There's been plenty of news over the last couple of weeks on the whole Bobby Fischer saga and, in particular, whether or not he fathered a child with one Marilyn Young, apparently his then "live-in partner". We now know that he didn't. The DNA tests said so. As far as I'm concerned, the science is conclusive and that's that.
But in his column today for the Philippines' Business World, Fischer's long-time friend Bobby Ang still has something to say about the whole thing.
Through mutual friends Marilyn Young was introduced to him, they fell in love and lived together in a house in Baguio Country Club. Then Ms. Marilyn got pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl, Jinky.
...
When the baby came out Bobby was initially skeptical: "how come the baby does not have blue eyes?" was the question he kept asking. However, after some time he seemed to relent and recognize the baby as his own. I do not know whether he ever brought them abroad to vacation, but even after Fischer left the Philippines he used to send them money, postcards and gifts through a mutual friend.
Maybe Marilyn had another boyfriend before Bobby Fischer, maybe the paternity test was flawed -- I don’t know. What I do know is that Bobby Fischer treated Jinky like his own daughter. And for someone like him who is not used to being close to anybody that is saying a lot.
And that is all I have to say about that.
READ: Whatever the DNA tests say, Jinky deserves something.
Fischer not the father of 9-year-old Filipino girl
Robert J. Fischer is not the biological father of Jinky Young, a 9-year-old girl from the Philippines. This was the result of DNA tests after tissue samples were taken from the 11th World Champion’s remains in July.
On Monday, July 5th the tissue samples had been taken from Fischer to determine whether he was the father of Jinky. This was ordered by the Icelandic Supreme Court in the struggle for the legacy of the tormented genius.
Fischer is said to have left behind at least two million American dollars, which is claimed by four parties: Marilyn Young (the mother of the girl), Miyoko Watai, who was married to Fischer, and Alexander and Nicholas Targ (two of Fischer’s nephews). Besides, the U.S. government is still trying to collect unpaid taxes.
Marilyn Young, who tried to prove Fischer is the father of her 9-year-old daughter Jinky, filed her claim in Iceland last November. As evidence she provided pictures of her, Fischer and Jinky, and postcards to Jinky signed “Daddy” that she said were from Fischer. Based on this, the claim was denied.
But after Young came up with new evidence, in the form of records showing that Fischer transferred money to her account 2006 and 2007, the Supreme Court reversed the District Court of Reykjavik and ordered a paternity test. Therefore, DNA samples were taken from the remains and compared with the genetic material of the girl and her mother.
The National Hospital of Iceland, where Fischer passed away on January 17, 2008 from degenerative renal failure, didn’t preserve DNA material. Fischer was buried in a cemetery near the town of Selfoss, Iceland.
The test result was announced in Reykjavik District Court. Thordur Bogason, a Reykjavik-based lawyer who represents Jinky Young and her mother Marylin, said on Tuesday: “the DNA report excluded Bobby Fischer from being the father of Jinky Young, and therefore the case has come to a close.”
But the struggle for the Fischer legacy will continue. Gudjon Olafur Jonsson, who legally represents Fischer’s two American nephews, said the result ’simplifies’ the case between Fischer’s nephews and the woman who was his long-term partner. The case is scheduled to be heard in Reykjavik next month but is not expected to finish before the end of the year.
Bobby Fischer Heritage Dispute Continues in Iceland
Bobby Fischer Heritage Dispute Continues in Iceland 18/08/2010 11:30
After a DNA test determined that Jinky Young, a girl from the Philippines, isn’t late chess master Robert J. Fischer’s daughter, her mother Marilyn’s claim to Fischer’s estate on behalf of her daughter has been dismissed. However, the heritage dispute continues.
Both Fischer’s alleged widow Myoko Watai and his nephews are making claim to the estate, Morgunbladid reports. Their case continues in Reykjavík District Court next month.
Thórdur Bogason, Jinky Young’s lawyer, confirmed yesterday that the forensic department of the Landspítali hospital in Reykjavík had sent its conclusion to the lawyers involved in this case that the girl, who was born in 2001, couldn’t be Fischer’s daughter.
Fischer’s body was exhumed last month to collect a biological sample for the DNA test and determine whether Jinky’s mother Marilyn’s claim that Fischer was the father of her daughter was right.
Among evidence submitted by Marilyn Young was a photograph from 2004 of her, Jinky and Fischer lying in a bed together and a postcard to Jinky from Fischer which he had signed with “Daddy”. The mother and daughter visited Fischer in Iceland in 2005.
In December last year, the Supreme Court of Iceland reversed a ruling by Reykjavík District Court that a public distribution of Fischer’s estate did not have to take place.
The Supreme Court concluded that sufficient proof that Watai and Fischer had been married was lacking. Watai has yet to respond to the court’s request to submit documents confirming her and Fischer’s marriage.
Fischer became an Icelandic citizen in 2005 and passed away in January 2008. At his request, he was buried in the remote Laugardaelakirkjugardur cemetery in south Iceland.
Click here to read more about the legal dispute surrounding his estate.
Actor is due to play Russian chess icon Gary Kasparov
Actor is due to play Russian chess icon Gary Kasparov Music Posted by Robin Murray Thu, 29/07/2010
Welsh rock survivors Manic Street Preachers have recruited Michael Sheen to star in their new video.
After more than two decades together, Manic Street Preachers still have a desire to prove themselves. Confirming details of their new album 'Postcards From A Young Man' the band aim to reclaim the stadiums.
Following on from last year's emotional 'Journal For Plague Lovers' the album is a return to their rock roots. Upcoming single '(It's Not War) Just The End Of Love' is set to have an unusual video, starring Michael Sheen.
Best known for portraying Brian Clough in 'The Damned United' the actor has also taken on parts in 'The Queen' and new sitcom '30 Rock'.
Now Michael Sheen is set to work with Manic Street Preachers. The actor is due to play Russian chess icon Gary Kasparov the upcoming video, inspired by a classic match between two Grandmasters.
"It looks like Michael Sheen is gonna be in the video, which we're really thrilled about," Nicky Wire told the NME. "We've tried to recreate the classic '70s chess match between Kasparov and (Bobby) Fischer. That's the kind of vibe behind it. It's real '70s Russia – just that idea of 'it's not war, just the end of love', I think a chess game really fits that."
Continuing, the bass player explained that the video would tackle Cold War politics. "It's a really serious intellectual game but, you know, it's not World War Three. Although the cold war chess games were kind of like wars played out on a chess board. Me and James (Dean Bradfield) have come up with the idea for it."
Meanwhile, tickets are still up for grabs at a special one off London show. Manic Street Preachers are set to perform in London later this summer, with the audience comprising just 100 competition winners.
If you miss out, the Welsh trio have confirmed details of a lengthy British arena tour this winter.
The remains of 11th World Champion Robert James Fischer are to be exhumed to determine whether he is the father of a 9-year-old Philippino girl. This was ordered yesterday by the Icelandic Supreme Court in the struggle for the legacy of the tormented genius.
Fischer is said to have left behind at least two million American dollars, which is claimed by four parties: Marilyn Young (the mother of the girl), Miyoko Watai, who was married to Fischer, and Alexander and Nicholas Targ (two of Fischer’s nephews). Besides, the U.S. government is still trying to collect unpaid taxes.
Marilyn Young, who says Fischer is the father of her 9-year-old daughter Jinky, filed her claim in Iceland last November. As evidence she provided pictures of her, Fischer and Jinky, and postcards to Jinky signed “Daddy” that she said were from Fischer. Based on this, the claim was denied.
But after Young came up with new evidence, in the form of records showing that Fischer transferred money to her account 2006 and 2007, the Supreme Court reversed the District Court of Reykjavik and ordered a paternity test. Therefore, DNA samples will be taken from the remains and compared with the genetic material of the girl and her mother.
The National Hospital of Iceland, where Fischer passed away on January 17, 2008 from degenerative renal failure, didn’t preserve DNA material. Fischer was buried in a cemetery near the town of Selfoss, Iceland.
V turno Obiettivo Risarcimento Padova a punteggio pieno!
La Scavolini ! Pesaro supera nettamente Ancona e continua ad inseguire
Montebelluna impone la patta a Chieti. Risale il Marostica che soffre ma batte la Triestina
IV turno femminile pareggio nel big match tra Chieti e S.S. Milanese
VI turno Vallejo Pons - Shirov Live h. 15:30
Huebner - Caruana
Georgiev - Godena
Bellini - Ortega
Borgo - Collutiis
Garcia Palermo - D. Rombaldoni
Brunello - Vocaturo
D'Amore - A. Rombaldoni
Salvador - Dvirnyy
V turno Femminile Sedina - Fierro Baquero e Zimina - Calzetta
Si disputano oggi, in Arvier (Valle d'Aosta), il quinto ed il sesto turno del Campionato Italiano a Squadre, Serie Master, ed il quarto e quinto turno della Finale del Campionato a Squadre Femminile. Verranno trasmessi in diretta i primi quattro incontri (16 scacchiere) della Serie Master ed il primo incontro (3 scacchiere) del Femminile.
IV turno Caruana patta con Vallejo e Padova batte Chieti
pronto riscatto della Scavolini Punto Esc. Pesaro contro Montebelluna
III turno Femminile Terza vittoria consecutiva per Chieti e S.S. Milanese
Si disputano oggi, in Arvier (Valle d'Aosta), il terzo ed il quarto turno del Campionato Italiano a Squadre, Serie Master, ed il secondo e terzo turno (ore 15.30) della Finale del Campionato a Squadre Femminile. Verranno trasmessi in diretta i primi quattro incontri (16 scacchiere) della Serie Master ed il primo incontro (3 scacchiere) del Femminile.?
Partecipano a questa edizione del Campionato Italiano a Squadre, Serie Master, 14 squadre. Il torneo si svolgerà in 7 turni con sistema svizzero. Gli incontri si disputano su quattro scacchiere. In ciascun singolo incontro ogni squadra può schierare al massimo un giocatore di cittadinanza o formazione straniera.
sistema di punteggio la classifica sarà stilata tenendo conto dei punti squadra (2 punti per ogni incontro vinto, 1 punto per ogni incontro pareggiato). In caso di parità si terrà conto dei punti individuali, ed in caso di ulteriore parità, se si sono incontrate tutte tra di loro, della classifica avulsa tra le squadre in parità (punti squadra e poi punti individuali). Persistendo la parità si disputerà uno spareggio a 30 minuti, eventualmente un successivo spareggio a 15 minuti, poi a 5 minuti; in caso di ulteriore parità si procederà al sorteggio. I colori devono essere sempre alternati. I tempi di gioco o le modalità di spareggio possono essere modificati dal Direttore Nazionale per esigenze organizzative.
retrocessioni saranno retrocesse nella serie inferiore le ultime 4 in classifica
calendario di gioco si gioca dal 28 Aprile a 2 Maggio. Nei primi tre giorni è prevista la disputa di? tre doppi turni, con inizio alle ore 8,45 e 15,30. Settimo ed ultimo turno il 2 Maggio con inizio alle ore 8,45. Alle ore 15,30? Premiazione e Cerimonia di chiusura (salvo spareggi).
cadenza di gioco 90 minuti per 40 mosse più 15 minuti per finire, con bonus di 30 secondi a mossa a partire dalla prima.
Lucky us! 9 Queens was selected as one of three nonprofits to benefit from this year’s Battle of the Ads contest hosted by the American Ad Federation of Tucson. We had the privilege of working with a talented team of designers and writers from Madden Media to create the brand new Chess Fest poster for 2010. The poster was presented at a luncheon on January 19 where Madden was honored with the Bull’s Eye Award for Targeted Marketing.
The poster and accompanying postcard are two of my all-time favorite chess posters. The folks at Madden did an amazing job not only capturing the spirit of Chess Fest, but also coming up with creative, fun, and kid-friendly descriptions of event.
Thank you so much to everyone at Madden for the amazing work and to the American AD Federation for this fantastic opportunity!
Before flying tomorrow morning to Tucson for my Goodwill event at 9 Queens, I would like to wish to all chess players in the world a wonderful holiday season and lots of happiness playing chess.
It's getting closer to Christmas, and I want to send to you and to your families all my warmest wishes for a wonderful Christmas and happy holidays, close to your family and friends.
May Love and happiness be in your hearts, and may Chess bring you closer together in this holiday!
Feel free to use freely the above "postcard" to send to your friends.
No, it’s not a typo. There really will be a genuine USCF-rated chess tournament right here in Hyde Park next Saturday, thanks to the University of Chicago Chess Club. Details:
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The Reynolds Club -- 5706 S. University Ave, Chicago, IL
USCF rated only (not FIDE rated).
4-SS G/60+10 Sec increment. $1225 b/60 (An increase of $525 over the last prize fund we offered at this site!).
EF: $30 preentry, $40 at the site. $10 discount to U of C students. IDs will be checked at site and discount given at site. All pre-entries will be put in a drawing for a Chessbase software package of your choice.
Prize Fund: (All class prizes based on 4 per section) 1st $400, 2nd $250, 3rd $150,Expert/A $125,B $100, C $100, D + below and Unrated $75, Biggest Upset $25.
Info/Preentries: Chris Baumgartner, 9985 Linda Ln Apt 2E, Des Plaines, IL 60016 (please make checks payable to Chris Baumgartner) Phone: 847-609-2987 Email: mcafide@yahoo.com.
Here's a flyer you can tack up on the fridge. And a hat tip to NM Jeremy Kane, team’s captain and also the new Ray School chess coach, for sending me the information.
In today's Sun Herald GM Ian Rogers points to a recent ruckus in the UK papers over the auction sale of 18 postcards that were exchanged between a couple of competitors in the inaugural World Chess Correspondence Championshps (1950-1953). Yes, it's that one that Aussie CJS Purdy won.
The reason for what Rogers calls "frenzied accounts" in the British press was apparently because one of the competitors in question was none other than Graham Mitchell. At the time of the championships, Mr Mitchell also happened to be the deputy director of MI5.
Here's the Daily Mail and The Telegraph both quoting an "expert" who said: "Agents would be trained to understand chess moves and Mitchell was quite a good chess player. The chances are that these were instructions or intelligence to a Soviet agent or an informer."
Make of it whatever you want but GM Rogers himself seemed pretty incredulous of the whole thing.
But anyway, this now leads me to this somewhat fitting item in yet another British paper, The Guardian. Stuart Evers tells us why our beautiful game is perfert for fiction.
More abstractly, chess is attractive to writers as it mirrors the very act of writing itself. Planning ahead, tactics, manipulation are both part of fiction's palate as well as chess's. In both his fiction and his plays, Beckett used the imagery of the chess set, moving his characters around like lowly, articulate pawns. The conclusion of Murphy may be the finest expression of the game's intrinsic link to both art and humanity – "The ingenuity of despair" indeed.
We recently reported
on a large Fischer collenction that was snapped up for US $61,000 by Rex and
Jeanne Sinquefield. Collectors – and especially philatelists – have
an opportunity to get some new items from the 1972 Fischer vs Spassky World Chess
Championship, with postcards, envelopes, a signed admittance ticket. They are
from a private Icelandic collection.
Video della premiazione dei 41? Camp. Italiani a Squadre di Senigallia (AN)
5 VIDEO delle PREMIAZIONI del CIS a SENIGALLIA !
Video Tributoa Huebner
Video della premiazione Master - Femminile - Serie Nazionali e Soluzione Problemi
Si è conclusa la 41° esima edizione del Campionato Italiano a Squadre e le concomitanti manifestazioni, ovvero il campionato a Squadre Femminile, le Serie Nazionali e Soluzione Problemi.
Riportiamo qui i vari video delle rispettive premiazioni più il bel tributo che è stato reso al GM Robert Huebner, uno dei giocatori più forti al mondo negli anni '70. Omaggi resi dallo speaker, l'arbitro Renier, e dal pubblico che lo ha applaudito fragorosamente. Pubblico che ha anche partecipato numeroso alla cerimonia di celebrazione dei vincitori avvenuta con una mezz'ora di ritardo rispetto al previsto perchè si sono dovuti disputare, con sorpresa di tutti, gli spareggi semilampo tra le squadre femminili di Chieti e Bologna per il secondo posto visto che le due compagini non solo hanno terminato a pari punti ma alla pari erano anche i vari criteri di spareggio. Alla fine ha prevalso Chieti per 2-1 ottenendo la medaglia d'argento, ma applausi anche a Bologna che ha dovuto compiere un'ultima inattesa fatica. Per Bologna il punto l'ha fatto Laura Costantini (Fierro e Gabassi per Chieti), che già nei turni precedenti si era resa protagonista di una lunga battaglia di 105 mosse (patta) con Marina Brunello, giocandone gran parte solo con l'incremento e in situazione di inferiorità. Complimenti Laura per la resistenza !
Da sottolineare anche l'ottimo 7 su 7 di Sabino Brunello in terza scacchiera per Padova, impresa con performance di 3099 punti elo ed una variazione positiva che lo porta virtualmente intorno ai 2530 punti !
TRIBUTO al GM ROBERT HUEBNER
PREMIAZIONE MASTER
1° Padova ( Georgiev - Bellini S. Brunello Arlandi - Valsecchi ) 2° Pesaro ( D. Rombaldoni, Delorme, A. Rombaldoni, A. Rombaldoni, M Ragonesi, B. Rombaldoni) 3° La Zisa Palermo ( Olszweski, Bentivegna, Napoli, Ferro)
I'm doing well keeping my blitz addiction in check: six games so far in 2009. On the other hand, in so-called correspondence chess on sites like ChessWorld, Chess.com (a sponsor of the Washington State Elementary Chess Championship), Red Hot Pawn, and others, there is a kind of blitz that players will fall into. Players with too many games must move quickly when they first look at each game board. Players with fewer games should take their time, but often move quickly in any case. The temptation to move quickly can be magnified when you know that your opponent is also online--many moves might be exchanged over the course of an hour or two.
I can be sitting at my desk writing the Great American novel, a post for Patriots and Peoples, or lesson plans for chess or history classes. Email notification lets me know when an opponent has moved. I can remain logged in to a site and check every few minutes, especially when a move is imminent. Conditional moves accelerate the process.
All these factors contribute to a correspondence game finishing in a few days, instead of the years that had been the norm with postcards, or the months that are the norm today. I am one draw--my last remaining game--from winning the first round of an event that began last week. This French miniature was my penultimate game in that event.
We've jostled the move order a bit, but this line is from John Watson, Play the French, 3rd edition (2003). Watson's idea for Black is to create asymmetry so there is play in the position. That way, the better player can win. The Exchange need not be drawish, even if White intends it so.
White to move
8.h3 Bh5 9.Re1 Qd7=
White to move
10.Nbd2 is most common, and probably best.
10.Qe2 O-O-O 11.Be3?! f6 12.Nbd2 g5 13.Bb5 g4
White to move
14.Nh4= was necessary
14.hxg4? Qxg4+/- 15.Nh2??
Black to move
15...Bxh2+ 16.Kh1 Qh4 17.Qd3??
Now checkmate is forced, but White was lost anyway.
17...Bg3+ 18.Kg1 Qh2+ 19.Kf1 Qh1# 0-1
My opponent fell into a sort of correspondence blitz. Speed kills, they say. Speed produced errors, and he lost.
Correspondence players, as well as those engaged in what some are calling turn-based chess, play many games at once. At sites such as Chess World, Red Hot Pawn (aka Chess at Work), and Chess.com, some folks have hundreds of games going at once. Others limit themselves to a small number. At most of these sites, you can join and play for free, but becoming a paying member unlocks additional site features, including more generous limits, or none at all, on the number of games going at once.
Quality play calls for fewer games, but much of the fun comes from tournaments and team play, and these often increase the game load dramatically.
Last week I was down to a dozen games on four such sites--two paid memberships, two free. I entered two club tournaments. One event needed one more player, and was wholly composed of players rated lower than me. They had been waiting some time--several weeks I believe--for one last player so they could begin, and I opted to take the risk to help them out. It's a risk because I won't gain much in the way of experience or rating beating all of them, but a little bit of slop on my part (or running up against an engine user) could hurt me. The other club tournament had been planned months ago, and finally started today. I'm number two in my group, but most of the others are near the rating I had a year ago, and where I had been for two years up to that point. I lose to those two hundred points below me often enough to know that all these games are serious, and most of my opponents are within one hundred on the rating scale. It has prospects of being a difficult and competitive tournament. The winners of the section advance to play the top finishers from the other section, so success means more games, and tougher too.
Both of these tournaments are double round robins with all games played at once. Thus, I have ten new opponents and twenty new games. In the past, I've carried as many as seventy-five games at once in this form of online play, but have learned through experience that thirty is a heavy load, and with more than that, I might as well play blitz. Too many games cause fast, and too often unsound, moves. Throughout 2008, when my skills and ratings improved notably, I maintained a load that varied from six to twenty correspondence games.
I try to play at a minimum of three days per move, which was the standard rate of play when I played via postcard. One of my games that is currently dragging on (I have a decisive advantage) is ten days per move. My opponent moves once every nine and one-half days. Perhaps he's using what called the "dead man's defense"--playing slow enough that there's a chance the opponent will pass away before delivering the coup de grace. Some games can be really slow. Most often, however, they last a couple of months in contrast to one to two years for postal chess.
In postal chess the clock starts running the day you receive the postcard. In turn-based, it starts running the instant your opponent submits his or her move. Postal chess typically requires one move per week for each player, while turn-based is often more than twice as fast--and the "mail" arrives Saturday night, Sunday morning, or any other time. There is no rest. Someone is always moving on these sites, except in the rare instances that the site goes down for ten minutes or three hours for some new coding uploads.
Getting Help
Engines are forbidden at most turn-based sites, and in most other forms of correspondence chess with a few exceptions. Several years ago, the International Correspondence Chess Federation abandoned all efforts to prevent engine use. In contrast, the International E-mail Chess Club still bans engine use. FICGS, the Free Internet Correspondence Games Server, permits engine use and is a good place to go for players interested in trying to use their engines to beat another's engines. Many strong correspondence players long have maintained that engines are not yet better than humans when players have three or more days per move. Indeed, engines playing alone without significant human guidance probably never achieve impressive ratings on FICGS.
One of the pleasures of turn-based and correspondence chess is the assumption that players will be using their books and databases, even when engines are not allowed. A player can buy the latest monograph on an opening, or create a deeply annotated electronic "book," then enter a thematic tournament in that opening. I learned some new lines and generally became much more comfortable playing both sides of the closed Spanish as a result of such an event four years ago. I did the same with the Reti, and I've played in thematic tournaments in openings with which I'm relatively uncomfortable or even almost wholly unfamiliar. It's a good way to get practical experience while learning a new opening.
Still, there are those that eschew books and databases on these sites. Questions whether they are legal is one of the standard noob inquiries in the forums of all these sites. A few purists and dogmatists understand that such help is allowed, but prefer not to use them and seek opponents with similar convictions. They are in the minority. Most players realize that any sort of game load whatsoever under such conditions would preclude the study of most chess books. For example, a week never goes by that I'm not looking at some grandmaster's game in the Queen's Gambit, French Defense, or Catalan, and I nearly always have games going in these openings. I cannot pledge to play only openings that I'm not studying. Giving up book study is completely out of the question. I play to improve.
Those that often face me in OTB chess know that I play a lot of different openings. A broad repertoire is a natural consequence of two activities: correspondence chess, and many years nurturing a blitz addiction. One of these helps me strengthen my preparation; the other assures only that there's nothing I haven't seen.
I haven't done this in a while, but I managed to find some interesting stuff.
This New York Times article reports that American astronaut Greg Chamitoff is playing a game of chess against Mission Control. It also talks a bit about the first chess game played in space (by the Russians of course).
In this Washington Post article, the author relates how he used a chess class as a "crash-protection device" for his GPA. Read the full article for a useful tip in earning a higher GPA by taking a chess class.
Bored with chess? If you're good enough, you can always try rogue financial trading like Matthew Piper ... read more.
First there was chess-boxing. Now we have chess-marathon-running. David Levans, age 69, is determined to play six games of chess using his mobile phone while running a marathon! Read the article here.
In this eulogy, one of the stories described how government officials thought two-time Georgia chess champion A.C. Davis was a spy because he kept sending and receiving mysterious postcards!
...and now, we return to our regularly scheduled program.
I've had the flux capacitor fully charged while I was in Philly and I set the time machine to the period of August 5 - September 2 of 1895 to the location of the seaside town of Hastings in East Sussex England. It was here the famous super tournament known as Hastings 1895 was played.
To set the period, electricity was starting to take hold in America with Westinghouse generators pumping out Tesla's AC versus Edison's DC since the late 1880's. This meant that lighting for the chess event's evening sessions may very well have been through electric means. For Chessloser, bicycle manufacturer Schwinn, was launched in Germany in this year. On the political front, France's President Casimir-Perier resigned in disgust on January 17 and was succeeded by FélixFaure. As the new government took office, the former premier Alexandre Ribotresumed his position as minister of finance, but after a financial scandal, he was forced into resignation once again.
Hasting's history can claim fame through its connection with the Norman conquest of England; and also because it became one of the medieval Cinque Ports. Hastings was, for centuries, an important fishing port; although much reduced, it has the largest beach-based fishing fleet in England. As with many other such places, the town became a watering place in the 1760s, and then, with the coming of the railway, a seaside resort.
In 1895, the Brassey Institute was place where the 22 participants battled for top prize of 150 British pounds. Players lodged in the Queen’s Hotel, except for Pillsbury. He explained: "I want to be quiet. I mean to win this tournament!"
In the rules of the event, the schedule included playing on Mondays-Wednesdays and Fridays and Saturdays. Thursdays were left for adjournments. The games began at 1PM in the afternoon, taking a two our break from 5-7PM. The games were to conclude by 10PM with no adjournment until 60 moves were reached in this round robin structure.
Time limits were 30 moves in two hours with subsequent time controls being 15 moves per hour. This led me to wonder what the the clocks may have looked like. I found the pictures below on the web of chess clocks of the 1890-1895 period.
My coverage of the games will begin on the next post. I decided to highlight a player per post covering the top half. Since Henry Edward Bird is the oldest of the contestants, at age 69, as well as being a young participant in the London 1851 event ( at the age of 25), I felt he'd be a good starting point to bridge the two events as I begin this summer series.
I hope you enjoy.
Editorial note: Bird is actually 65 in this event as he was only 21 at the London 1851 since his birthdate is July 14, 1830. I got age 69 from the Hastings 1895, centennial Edition as reported by the original Author, Horace F. Cheshire in the biography section of the book.
Think back to when you first learned to play chess. Did your mother or father teach you? Maybe a grandparent? Over the years I’ve heard many wonderfully warm stories about people’s first introduction to chess. Those memories are cherished through adulthood, as chess is truly a bonding experience.
My father taught me to play when I was 9 years old. I was fascinated by the boards set up all around the living room, each displaying a different position. I was so eager to learn. My father loved something called postal chess, where he would play people from far away exotic lands through the mail. Most of his opponents lived in Russia, so it took months for each move to arrive. It was always an exciting day when that postcard arrived with its intriguing stamps. It held the mysterious code known only to chess players, informing my father of the next move.
I quickly fell in love with the game and when I beat my father for the first time I quickly made the decision to try out tournaments. Although Dad was more interested in postal chess than over the board play, he joined me in my first tournament, so that I wouldn’t be alone. Now the first thing I noticed, in that small Connecticut tournament, was that I was the only girl and the only child. A little intimidating, but Dad was there, so it was okay. I soon became engrossed in my games, throwing myself into the battle, eager to conquer my opponent, forgetting that the odds were stacked against me. I’m not sure who was more surprised and excited, my father or I, when I won second place.
As an adult I spent a year traveling around the country playing in tournaments. When I attended the NY Open, Dad came up on the train from Connecticut to watch me play. After each game we would talk about the high and low points, analyzing my play, sometimes disagreeing about my strategies (especially when I chose to sacrifice a piece for a dubious attack).
Of course most people do not get into competition play, but it is still an amazingly bonding experience. Whether you take a set on family camping trips or out to the beach or just stay home and have family time after dinner there is nothing like chess for bringing a family together.
In this day and age with television and video games, wouldn’t it be wonderful to see families playing chess with one another? And just imagine for a moment what heights our children can reach if they gain the self confidence chess victories bring.
For some of you parents out there the first step may be to learn how to play yourself. It isn’t hard to learn the rules and I can teach you some fundamental strategies in an hour or two. If your child knows how to play, have him or her teach you. If neither knows, ask Your Chess Coach for help. That is what we are here for.
From the Online Chess Wall -- Brian Wall on Alekhine's Defense
I learned a ton about the Alekhine's Defense preparing for Joe Fromme - I won with both sides our last two games. I expected another thematic debate on old Ale and Wine but Joe played 1 e4 e5. For a quarter century I played the Danish Gambit so I was a little relieved when my new book gave me an excuse to play an animal opening, the Clam. After 25 years of whiteknuckling the opening with a lost game I was like a pilot who had flown too many missions, I could not hold my coffee cup without my hand shaking. The problem with the Lemmiwinks Clam Opening is that it puts no pressure on Black - with the Danish I get a quick win 90% of the time and a lost position 10%. With the Clam everybody gets a a good solid structure with zero tough decisions. 9 year old Jackson Chen beat my Clam in my Poor Richard's Lion simul. Joe Fromme had a great game for 20 moves.
[Event "Poor Richard's Restaurant Wednesday Night Chess Tournament"] [Site "324 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO"] [Date "2007.11.14"] [Round "2"] [White "brianwall"] [Black "Joe Fromme"] [Result "1-0"] [ICCResult "Black checkmated"] [WhiteElo "2200"] [BlackElo "1668"] [Opening "KP: Indian opening, Clam Opening"] [ECO "C20"] [NIC "KP.07"] [Time "19:04:18"] [TimeControl "Game/85 plus 5 second delay"]
Poor Richard's Restaurant, Bookstore and Toy Store 7 PM Wednesday Night Chess Tournament
Game 85 plus 5 second delay
Cold night
Afterwards I drank and played poker with Josh Bloomer and his buddies all night at the Finish Line. I argued God with 22 year old Pearl for an hour. I listened to Josh and his young friends Karaoke. Josh took everyone's money at cards and then he won some Pia Sprong Chess postcards from me too. Tom Mullikin and Joe Fromme paid for theirs. I talked boxing with a guy who was a many time Golden Gloves Champion of Boston, sparred with Marvin Hagler for 13 years, a guy who lost 3 out of 132 professional fights. He trains boxers at the Olympic Center while Daniel St. John, a chessplayer, trains the wrestlers. This guy had to imitate the style of Marvin's next bout. One time he "wobbled Marvin with a left hook. " He was an Italian American named John, I think. I asked John if speed with his main weapon - he was 44, fought at 175 and looked very wiry. Our kids are about the same ages with sexes reversed. John said he had a tough jaw and could punch hard. He almost never got hit. He was proud of wobbling Marvin because Marvin is world famous for his rock jaw. In the morning I reported to an AA meeting I had been attending for 6 months that I had spent my last $10 on a pitcher of beer. One time I started the meeting with - Hi, my name is Brian, I am a foodaholic and it has been 3 minutes since my last meal. My poker was over quick after I went all in 3 times in a row in Texas Hold 'em - Results - first all in - my 88 held up against A,5 - second all in - my straight lost to a higher straight - third all in - the flush I flopped was beaten by a higher flush on the flop. Done. Put a fork in me. This is why I miss being married. Without God, wife and children men have scant protection against every vice.
White - Brian Wall 2200
Black - Joe Fromme 1668
1. e4! e5! 2. d3!!
The Clam has no brain and no eyes.
2 ... Nc6! 3. Nf3!
I considered 3 f4 but then I remembered how a girl named Devon in the 2007 Jemez Springs, New Mexico Hummingbird Chess Camp would close her eyes and play Nf3, Be2, 0-0 or Nf3, g3, Bg2, 0-0 imitating the sightless clam. She was a delight. She liked to close her eyes, fumble for a rook, knock all of Black's pieces over with it, scream " Suicide Clam!!!!!!!" and run around the dining hall screaming " Suicide Clam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I really liked talking to Devon. She convinced me to dance a few at the Hummingbird Final Dance night. Devon said, " You make up your own Chess openings, why not make up your own dance moves?" so I did.
After 14 minutes thought I decided I must combat .. f5 with f4. I liked the move visually because it looks like the last move your average development freak would make.
7 ...O-O! 8. f4 f5! 9. Nc3! Be6 10. Nf3 Kh8
I used to do this a lot on the black side of the 1 e4 c6 2 d3 d5 Caro-Kann, prepare a spot on g8 for the bishop.
11. Be3
Thinking maybe Qd2, fe and Bh6. The position is way too boring to analyze but I amused myself by noting the two armies were almost completely symmetrical except for the Kings and their Knights.
11 ... Qd7
Amusing - even the plans are symmetrical - is he plannng ... fe and ... Bh3 too?
12. Ng5 Bg8 13. Qd2 h6! 14. Nf3! Kh7 15. Rf2
Trying to play like Botvinnik in the Botvinnik system of the English.
15 ... Nd4 16. Bxd4
I decided to create some "action" here.
16 ... exd4! 17. Ne2! c5! 18. c3! Nc6
So far I have not managed to achieve anything but don't worry - I have been beating 1600's for 35 years. It doesn't take much to confuse them. Joe hasn't done anything special yet except develop his pieces. Equality unearned contains the seeds of future defeat.
19. exf5 gxf5?
The confusion starts here and ends with a lost game 5 moves later. This leads to 4 weak isolated pawns. I would have nothing after 19 ... Q:f5!
20. cxd4! Nxd4?
The mistakes are coming fast now that Joe can't hide behind general principles. After 20 ... cd! it is hard to activate my e2-knight and Fromme's two bishops cover every sin.
21. Nexd4!
This knight was hopelessly mired a ply ago.
21 ... cxd4! 22. Re2
It was hard to choose a move because picking on d4 with 22 Qb4 leads to nothing after 22 ... a5! I sort of need my a1-rook to guard a2 for the moment.
22 ... Rfe8 23. Nh4
A poker bluff in anticipation of my night with Josh. 23 Nh4 Bf6 24 N:f5 Q:f5 25 Be4 R:e4 26 de favors Joe. My move does attack everything I can and strain the defense a bit.
23 ... Rxe2?
Coloradans have been trade-trade-losing to me for 4 decades.
24. Qxe2!
With threats of N:f5 or Qh5 or Re1
24 ... Re8?
It seems all Joe can do is develop but 24 ... Rf8 was better. The former Marine has fallen apart the last 5 moves because I created imbalances for his faulty judgement to flounder on.
25. Qh5!
f5 falls
25 ... Bf7 26. Qxf5+! Qxf5! 27. Nxf5! Re2!
A pig on the seventh often neutralizes a missing pawn but not two pawns.
28. Nxd6! Kg8! 29. Nxf7!!
I see a way to neutralize Joe's 7th rank rook. Opposite colored bishops can lead to draws two pawns down but I don't think that applies here. This is where human insight is better than computer bean counting.
Fritz 6 is still giving lousy advice but I have everything worked out. There is no defense to Rf2 followed by advancing my King and Kingside pawns up the board, whether Joe trades rooks or not.
32 ... h5 33. Rf2!!
All part of the inevitable juggernaut formulated after 28 ... Kg8. My Queenside is invulnerable and my Kingside is rolling.
33 ... Rxf2! 34. Kxf2! Kf5! 35. Kf3! Bf6?
A funny way to die because now I will have three connected passed pawns or force an immediate checkmate. Joe always gets down to his final minute in our games. I think he enjoys playing a Chessmaster and tries to get the most out of it. Joe started chuckling to himself and allowed the mate with 50 seconds left. Joe was a good sport, bought a packet of Pia's Chess postcards and praised my play. I told him he was fine but somewhere around move 22 he made some mistakes.
Robert J. Fischer is not the biological father of Jinky Young, a 9-year-old girl from the Philippines. This was the result of DNA tests after tissue samples were taken from the 11th World Champion’s remains in July.
I've had the flux capacitor fully charged while I was in Philly and I set the time machine to the period of August 5 - September 2 of 1895 to the location of the seaside town of Hastings in East Sussex England. It was here the famous super tournament known as Hastings 1895 was played. 
