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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200901
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200902
DTSTAMP:20210901T103404Z
CREATED:20190822T155139Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210901T103404Z
UID:983-1598918400-1599004799@britishchessnews.com
SUMMARY:Death Anniversary of Joseph Blackburne (10-xii-1841 01-ix-1924)
DESCRIPTION:BCN remembers Joseph Blackburne (10-xii-1841 01-ix-1924) \nThe following (excerpts of) information were obtained via ancestry.co.uk / findmypast.co.uk: \nJoseph Henry Blackburne was born on Friday\, December 10th\, 1841 in Chorlton\, Manchester. His father was Joseph Blackburn (aged 23\, a temperance reformer) and his mother was Ann Pritchard (aged 24). He had eight sons and five daughters. \nHis brother Frederick Pritchard Blackburn died on 11 October 1847 in Lancashire\, Lancashire\, when Joseph Henry was 5 years old. \nHis sister Clara was born on 4 November 1847 in Street\, Lancashire\, when Joseph Henry was 5 years old. \nHis half-sister Clara was born in 1848 in Manchester\, Lancashire\, when Joseph Henry was 7 years old. \nHis mother Ann passed away on 26 November 1857 in Manchester\, Lancashire\, at the age of 40. \nHis half-brother William Thomas was born on 17 June 1865 when Joseph Henry was 23 years old. \nJoseph Henry Blackburne married Eleanor Driscoll on 10 December 1865 when he was 24 years old. \nJoseph Henry Blackburne married Beatrice Lapham on 3 October 1876 when he was 34 years old. \nHis wife Beatrice passed away in January 1880 in St Olave Southwark\, London\, at the age of 26. They had been married 3 years. \nJoseph Henry Blackburne married Mary Jane Fox in St Olave Southwark\, London\, on 16 December 1880 when he was 39 years old. \nJoseph Henry Blackburne lived in Everton\, Lancashire\, in 1891. \nAccording to Edward Winter in Chess Notes JHB lived at the following addresses : \n\n16 Lucey Road\, London SE\, England (The Chess Amateur\, October 1924\, page 32 (address in 1879) and the 1881 British census (C.N. 4756)*).\n116 Barkworth Road\, Camberwell\, London\, England (1891 British census (C.N. 4756)*).\n7 Whitbread Road\, Lewisham\, London\, England (1901 British census (C.N. 4756)*).\n45 Sandrock Road\, Lewisham\, London SE\, England (Ranneforths Schach-Kalender\, 1915\, page 56\, and Hastings Chess Club address list\, 1922*).\n\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“Joseph Henry Blackburne was born in Chorlton\, Manchester. He came to be known as “The Black Death”. He enjoyed a great deal of success giving blindfold and simultaneous exhibitions. Tournament highlights include first place with Wilhelm Steinitz at Vienna 1873\, first at London 1876\, and first at Berlin 1881 ahead of Johannes Zukertort. In matchplay he lost twice to Steinitz and once to Emanuel Lasker. He fared a little better with Zukertort (Blackburne – Zukertort (1881)) and Isidor Gunsberg\, by splitting a pair of matches\, and defeating Francis Joseph Lee\, ( Blackburne – Lee (1890) ). One of the last successes of his career was at the age of 72\, when he tied for first place with Fred Dewhirst Yates at the 1914 British Championship. \nJoseph Blackburne (10-xii-1841 01-ix-1924)\nIn his later years\, a subscription by British chess players provided an annuity of £100 (approximately  £4\,000 in 2015 value)\, and a gift of £250 on his 80th birthday.” \nIn 1923 he suffered a stroke\, and the next year he died of a heart attack.” \nJoseph Henry Blackburne (10-xii-1841 01-ix-1924)\nFrom The Oxford Companion to Chess (OUP\, 1984) by Hooper and Whyld : \n“For more than 20 years one of the first six players in the world and for even longer the leading English born player. Draughts was the most popular indoor game in his home town\, Manchester; he learned this game as a child and became expert in his youth. \nHe was about 18 when\, inspired by Morphy’s exploits\, he learned the moves of chess. In July 1861 he lost all live games of a match against the Manchester chess club champion Edward Pindar\, but he improved so rapidly that he defeated Pindar three months later (-1-5=2—1)\, and in 1862 he became champion of the club ahead of Pindar and Horwitz. \nInstructed by Horwitz\, Blackburne became one of the leading endgame players of his time; and wishing to emulate the feats of L. Paulsen\, who visited the club in November 1861\, he developed exceptional skill at blindfold chess. He spent most of the 1860s developing his chess and toying with various occupations. \nAfter winning the British championship\, 1868-9\, ahead of de vere\, he became a full-time professional player. \n\nBlackburne achieved excellent results in many tournaments: Baden-Baden 1870\, third equal with Neumann after Anderssen and Steinitz; London 1872\, second (+5-2) after Steinitz ahead of Zukertort; Vienna 1873\, second to Steinitz after a play-off; Paris 1878\, third after Winawer and Zukertort: Wiesbaden 1880\, first equal with Englisch and Schwarz; Berlin 1881\, first (+13=2 — 1)\, three points ahead of Zukertort\, the second prize winner (Blackburne’s greatest achievement); London 1883\, third after Zukertort and Steinitz; Hamburg 1885\, second equal with Englisch\, Mason\, Tarrasch\, and Weiss half a point after Gunsberg; Frankfurt 1887\, second equal with Weiss after Mackenzie; Manchester 1890\, second after Tarrasch; Belfast 1892\, first equal with Mason; London 1892\, second ( + 6-2) after Lasker; London 1893\, first ( + 2=3). \nHe was in the British team in 11 of the Anglo-American cable matches\, meeting Pillsbury on first board six times (+2-3 — 1)\, and he continued to play internationally until he was 72\, long enough to meet the pioneer of the hypermodern movement Nimzowitsch\, whom he defeated at St Petersburg 1914. \n\nBlackburne had remarkable combinative powers and is remembered for his swingeing king’s side attacks\, often well prepared but occasionally consisting of an ingenious swindle that would deceive even the greatest all his contemporaries. The tournament book of Vienna 1873 refers to him as ‘der schrwarze Tod [Black death] der Schachspieler’\, a nickname that became popular. \n\n\n \n\n\n    \n        \n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        \n    \n    \n    \n\n\n \n\nHis unflappable temperament also earned him the soubriquet “the man with the iron nerves’. Even so\, neither his temperament nor his style was suited to set matches\, in which he was rarely successful against world-class players. He had other chess talents: a problem composer\, he was also a fast solver\, allegedly capable of outpacing the great Sam Loyd. Blackburne earned his livelihood by means of simultaneous displays\, for this purpose touring Britain twice-yearly\, with a few breaks\, for more than 50 years. \nChess\, circa 1896\, JH Blackburne\, well known chess player\, who had toured both on the Continent and America\, able to make between 40 to 60 moves when blindfolded by sheer memory (Photo by Bob Thomas/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)\nBefore this time such displays were solemn affairs; Lowenthal\, who would appear in formal dress and play for several hours in silence\, was shocked when Blackburne turned up in ordinary clothes\, chatting and making jokes as he played\, and refreshing him self with whisky\, (Blackburne confessed\, however\, that when fully absorbed in a game he never noticed whether he was drinking water instead\,) Once\, walking round the boards\, he drained his opponent’s glass\, saying when rebuked He left it en prise and I took it en passant‘ \nThe illustrator Julius Hess depicted Blackburne in a New Yorker Staats Zeitung evening edition as sitting at a chesstable and beckoning: “Waitah! A whiskey and limejuice!” \nHe played his blindfold displays quickly\, and with little sign of the stress that besets most blindfold players. Probably the leading blindfold expert of his time\, he challenged Zukertort\, a close rival in this field\, to a match of ten games\, played simultaneously\, both players blindfold; but Zukertort declined. Many who knew and liked Blackburne subscribed to a fund which sustained him in his last years. \nImage Supplied by a reader of the book ‘Eminent Victorian Chess Players’ to Tim Harding\nP. A. Graham\, Mr Blackburne’s Games at Chess (1899) contains 407 games annotated by Blackburne and 28 three-movers composed by him. \nMr Blackburne’s Games at Chess by PA Graham\nA reprint\, styled Blackburne*s Chess Games (1979)\, has a new introduction and two more games. \nOne of Blackburne’s contributions was the suggestion of using chess clocks rather than the archaic hourglasses. \nHere follows a reproduction of an article from British Chess Magazine\, Volume LXXX1 (1961)\, Number 12 (December)\, page 340-342 written by RN Coles entitled “Early Days of a Great Master” : \n“The only record of how J. H. Blackburne first\, entered the chess world is the one provided by P. Anderson Graham in the introduction to his collection of Blackburne’s games. This has all the ingredients of a romanticized version of the truth-the first casual games in a temperance hotel\, then entry to the important Manchester Club and a series of victories over ever stronger opponents until at last Pindar\, Champion of the Provinces\, comes along\, plays the unknown youth and is defeated. \nReference to C. H. Stanley’s column in the Weekly Guardian and Express helps to supply a more accurate version. Young Blackburne’s earliest interest was in problems and he submitted one to the Guardian and Express which appeared in January\, 1861\, only to be found by several solvers to be cooked\, Then silence till May 11th\, when the column carries a note: \nJ. H. B. Problems received with much pleasure…Shall be glad to see you at the Club.” \nHere are a couple of published problems. For a complete listing see below. \nManchester Express\, 1861 \n\n\n \n\n\n    \n        \n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        \n    \n    \n    \n\n\n \n\n#4. 6+4 \nThe Field\, 1893 \n\n\n \n\n\n    \n        \n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        \n    \n    \n    \n\n\n \n\n#3\, 7+6 \n  \nNot yet a member\, clearly. Nevertheless\, he contrived somehow to meet Pindar outside the club and played some games-with him (two scores appear in the Guardian and Express\, July 20th)\, and a set-match of five up was then arranged\, still played in private (Guardian and Express\, August 3lst)\, which “was terminated by Mr. Pindar winning a clear victory\, the score being Pindar 5\, Blackburne 0” (one game was quoted in the July “B.C.M.” and another score can be found in the Guardian and Express\, July 27th. \n“A second match was agreed upon\, level games to entitle either player to the victor’s palm. The result … is calculated positively\, to startle the chess world. The first game was scored by Mr. Pindar; of the next seven\, Blackburne won five and the two remaining were drawn. ‘At this point Mr. Pindar resigned the match.” (Guardian and Express\, September 7th\, with the score of a Blackburne win from this match quoted February 1st\, 1962.) \nOnly now does Blackburne appear to have joined the Manchester Club\, meeting such players as Stanley himself for the first time (Guardian and Express gives the score of a casual game\, November 9th)\, though Stanley later claimed personally to have discovered the young prodigy. \nIn November\, 1861\, Paulsen visited the club and the score survives of a casual game in which he beat Blackburne\, who played a Winawer Variation of the French Defence long before Winawer ever came on the-scene (Guardian and Express\, December\,1861); Paulsen concluded his visit with one of his celebrated ten-board blindfold displays and not unnaturally the young Blackburne eagerly took a board; his defeat is No.25O in his games collection. This so stimulated him that he himself tried blindfold play and by January 20th\, 1862\, was able to give his first display against four boards\, winning them all (Guardian and Express\, January 25th\, with one of the scores). This he followed with seven games on February 8th\,\nwinning five and losing two. (Guardian and Express\, February 8th) and finally ten games on February 8th\, winning five\, losing two\, and drawing three (Guardian and Express\,February 15th\, which quotes the score of one game in addition to No. 254 in his games). \nInter-club matches were something of a rarity in those days and were regarded as of considerable importance when they occurred; one such was the annual Manchester-Liverpool match and in 1862 Blackburne took part for the first time\, being matched against Wellington\, another young player of promise who seems to have got no further; as many games were played between opponents as time allowed and these two young men played three\, all won by Blackburne. (Guardian and Express\, February 22nd\, which quotes the score of one game in addition to No. 138 in the collection). \nDuring this spring the rivalry with Pindar was renewed in a third match for the first five wins and after eleven games the score stood at 4 each\, with three drawn (Guardian and Express\, March 15th\, quoting the score of the eleventh game)\, but I cannot find who won the last game. Since Blackburne was hailed as club champion this season\, one must suppose he was the victor. \nSuch was his first club season. ln June\, 1862\, he played in the London lnternational Tournament and from then on his chess career was public property. \nTo conclude\, here is the score of the eleventh game of his third match with Pindar\, a critical struggle in which his budding mastery appears at the-end. From an inferior opening he struggles into an equal ending but by a rash exchange of Rooks on the 36th move gives Pindar a clear advantage\, which could have been held by 41. P-R4. Blackburne seizes on this omission like a real master to switch into a most accurately calculated queen ending. \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 here is the original article: \nBritish Chess Magazine\, Volume LXXX1 (1961)\, Number 12 (December)\, page 340\nBritish Chess Magazine\, Volume LXXX1 (1961)\, Number 12 (December)\, page 341\nMany juniors and beginners will know the Blackburne Shilling Gambit (or Kostić Gambit) in some circles known (named by Julian Hodgson) as the ‘Oh My God’: \n\n\n \n\n\n    \n        \n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        \n    \n    \n    \n\n\n \n\nThere are variations named after Blackburne as follows : \nThe Blackburne Attack in the Four Knights is \n\n\n \n\n\n    \n        \n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        \n    \n    \n    \n\n\n \n\nand the Blackburne Variation of the Dutch defence is \n\n\n \n\n\n    \n        \n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        \n    \n    \n    \n\n\n \n\nand a popular line in the Queen’s Gambit \n\n\n \n\n\n    \n        \n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        \n    \n    \n    \n\n\n \n\nare attributed to Blackburne in the literature. \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 The Encyclopedia of Chess (Batsford\, 1977) by Harry Golombek : \n“British grandmaster and highly successful tournament player who was one of the most prominent masters of the nineteenth century. He did not learn to play chess until the age of nineteen\, but his natural gifts soon brought him into the front rank of British players\, and in 1868 he abandoned his business interests and adopted chess as a profession. \nBlackburne’s international tournament career spans an impressive fifty-two years from London 1862 to St. Petersburg 1914 – a total of 53 events in which he played 814 games\, scoring over 62%. Although he rarely won international events\, he generally finished in the top half of the table and his fierce competitive spirit coupled with his great combinative ability earned the pleasant nickname of ‘the Black Death’. \nJoseph Blackburne (10-xii-1841 01-ix-1924). Photograph from The Encyclopedia of Chess by Harry Golombek\nHis most notable successes were =1st with Steinitz at Vienna 1873 (Blackburne lost the play-off match)\, 1st at Berlin 1881 ahead of Paulsen\, Schallopp\, Chigorin\, Winawer and Zukertort\, and 2nd to Tarrasch at Manchester 1890. \nBlackburne won the BCA Championship in 1868 and for many years was ranked as Britain’s foremost player. In 1914 – at the age of 72 – he shared first place at the BCF congress in Chester. \nIn match play his success was mixed. He defeated Bird in 1888 (+4-1) and Gunsberg in 1881 (+7-4=3) but lost a second match to Gunsberg in 1886 (+2-5=6). He lost to Lasker (+0-6=4) in 1892 and was defeated heavily twice by Steinitz : in 1862/3 (+1-7=2) and in 1876 (+0-7=0)\, the latter of these matches being for the World Championship. \nBlackburne excelled at blindfold play and in simultaneous exhibitions\, which provided a major portion of his income. He died in Lewisham\, a much respected veteran of eighty-three.” \n\n\n \n\n\n    \n        \n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        \n    \n    \n    \n\n\n \n\n\nJoseph Henry Blackburne (10-xii-1841 01-ix-1924)\nEdward Winter discusses the Zukertort-Blackburne game of 1883. \nHere is an article on chess.com by Bill Wall \nProblems of the Black Death by Batgirl \nMeson Database of JHBs problems \nHere is his Wikipedia entry \nEminent Victorian Chess Players\, Tim Harding\, McFarland & Co; 1st edition (20 April 2012)\, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0786465682\nJoseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography\, Tim Harding\, McFarland & Co; Annotated edition (30 July 2015)\, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0786474738\nBlackburne : The Black Death in Spades by Bob Long
URL:https://britishchessnews.com/event/death-anniversary-of-joseph-henry-blackburne/
CATEGORIES:British Championships,Death Anniversary,History,Player,Remembering
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200902
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200903
DTSTAMP:20260815T142456Z
CREATED:20200410T130610Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260815T142456Z
UID:4338-1599004800-1599091199@britishchessnews.com
SUMMARY:Birthday of IM Ezra Kirk (02-ix-1996)
DESCRIPTION:BCN wishes Happy Birthday to IM Ezra Kirk (02-ix-1996)\n\nEzra G Kirk was born on Monday\, September 2nd 1996 in France.\n\nEzra Kirk\, Sautron\, 2007\, Courtesy of Dominique Primel / Chessbase\n\nEzra attended Varndean College\, Brighton and then the University of Bath to read Natural Sciences and was an intern at AIR INDUSTRIE THERMIQUE and is currently a Data Product Consultant at the Kubrick Group.\n\nHe edits chess books written by non-English speaking authors and is an accomplished musician publishing works on Spotify.\n\nEzra became a FIDE Master in 2013 and an International Master in 2018\n\nHis peak rating is likely to be in the future but currently is 2445 in December 2018 aged 22.\n\nEzra plays for 4NCL Cheddleton in the Four Nations Chess League.\n\nIM Ezra Kirk\, Tours\, 2020\, Courtesy of Dominique Primel / Chessbase\n\nHere is one of Ezra’s best wins :\n\n\n\n \n\n\n    \n        \n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        \n    \n    \n    \n\n\n \n\n\nIM Ezra Kirk\, Hastings 2012-2013\, courtesy of John Upham Photography
URL:https://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-fm-ezra-kirk-02-ix-1996/
CATEGORIES:4NCL,Birthday,Hastings,Player
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://britishchessnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/JEU8895.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200903
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200904
DTSTAMP:20260815T142921Z
CREATED:20200411T182110Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260815T142921Z
UID:4480-1599091200-1599177599@britishchessnews.com
SUMMARY:Birthday of FM Anthony J Stebbings (03-ix-1951)
DESCRIPTION:Birthday of FM Anthony J Stebbings (03-ix-1951)
URL:https://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-fm-anthony-j-stebbings-03-ix-1951/
CATEGORIES:Birthday,Player
END:VEVENT
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
URL:https://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-michael-john-stean/
CATEGORIES:Birthday,British Championships,History,Player,Writer
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200904
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200905
DTSTAMP:20200904T154337Z
CREATED:20190823T081958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200904T154337Z
UID:1038-1599177600-1599263999@britishchessnews.com
SUMMARY:Birthday of GM Stephen Gordon (04-ix-1986)
DESCRIPTION:We wish Stephen Gordon all the best on his birthday\, this day (September 4th) in 1986. \nStephen John Gordon was born on Thursday\, September 4th 1986 in Oldham\, Lancashire where he has lived since. \nHe attended The Blue Coat School in Oldham \nHe became a FIDE Master in 2004\, an International Master in 2006 and a Grandmaster in 2009. \nIn 2012 he shared first place with Gawain Jones in the British Championships in North Shields. \n2012 British Championships part crosstable \nAccording to Felice his peak FIDE rating was 2556 in September 2012 at the age of 26. \nCrosstable from the 2013 Budapest First Saturday GM Tournament \nStephen plays for 3Cs in the Manchester Chess League and for Wood Green in the London League and for 4NCL 3Cs in the Four Nations Chess League. \nStephen Gordon at the final 4NCL weekend in 2014. Courtesy of John Upham Photography \nWith the White pieces Stephen almost always plays 1.d4 aiming for a Queen’s Gambit and other main lines. \nAs the second player\, Stephen plays the Sicilian Najdorf 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 \nFrom Wikipedia : \n“Stephen J. Gordon (born 4 September 1986) is an English chess grandmaster. \nIn September 2004 he took a break from his A-level studies at The Blue Coat School\, Oldham to compete in the thirteenth Monarch Assurance Isle of Man International. \nIn 2005\, while still a FIDE Master\, he finished 6th in the British Championships ahead of a Grandmaster and several International Masters. \nAt the EU Individual Open Chess Championship held at Liverpool in 2006\, he led the tournament after eight rounds and finished a very creditable (joint) second\, a half point behind winner Nigel Short and level with Luke McShane among others. \nProbably his best result to date however\, was second place in the 2007 British Championship\, narrowly losing his share of the lead in the final round. In previous rounds\, he defeated both tournament victor Jacob Aagaard and previous champion Jonathan Rowson. \nBy 2008\, his rating had reached grandmaster level\, although the title itself had not yet been secured. At the British Championship in Liverpool\, he almost repeated his performance of the previous year\, by taking a share of third place. He was the British under-21 Champion each consecutive year between 2005 and 2008. He became a grandmaster on 1 August 2009. \nHe has been one of the co-presenters of the chess podcast The Full English Breakfast since its inaugural show in October 2010.” \nStephen Gordon at The Plough Public House in 2014 for the annual Drunken Knights vs Wood Green London League match. Courtesy of John Upham Photography \nFor more see Wiki Entry for Stephen Gordon \nGM Stephen Gordon\, courtesy of John Upham Photography
URL:https://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-stephen-john-gordon/
CATEGORIES:Birthday,British Championships,Player
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200904
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200905
DTSTAMP:20200904T082751Z
CREATED:20200410T213141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200904T082751Z
UID:4381-1599177600-1599263999@britishchessnews.com
SUMMARY:Birthday of IM Joseph McPhillips (04-ix-1997)
DESCRIPTION:BCN says Happy Birthday to IM Joseph McPhillips (04-ix-1997) \nJoe became a FIDE Master in 2015 and an International Master in 2018. \nHis peak FIDE rating is 2434 as at August 2019 and we predict it will increase. \nFIDE rating profile of IM Joseph McPhillips \nIn Joseph won outright the Kecskemet IM Tournament : \nKecskemet 2015 IM Tournament \nIn 2016 Joseph won the Delancey UK Chess Challenge Terafinal to become a “Strat”* for the first time. \n*Only Mike Basman knows what this means! \nIM Joseph McPhillips\, UKCC Terafinal 2016 Winner\, courtesy of John Upham Photography \nJoseph plays for Bolton and for Wood Green in the Four Nations Chess League. \nJoseph won outright the Budapest First Sunday IM tournament in 2018 : \nCrosstable for Budapest First Sunday IM 2018 \nWith the white pieces Joseph prefers a main line Ruy Lopez and the Open Sicilian and he has recently started dabbling with 1.d4 \nAs the second player Joseph employs the Classical French and the Queen’s Indian Defences. \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 Joseph McPhillips\, UKCC Terafinal 2014\, courtesy of John Upham Photography
URL:https://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-im-joseph-mcphillips-04-xi-1997/
CATEGORIES:Birthday,British Championships,Player
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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
URL:https://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-im-sam-e-collins-05-ix-1982/
CATEGORIES:Birthday,Player,Writer
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200909
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200910
DTSTAMP:20200908T133525Z
CREATED:20190822T223745Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200908T133525Z
UID:1023-1599609600-1599695999@britishchessnews.com
SUMMARY:Death Anniversary for IM Imre König (09-ii-1901 09-ix-1992)
DESCRIPTION:Death Anniversary for IM Imre König (09-ii-1901 09-ix-1992) \nFrom The Anglo-Soviet Radio Chess Match  by E.Klein and W.Winter :  \n“Born in 1901 in Hungary when it still belonged to the old pre-World War I Austria\, spent most of his life in Vienna\, where he became a promising player at an early age. After World War I and the various geographical adjustments in the map of Europe\, he became Yugoslav by nationality and represented that country three times in international team tournaments.  \nHe has competed in a great number of international tournaments\, some of them in this country\, where he has lived since 1938. He won the Premier Reserves at Hastings\, 1938\, in a strong international field\, finished fourth and fifth with the late Landau at Bournemouth\, 1939\, and shared first and second prizes with Milner-Barry in the National Chess Centre tournament\, 1939. His last performance was in the London International Tournament\, 1946\, where he shared fourth\, fifth and sixth places with Sir George Thomas and Gerald Abrahams. He is now a professional player.  \nKönig’s special strength lies in the openings\, of which he has a deep knowledge.” \nImre König \nFrom The Encyclopedia of Chess (Robert Hale\, 1970 & 1976) by Anne Sunnucks : \n“International Master (1951). Born in Kula\, Hungary (now Serbia). König became a Yugoslav citizen when the territory in which he lived was ceded to Yugoslavia after the First World War. In 1938 he emigrated to England and became a naturalised British subject in 1949. He found that the English climate affected his health and in 1953 went to live in the USA. \nKönig learnt to play chess when he was 10. In 1920\, while studying at Vienna University\, he met Spielmann\, Tartakover  and Réti\, and became became interested in the hypermodern school of chess\, which they represented.  \nHe played for Yugoslavia in the chess Olympiads of 1931 and 1935 and came 2nd in the Yugoslav national tournament of 1922. His results in international tournaments include =4th at Bournemouth 1939; =4th at London 1946 and 2nd at Hastings 1948-49. These results do not do justice to his strength as a player. He was handicapped by a poor temperament for tournament chess\, which prevented him from achieving greater success in the international field. \nA chess professional\, König was a first-class teacher of the game (Anne was a student of his)\, as well as being a leading theoretician. He is author of The Queen’s Indian Defence (Pitman\, 1947) and Chess from Morphy to Botvinnik (Bell\, 1951).” \nFrom The Encyclopedia of Chess (Batsford\, 1977) by Harry Golombek : \n“An international master since 1951\, born at Gyula in Austro-Hungary. After the first world war König became a Yugoslav citizen and represented that country in the Olympiads of 1931 and 1935. He emigrated to England in 1938  and was naturalised in 1949. Since 1953 he has resided in the USA. Tournament results include 2nd prize at Hastings 1948/9. His publications include a monograph on the Queen’s Indian Defence\, London 1947\, and a longer work\, Chess from Morphy to Botvinnik\, London\, 1951 ” \nHooper & Whyld are silent on König for some strange reason. \nFrom Wikipedia : \n“Imre König (Koenig) aka Mirko Kenig (Sept 2\, 1901\, Gyula\, Hungary – 1992\, Santa Monica\, California) was a Hungarian chess master. \nHe was born in Gyula\, Hungary\, and also lived in Austria\, England and the USA during the troubled times between the two world wars. \nIn 1921\, he took 2nd in Celje. In 1920s König played in several tournaments in Vienna; he was 3rd in 1921\, 14th in 1922 (Akiba Rubinstein won)\, 3rd-4th in 1925\, 4-5th in 1926 (Rudolf Spielmann won)\, and 3rd-5th in 1926. He took 12th in Rogaška Slatina (Rohitsch-Sauerbrunn) in 1929. The event was won by Rubinstein. In 1929/30\, he took 7th in Vienna (Hans Kmoch and Spielmann won). In 1931\, he took 4th in Vienna (Albert Becker won). In 1936\, he tied for 6-7th in Novi Sad (Vasja Pirc won). In 1937\, he tied for 2nd-4th in Belgrade (Vasilije Tomović won). \nMirko Kenig represented Yugoslavia in the 4th Chess Olympiad at Prague 1931 (+5 –1 =2)\, the 6th Chess Olympiad at Warsaw 1935 (+5 –2 =8)\,[2] and in 3rd unofficial Chess Olympiad at Munich 1936 (+7 –4 =7).” \n\n\n \n\n\n    \n        \n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        \n    \n    \n    \n\n\n \n \n“In 1938\, Imre König emigrated to England. In 1939\, he tied for 4-5th in Bournemouth (Max Euwe won)\, and shared 1st with Philip Stuart Milner-Barry in Hampstead. In 1946\, he took 4th in London. In 1948/49\, he took 2nd\, behind Nicolas Rossolimo\, in the Hastings International Chess Congress. \nIn 1949\, he became a naturalized British citizen. However\, in 1953 he moved to the United States. \nKönig was awarded the International Master title in 1951.” \nQueen’s Indian Defence\, König\, Pitman\, 1947 \nChess from Morphy to Botwinnik by Imre König \nThe Right Way to Play Chess \nImre König by John Donaldson
URL:https://britishchessnews.com/event/death-anniversary-for-imre-konig/
CATEGORIES:Death Anniversary,History,Player
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200917
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200918
DTSTAMP:20260816T135559Z
CREATED:20200411T184304Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260816T135559Z
UID:4492-1600300800-1600387199@britishchessnews.com
SUMMARY:Birthday of FM James E Vigus (17-ix-1978)
DESCRIPTION:Birthday of FM James E Vigus (17-ix-1978)
URL:https://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-fm-james-e-vigus-17-ix-1978/
CATEGORIES:Birthday,Player
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200929
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200930
DTSTAMP:20200924T143717Z
CREATED:20190928T215700Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200924T143717Z
UID:1414-1601337600-1601423999@britishchessnews.com
SUMMARY:Birthday of IM Tom Rendle (29-ix-1986)
DESCRIPTION:Best wishes to IM Tom Rendle on his birthday. \nThomas Edward Rendle was born on Monday\, September 29th 1986. “Stuck with You” by Huey Lewis and the News was the UK’s number one single. \nTom was born in Hastings\, East Sussex and his mother’s maiden name is Jefferies. Tom resides in Hastings. \nTom attended Bede’s School\, Sussex and then St. Leonard’s College. \nTom Rendle aged 11 by David Crump \nTom studied physics at The University of Warwick and has two brothers\, Tim and James and a sister Theresa. \nTom became a FIDE Master in 2004. In 2006 Tom became an International Master and achieved a peak rating (according to Felice) in July 2007 of 2416 at the age of 21. Tom has one Grandmaster norm. \nTom has played for 4NCL Grantham Sharks\, Hammersmith (in the London League)\, Drunken Knights (in the London League)\, West London and Sandhurst (in the Surrey Border and Berkshire Leagues). \nHis first ECF grade to appear on the grading web site was 82A in July 1994 at the age of 7 : \nECF Grading Progress of Tom Rendle \nTom played in the World U12 Championship won by Teimour Radjabov and his first major success was scoring 7.5/10 in the 2001 Smith and Williamson Young Masters. He became Hampshire Champion in 2001 with 5/6 and won the 2004 Rosny Sous Bois tournament with 7/9 and a TPR of 2568. He was runner-up in the Paignton Open of 2005 followed by runner-up in the Coulsdon Christmas tournament of 2005. \n\n\n \n\n\n    \n        \n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        \n    \n    \n    \n\n\n \n \nTom’s GM norm was earnt at Gibraltar 2007. \nTom Rendle in 2011 \nTom has his own popular YouTube Channel \n \nWith the white pieces Tom is almost exclusively an e4 player but he has flirted with Bird’s Opening many times. Having shared accommodation with Gawain Jones there are signs of influence in the choice of the Grand Prix Attack. \nAs the second player Tom plays both the Winawer and the Classical French and is a noted expert on the Classical Dutch and Dutch in general. \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 Tom Rendle at the King’s Place Rapidplay\, 2013\, Courtesy of John Upham Photography \nFrom Wikipedia : \n“Thomas Edward Rendle (born 29 September 1986) is a British FIDE International Master chess player and coach. Rendle became an International Master in June 2006 and is part way towards becoming a Grandmaster\, with one GM Norm. \nHe gained an interest in chess at an early age\, and soon entered chess tournaments\, gaining success in his age categories (such as becoming Mini Squad Under 7s Champion\, England Under 11 Champion).[citation needed] He was put on top board for the England under 11 team and won the Sussex Under 18 Championships\, whilst still under 12.” \nIn 1998 Rendle played Garry Kasparov in the BT Wireplay Challenge 1998. In 2005 he was a coach for England’s team at the 1st FIDE World Schools Championship in Halkidiki\, Greece and in 2006 he coached with the England Team at the European Youth Chess Championships in Montenegro. \nRendle currently works as a chess coach\, both online and face-to-face. He is a regular coach of England Juniors.” \nIM Tom Rendle\, Courtesy of John Upham Photography
URL:https://britishchessnews.com/event/birthday-of-im-thomas-edward-rendle/
CATEGORIES:Birthday,British Championships,Coach,Player
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