 1972-1973. Source : British Chess Magazine\, Volume 93\, Number 2\, page 53\nThe Robert Silk Fellowship Tournament\, Canterbury\, 1973. Source : British Chess Magazine\, Volume 93\, Number 5\, page 192\nPost-banquet photograph – left to right : Harry Golombek\, Andras Adorjan\, Danny Wright\, Brian Eley\, Michael Stean\, D. Silk\, Robert Silk\, AK Henderson. The Robert Silk Fellowship Tournament\, Canterbury\, 1973. Source : British Chess Magazine\, Volume 93\, Number 5\, page 192\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. \n \n \n \n\n\n \n\nHarry Golombek wrote this about Michael in a 1980 Dataday chess diary : \n“The fact that he has sprung up into second place among English players as regards Elo ratings demonstrates the considerable advance Michael Stean has made in the course of a year. \nKorchnoi vs Stean at the Philips & Drew Masters of 1980. The game was drawn in 19 moves.\nIn the 1978 diary I wrote that it would not be long before he gained the grandmaster title since he already possessed one norm of the title. The forecast proved to be correct as he duly acquired the title a few months after I wrote the prophecy. \nHe had though to take two more bites at the cherry before he managed to gain the required norms since the tournaments in which he played were not long events. They were Montilla in August 1977 where he came third below Gligoric and Kavalek and the Lord John Cup Tournament in London in September 1977 where he was equal 2nd with Quinteros and Mestel\, first place being occupied by the Czechoslovak grandmaster\, Hort. \nJan Timman plays Michael Stean at the 1978 Amsterdam FIDE Zonal. The Dutch GM won in 39 moves.\nBefore that he had assisted Keene in seconding Korchnoi in his candidates match versus Polugayevsky and had done this to such effect that Korchnoi asked him and Keene to act as his seconds at his final match in the Candidates at Belgrade and later on still at the World Championship match against Karpov in the Philippines. \nNigel Short\, Lubomir Kavalek and Michael Stean\nHe also played successfully in Yugoslavia in 1977 (equal 2nd at Virovitica and equal 2nd at Bar). In 1978 he was 3rd at Beersheba below Korchnoi but head of Keene. Five points out of nine at the very strong Swiss System tournament at Lone Pine was followed by an excellent equal 4th with Miles at the tournament at Las Palmas. He has shown that he not only possesses the title of grandmaster but also plays like one. \nMichael Stean (far right) at an unknown event\nA good example in the following game (Stean-Sax) against one of the joint first prize winners at the Las Palmas event. It was awarded the prize for the best game :” \n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. \n \n \n \n\n\n \n\nFrom The Oxford Companion to Chess (OUP\, 1984) by Hooper & Whyld : \n“English player\, International Grandmaster (1977). At Nice 1974\, in the first of his several Olympiads\, he won the brilliancy prize for his game against\nBrowne. \nSince then he has had several good results: Montilia 1976\, equal second with Kavalek and Ricardo Calvo (1943— ) after Karpov; Montilia 1977\, third (-1-3 = 6)after Gligoric and Kavalek ahead of R. Byrne\, Taimanov\, and Andersson; London 1977. second (+4=4—1) equal with Mestel and Quinteros after Hort ; Vrsac 1979\, first (+ 8=5—1); Smederevska Palanka 1980\, first (+7-6); Beersheba 1982\, first\, Stean was one of Korchnoi’s seconds in the world championship cycles of 1977-8 and 1980-1\, and the two became close friends. \nIn particular Stean provided help with the openings\, a subject on which he specialises. He published a book on the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian defence in 1976\, and Simple Chess\, a guide to the understanding of positional ideas\, in 1978.” \nGM Michael Stean\nFrom Wikipedia : \n“Michael Francis Stean (born 4 September 1953) is an English chess grandmaster\, an author of chess books and a tax accountant. \nMichael Stean chats with David Levy at the London Chess Classic\nThe game below (Stean-Browne) was the first winner of the World Brilliancy Prize established in 1974 by Isador Samuel Turover. The value of the prize was $1\,000.” \n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. \n \n \n \n\n\n \n\nSee Michael Stean’s Wikipedia entry for more \nVideo Chess Event (See caption below)\nVideo Chess Caption\nIn 1983 at the height of his powers Michael left the chess work and became a tax accountant. He is now a senior partner at RSM UK. \nMchael Stean\, tax accountant\nMichael Francis Stean\nSimple Chess by Michael Stean\nSicilian Najdorf by Michael Stean\nSimple Chess by Michael Stean\n Save as PDF URL:http://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-michael-john-stean/ CATEGORIES:Birthday,British Championships,History,Player,Writer ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://britishchessnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_1177-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200905 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200906 DTSTAMP:20200905T111548Z CREATED:20200408T110419Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200905T111548Z UID:4173-1599264000-1599350399@britishchessnews.com SUMMARY:Birthday of IM Sam Collins (05-ix-1982) DESCRIPTION:Birthday of IM Sam Collins (05-ix-1982) \nSamuel E Collins was born on Sunday\, September 5th\, 1982 in Dublin\, Republic of Ireland. \nHe attended Gonzaga College\, Ranelagh\, Dublin (founded in 1950) and famously very active at chess. \nSam became a FIDE Master in 2003 and an International Master in 2004 and holds two GM norms. \nHis peak FIDE rating was 2495 in August 2014 at the age of 32. \nAccording to chessgames.com : \n“Collins won the Irish Championship twice\, in 2002 and 2014\, and the Japanese Championship in 2009.” \nAccording to The Tarrasch Defence\, move by move : \n“Sam Collins is an International Master with two Grandmaster norms\, and a former Irish and Japanese Champion\, He has represented Ireland at seven Olympiads\, winning an individual gold medal at Bled 2002. He has a wealth of teaching and writing experience\, and has produced many books\, DVDs and magazine articles on chess.” \nAccording to An Opening Repertoire for White : \n“Sam Collins is a chess writer who regularly contributes to Chess\, British Chess Magazine\, Chess Mail and Chess Today. He is a former Irish Champion and Olympic gold medal winner.” \nCrosstable for Dublin City\, 2007\nCrosstable from Budapest First Saturday GM Tournament 2008\nThe Irish Mail on Sunday\, February 8th 2015\nWith the white pieces Sam essays 1.e4 and prefers a main line Ruy Lopez when possible along with open Sicilians. \nAs the second players Sam enjoys the black side of a main line Ruy Lopez and main line Slavs. \nFirstly an aperitif : \n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. \n \n \n \n\n\n \n\nand then the main course : \n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. \n \n \n \n\n\n \n\nHere is his Wikipedia entry \nIM Sam Collins at the fourth 4NCL weekend in 2012\nHere is Sam talking about his Alapin Sicilian DVD from GingerGM \nAn attacking repertoire for White by Sam Collins\, Batsford\, 2005.\nChess explained: The c3 Sicilian by Sam Collins\, Gambit Publications\, 2007.\nThe French Advance\nThe King’s Indian Defence\, move by move\nKarpov\, move by move\nUnderstanding the Chess Openings\nA Simple Chess Opening Repertoire for White\nKnow the Terrain Vol. 6\nGambit Busters\, 2002\nThe Greatest Ever Chess Strategies\n Save as PDF URL:http://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-im-sam-e-collins-05-ix-1982/ CATEGORIES:Birthday,Player,Writer ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://britishchessnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Evoke-AD_158980042-a-Read-Only.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200916 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200917 DTSTAMP:20210916T134921Z CREATED:20200716T112733Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210916T134921Z UID:7452-1600214400-1600300799@britishchessnews.com SUMMARY:Birthday of Frank Boyd (16-ix-1935) DESCRIPTION:He was British Correspondence Champion in 1972 and awarded the IMC title in 1981. \nAccording to Kings Indian I Attacking Systems : \n“British Correspondence Champions 1971/72. Placed second in an ICCF master tourney 1973/76. A member of the British team in the 9th Olympiad 1977/80. Gained the IMC title in the European Team Championship 1978/81.” \nAccording to Chessbase Correspondence Database 2020 Frank achieved his highest (ICCF) rating in January 1991 of 2410. \nIncomplete crosstable from the European Championship\, 1973.\nAs White Frank would play the Queen’s Gambit via a 1.Nf3 move order. He did not play 1.e4 \nAs the second player he would defend the closed Ruy Lopez and the Nimzo-Indian Defence. \n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. \n \n \n \n\n\n \n\nKing’s Indian I by Frank Boyd\, Chess Praxis\, 1981\n Save as PDF URL:http://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-frank-boyd-16-ix-1935/ CATEGORIES:Birthday,Correspondence,Player,Writer ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://britishchessnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG-5-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200918 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200919 DTSTAMP:20200918T090155Z CREATED:20200918T001027Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200918T090155Z UID:1372-1600387200-1600473599@britishchessnews.com SUMMARY:Birthday of IM Richard Palliser (18-ix-1981) DESCRIPTION:We wish IM Richard Palliser all the very best on his birthday \nRichard Julian David Palliser was born September 18th in 1981 in Birmingham\, West Midlands. His mother’s maiden name was Hyde. \nHe became a FIDE Master in 2000 and an International Master in 2001. \nRichard Palliser\nHis peak FIDE rating (according to Felice and Megabase 2020) was 2482 in July 2012 at the age of 31. \nIn 1995 Richard was joint British U13 Champion together with David Hodge and Richard S. Jones. \nPalliser was joint British Rapidplay Chess Champion in 2006. He writes regularly for ChessMoves and “Everyman Chess” who also employ him as an editor and advisor. \nRichard represents in matches 4NCL White Rose\, York RI\, Yorkshire CA\, and ‘Eagle and Child’ \nAccording to “Play 1.d4!” : \n“is an international master and recipient of a special British Chess Federation young player’s award for achievement. In addition to being a very active tournament and match player he also writes regularly for CHESS magazine and other periodicals and is noted for his theoretical knowledge and analytical ability.” \nIM Richard Palliser at the King’s Place Rapidplay\, 2013.\n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. \n \n \n \n\n\n \n\nAccording to “tango!” : \n“His debut book Play 1.d4! was very well received by critics and the chess public alike” \nHis handle on the Internet Chess Club is “worcester”. \nIM Richard Palliser\nWith the White pieces Richard plays 1.d4(!) and the Queen’ Gambit\, Exchange Variation is the main weapon of choice. \nAs the second player Richard plays the Sicilian Najdorf and the King’s Indian Defence. \n\n\n \n\n\n \n \n You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. \n \n \n \n\n\n \n\nIM Richard Palliser and IM Jovanka Houska\, British Championships\, 2019\nRichard is Editor of “CHESS” and has authored a number of publications : \nPlay 1.d4 !\, Batsford\, 2003\nPalliser\, Richard (2005). Tango! A Dynamic Answer to 1 d4. Everyman Chess. ISBN 1-85744-388-8. \nTango! A Dynamic Answer to 1 d4\nPalliser\, Richard (2006). Beating Unusual Chess Openings. Everyman Chess. ISBN 1-85744-429-9. \nBeating Unusual Chess Openings\nPalliser\, Richard (2006). Starting Out: Closed Sicilian. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85744-414-8. \nStarting Out: Closed Sicilian\nPalliser\, Richard (2007). Starting Out: Scilian Najdorf. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85744-601-2. \nStarting Out: Scilian Najdorf\nPalliser\, Richard (2007). Starting out: the Colle. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85744-527-5. \nStarting out: the Colle\nThe Complete Chess Workout\, Everyman\, 2007\nPalliser\, Richard; Kosten\, Tony; Vigus\, James (2008). Dangerous Weapons: Flank Openings. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85744-583-1. \nDangerous Weapons: Flank Openings\nPalliser\, Richard (2008). Starting out: d-pawn attacks. The Colle-Zukertort\, Barry and 150 Attacks. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85744-578-7. \nStarting out: d-pawn attacks\nPalliser\, Richard (2009). Starting Out: the Trompowsky Attack. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85744-562-6. \nStarting Out: the Trompowsky Attack\nPalliser\, Richard; Williams\, Simon; Vigus\, James (2010). Dangerous Weapons: The Dutch. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85744-624-1. \nDangerous Weapons: The Dutch\nDangerous Weapons : The Caro-Kann\, Everyman\, 2010\nThe Complete Chess Workout II\, Everyman\, 2012\nIM Richard Palliser\n Save as PDF URL:http://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-richard-palliser/ CATEGORIES:Birthday,British Championships,Player,Writer ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://britishchessnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/bct_4335_lv.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200920 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200921 DTSTAMP:20210920T225258Z CREATED:20190920T100224Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210920T225258Z UID:1405-1600560000-1600646399@britishchessnews.com SUMMARY:Death Anniversary of Hugh Blandford (24-i-1917 20-ix-1981) DESCRIPTION:BCN remembers Hugh Blandford who was a British composer. \nHugh Francis Blandford was born on Wednesday\, January 24th in 1917 in South Stoneham\, Hampshire\, England. \nOn this day Ernest Borgnine was born and an earthquake measuring 6.3 in magnitude struck Anhui Province\, China\, causing 101 deaths. \nHugh’s father was the Rev Albert Francis Blandford and his mother was Alice Rhoda Crumpton Evans. Hugh had two younger brothers\, Philip Thomas. and Evan Arthur. \nThe family moved to Jamaica and he spent his early childhood there until he was nine years old when they sailed from Kingston\, Jamaica with his family to Bristol on board the SS Carare (Elders & Fyffes Line) : \nPassenger Manifest (part) for SS Carare \, 30th May 1926.\nHis mother Alice Rhoda Crumpton passed away on 19 July 1964 in Minehead\, Somerset\, at the age of 79. \nHis father Rev Albert Francis passed away in December 1967 in Somerset at the age of 79. \nHe had three children during his marriage. \nHe died in Hatfield\, Hertfordshire on Sunday\, September 20th\, 1981. \nBlandford is also known for participating in defining the GBR (Guy\, Blandford Roycroft) code. \nIn 1961 he was awarded the title of “International Judge of the FIDE for Chess Composition” \nCM Bent wrote the following obituary in the British Chess Magazine\, Volume CI (101\, 1981)\, Number 12 (December)\, page 532 : \n“The modest and self-effacing composer who formerly conducted our Studies column from 1951-1972 died in September. His work as a metallurgist and his family responsibilities allowed him to make periodical contributions over a long span and to offer us many of his own original compositions. \nHis style\, as with his manner\, was essentially quiet and it was a rarity for him to compose anything other than wins. \nHis last voluntary labour was to compile an index for E.G. of all studies published there to date. His loss to the world of of studies will be greatly felt. \nThe first prize winner below is a classic of exquisite refinement and matches the immaculate handwriting which was always such an elegant feature of his work” \nStudies by Hugh Francis Blandford\nSolutions to studies by Hugh Francis Blandford\nSee more of his compositions here from the arves.org database. \nFrom The Encyclopedia of Chess by Anne Sunnucks : \n“British study composer and FIDE Judge of Endgame Studies. Born on 24th January 1917. Since July 1951\, Hugh Blandford has conducted the Endings Section of the British Chess Magazine. By profession a metallurgist\, he was married and had two children. Of his 60 or more studies he was best known for the excelsior theme.” \nFrom Wikipedia : \n\nHugh Francis Blandford (24 January 1917 – 20 September 1981) was a chess endgame composer born in Southampton\, England.[1]\nHe spent several years of his childhood in Jamaica with his father\, the Reverend Albert Francis (Frank) Blandford\, a Minister in the Congregational church\, his mother and two younger brothers\, Evan Arthur and Philip Thomas Blandford. All three brothers then returned to England and attended Eltham College (the School for the Sons of Missionaries) in South-east London\, while their parents remained in Jamaica. He married Marjorie Cox\, whom he had worked with during the Second World War. \nHe played chess from his schooldays and as well as playing\, also started to compose original chess endings. He became known in the field of chess endgame studies for a small but elegant body of compositions\, expertly edited and published after Hugh’s death by his long-standing chess endings colleague\, John Roycroft.[2] \n\n1st Prize\, Springaren 1949\, White to move and win\n\nHugh Blandford was co-inventor with Richard Guy – and\, later\, with John Roycroft – of the Guy–Blandford–Roycroft code for classifying studies.[3] In July 1951 he began as the endgame study editor for the British Chess Magazine.[4][5] He was made an International Judge for Chess Composition[4] in 1961.[6] \nA metallurgist\, he continued to compose chess endgame studies until the end of his life\, dying of a heart attack in early retirement in Hatfield\, England\, on 20 September 1981.\n \n Save as PDF URL:http://britishchessnews.com/event/death-anniversary-of-hugh-francis-blandford/ CATEGORIES:Composer,Death Anniversary,History,Problemist,Studies,Writer ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://britishchessnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BlandfordBook.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR