Category Archives: Players

Birthday Greetings IM Shaun Taulbut (11-I-1958)

We send best wishes to IM Shaun Mark Taulbut born on this day (January 11th) in 1958.

IM Shaun Mark Taulbut
IM Shaun Mark Taulbut

Here is his Wikipedia article from the Polish (!) version :

In 1974. I shared m. In the championship of Great Britain juniors to 16 years [1] , whereas in 1977. Won the Brighton title of vice-champion of Great Britain (won the George Botterill ). He achieved the greatest success in his career at the turn of 1977 and 1978 in Groningen , where he won the title of European champion up to 20 years [2] . In 1978 in Mexico he won the title of team world champion in the category up to 26 years [3] . He achieved another success in 1981 in Copenhagen , sharing the first town (together with Petyr Welikow and Tom Wedberg ) inopen tournament Politiken Cup . In the same year, he divided II-IV in New York , while in 1982 he repeated this achievement in London (after William Watson , together with Jonathan Tisdall and Mark Hebden ). In 1983 he ended his chess career.

IM Shaun Mark Taulbut
IM Shaun Mark Taulbut

He reached the highest ranking in his career on July 1, 1982, sharing 9-10 points with 2465 points. place among English chess players [4] .

He is the author of many books on chess, primarily devoted to the theory of debuts .

IM Shaun Mark Taulbut (right) playing Adrian Mikhalchishin
IM Shaun Mark Taulbut (right) playing Adrian Mikhalchishin

and here is the game from the above photograph :

(from l-r) Jonathan Kinlay, Shaun Taulbut, Jonathan Speelman, David Goodman and Jonathan Mestel accepting 1st prize at the 1978 World U26 Student Olympiad in Mexico City
(from l-r) Jonathan Kinlay, Shaun Taulbut, Jonathan Speelman, David Goodman and Jonathan Mestel accepting 1st prize at the 1978 World U26 Student Olympiad in Mexico City
Shaun Taulbut (upper right) and David Goodman (lower right) from the 1978 U26 Olympiad
Shaun Taulbut (upper right) and David Goodman (lower right) from the 1978 U26 Olympiad

Shaun coached strong juniors especially Michael Adams. This was done via the postal system using audio cassettes on a weekly basis and funded by the Friends of Chess and he was a British Chess Federation Coach.

Shaun Taulbut and friends during the 1978 Lloyds Bank Masters
Shaun Taulbut and friends during the 1978 Lloyds Bank Masters

Shaun largely gave up competitive chess in 1983 to pursue a financial services career. He reached a senior position in ANZ (Australia and New Zealand Banking Group) reporting to Ian Snape. In ANZ Shaun met Stephen Lowe and on September 19th 2005 they became Directors and owners of British Chess Magazine Ltd. Shaun lives in Wokingham with his wife, Christine.

They have two children Verity and ?, various cats and a wormery.

(second from right standing ) Shaun Taulbut
(second from right standing ) Shaun Taulbut

Shaun occasionally plays for Crowthorne in the Berkshire League and the Surrey Border League and has played for the BCM Dragons 4NCL team managed by John Upham.

Niksic 1978, SM Taulbut, , Master Chess Publications, 1978
Niksic 1978, SM Taulbut, , Master Chess Publications, 1978
Positional Chess, Shaun Taulbut, George Allen & Unwin, 1983, ISBN 0 04 794017 4
Positional Chess, Shaun Taulbut, George Allen & Unwin, 1983, ISBN 0 04 794017 4
An Introduction to CHESS, Shaun Taulbut, Crowood Chess Library, 1984, ISBN 0 946284 85 7
An Introduction to CHESS, Shaun Taulbut, Crowood Chess Library, 1984, ISBN 0 946284 85 7
Chess Exchanges, S. Taulbut & S.Jones. Pergamon Press, 1986, 0 08 029751-X
Chess Exchanges, S. Taulbut & S.Jones. Pergamon Press, 1986, 0 08 029751-X
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Happy Birthday IM Dagne Ciukšyte (01-i-1977)

Happy Birthday IM Dagne Ciukšyte born on this day (January 1st) in 1977.

Here is her Wikipedia entry

IM Dagnė Čiukšytė
IM Dagnė Čiukšytė
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Happy Birthday IM Ian Lloyd Thomas (14-xii-1967)

We send birthday wishes to IM Ian Lloyd Thomas born this day (December 14th) in 1967.

Ian was a member of London Central YMCA (CentYMCA).

Ian played top board for Watford Grammar School in the (Sunday Times) National Schools Competition.

His earliest games in MegaBase 2020 are from various Lloyds Bank Opens from 1983 onwards. He played in a few British Championships and then the Washington Open in 1990. His next appearance was in the Himalayan Open in 2010.

According to ChessBase, Ian reached his highest FIDE rating of 2365 in July 1991 aged 24 although we believe he achieved 2400 at a Hastings and then withdrew.

Where are you now Ian?

We think he is residing in the USA.

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Happy Birthday “Ginger” GM Simon Williams (30-xi-1979)

Best wishes to GM Simon Williams on his fortieth birthday, this day (November 30th) in 1979.

Simon was Southern Counties (SCCU) champion in the 2001-02 (shared with Simon Knott) and the 2006-07 season.

His Wikipedia entry is here

GM Simon Williams
GM Simon Williams
The Iron English, Richard Palliser & Simon Williams, Everyman Chess, 2020, ISBN-13 : 978-1781945803
The Iron English, Richard Palliser & Simon Williams, Everyman Chess, 2020, ISBN-13 : 978-1781945803
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Happy Birthday IM Charles Cobb (15-xi-1978)

Charles Alexander Cobb, photo by Kelly/Wullenweber
Charles Alexander Cobb, photo by Kelly/Wullenweber

Best wishes to IM Charles Alexander Cobb born on this day (November 15th) 1978

Charleshas plays / played for Bristol and Clifton Chess Club, maintains a rapidplay grading of 220, played for Bristol in the Four Nations Chess League His highest Elo rating was 2410 in October of 2006.

IM Charles Alexander Cobb
IM Charles Alexander Cobb
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Happy Birthday IM Gary Quillan (07-xi-1970)

Best wishes to IM Gary Quillan on his birthday, this day (November 7th) in 1970.

Garry Quillan
Garry Quillan
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Congratulations FM -> IM (nearly) Marcus Harvey !

FM Marcus Ross Harvey
FM Marcus Ross Harvey

Congratulations are in order for Witney based Southampton Unversity student FM Marcus Harvey who obtained his second International Master norm at the recent Hull 4NCL International Congress by scoring 4.5/9 with wins over IM Andrew Greet and IM Richard Palliser. Marcus plays for 4NCL Wood Green.

FM Marcus Ross Harvey
FM Marcus Ross Harvey
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Happy Birthday IM Chris Beaumont (28-x-1952)

IM Christopher R Beaumont
IM Christopher R Beaumont

We send best wishes to IM Christopher R Beaumont on his birthday, 28th October 1952.

IM Chris Beaumont
IM Chris Beaumont
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Louis Paulsen : A chess biography with 719 games

Louis Paulsen : A Chess Biography with 719 Games
Louis Paulsen : A Chess Biography with 719 Games

Here from the massively loved publisher from the US comes yet another historical chess book, this time about a player best known in thought and word but not, as things stood before publication, deed. Golombek (1981) gives him half-a-page, Whyld/Hooper (1996) just over a page and Sunnucks (1976) less than two pages, with no photo or game at all; Whyld/Hooper manage a game but without notes.

Hans Renette
Hans Renette

This is the third McFarland work from the growing reputation of Belgian FIDE Master, Hans Renette starting with H.E. Bird: A Chess Biography with 1,198 Games and 2016 and following up with Neumann, Hirschfeld and Suhle which were both exquisite productions.

Louis Paulsen
Louis Paulsen

Louis Paulsen’s (1833-1891) tombstone is shown in this massive tome, a modest tribute to a most gifted and far seeing chess master, his innovations in the Leningrad Dutch and Sicilian still, one hopes, ringing down the ages. Did time stand still for a player unfettered by use of a chess clock? Certainly Paulsen attracted criticism for the slowness of his moves but, in retrospect, they were (of course!) worth waiting for.

This massive collection includes friendly games, contemporary comments, photographs, line drawings, blindfold clashes, simul encounters, any number of Evans’ and King’s Gambits. At random, I select 1862 when Paulsen drew a match 4-4 with Anderssen himself, a photo from the late Lothar Schmid’s massive archive supplies a little colour. Same year, Louis comes 2nd= with John Owen with both masters outdistancing even Steinitz, who was yet to find his (World Championship) form.

CHESS & BRIDGE have been offering this book for nearly sixty pounds and copies, believe me, won’t hang around. An investment.

So, in sum, a wonderfully produced record with no detail spared and every stone turned, dated, displayed. I have run out of superlatives.

With thanks to Olimpiu G Urcan for his corrections.

James Pratt
James Pratt

James Pratt, Basingstoke, October, 2019

Book Details :

  • Hardcover : 441 pages
  • Publisher: McFarland (2019)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN (print) 1476671958
  • ISBN (ebook) 978-1476671956
  • Product Dimensions 22.2 x 3.2 x 28.6 cm

Official web site of www.mcfarlandpub.com

Louis Paulsen : A Chess Biography with 719 Games
Louis Paulsen : A Chess Biography with 719 Games
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