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Hastings 2014/15
Hastings begins tomorrow (Dec. 29 – Jan. 6). Leonard Barden writes about it in his latest column:
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...te-competition
He says in part: “Israel’s Maxim Rodshtein is the top seed and the field of over 100, 14 of them grandmasters, includes entrants from Brazil, China, India, the United States and Uzbekistan.
The event’s palmy years were the 1930s, when the world champions Alexander Alekhine and Max Euwe took part, while later the cream of the golden Soviets were regulars. Bobby Fischer was invited at 14 in 1957-58 but pulled out because the concurrent US championship was a qualifier for the world title.
Some Englishmen have been inspired by the Hastings occasion. Sir George Thomas, who was world No1 at badminton before switching to chess, beat the legends Mikhail Botvinnik and José Capablanca in successive rounds. The Bletchley code-breaker Hugh Alexander, who is currently portrayed on film in The Imitation Game, won a 120-move queen ending over several days against Russia’s David Bronstein which made Fleet Street front pages.
This year’s main UK hope is the No9 seed, Jonathan Hawkins, 31, of Durham, who has made a remarkable advance from club player to grandmaster and British champion.”
___________
Hastings 1961/62
I remember that Arthur Bisguier writing in Chess Review entitled his report “Setto at Senlac” (CR February 1962). Being young, I wasn’t quite sure what a “setto” was – I pronounced it to rhyme with the ending of “falsetto”. Of course it is set-to, a bout or match. Senlac Hill was the setting of the Battle of Hastings (1066).
Bisguier gave his win against Karl Robatsch but to me the game of the tournament was that of John Littlewood against Mikhail Botvinnik. Black to make his 19th move looks lost, faced with both Qxh7 mate and Nf5 with Qg7 mate.
Hastings 1961/62
Dec. 28, 1961
Littlewood, John Eric – Botvinnik, Mikhail
B75 Sicilian Dragon, Yugoslav Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 a6 8.Bc4 b5 9.Bb3 Bb7 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.O-O-O Nc5 12.Kb1 Nxb3 13.cxb3 O-O 14.Bh6 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 b4 16.e5 Nd7 17.h4 bxc3 18.h5 dxe5 19.hxg6 Nf6 20.bxc3 exd4 21.gxh7+ Kh8 22.Rxd4 Qa5 23.Qe3 Nd5 24.Qd2 Nxc3+ 25.Ka1 Rad8 26.Rc1 Qxa2+ 27.Qxa2 Nxa2 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 0-1
Barden (in 2009) - John Littlewood, who has died aged 78, was the finest UK attacking player of his generation, notched up numerous grandmaster scalps, and competed at a high level in old age. His 19 British championships spanned 50 years, with highlights in 1962 when he scored 7.5/11, his son Paul winning the title in 1981, and last month at Torquay when he became the second oldest finalist in the event's history.
He represented England in two Olympiads, and he made good scores in the World Senior (over-60) championship. He coached junior talents, managed the national blind chess team, and was a stalwart of the game on Merseyside, where he spent most of his life.
Littlewood was a warm, ebullient and outgoing personality, who had a host of friends and admirers and never lost his intelligent enthusiasm. He taught French and German, and was an accomplished chess writer and editor who wrote his final column the day before his death.
________________
Hastings Masters A nine-round accelerated Swiss Pairing tournament Monday 29 December 2014 to Tuesday 6 January 2015
Rate of Play 40 moves in 100 minutes, followed by 20 moves in 50 minutes, followed by all remaining moves in 15 minutes, with the addition of 30 seconds for each move from the start.
http://www.hastingschess.com/live-games-1415/
Hastings begins tomorrow (Dec. 29 – Jan. 6). Leonard Barden writes about it in his latest column:
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...te-competition
He says in part: “Israel’s Maxim Rodshtein is the top seed and the field of over 100, 14 of them grandmasters, includes entrants from Brazil, China, India, the United States and Uzbekistan.
The event’s palmy years were the 1930s, when the world champions Alexander Alekhine and Max Euwe took part, while later the cream of the golden Soviets were regulars. Bobby Fischer was invited at 14 in 1957-58 but pulled out because the concurrent US championship was a qualifier for the world title.
Some Englishmen have been inspired by the Hastings occasion. Sir George Thomas, who was world No1 at badminton before switching to chess, beat the legends Mikhail Botvinnik and José Capablanca in successive rounds. The Bletchley code-breaker Hugh Alexander, who is currently portrayed on film in The Imitation Game, won a 120-move queen ending over several days against Russia’s David Bronstein which made Fleet Street front pages.
This year’s main UK hope is the No9 seed, Jonathan Hawkins, 31, of Durham, who has made a remarkable advance from club player to grandmaster and British champion.”
___________
Hastings 1961/62
I remember that Arthur Bisguier writing in Chess Review entitled his report “Setto at Senlac” (CR February 1962). Being young, I wasn’t quite sure what a “setto” was – I pronounced it to rhyme with the ending of “falsetto”. Of course it is set-to, a bout or match. Senlac Hill was the setting of the Battle of Hastings (1066).
Bisguier gave his win against Karl Robatsch but to me the game of the tournament was that of John Littlewood against Mikhail Botvinnik. Black to make his 19th move looks lost, faced with both Qxh7 mate and Nf5 with Qg7 mate.
Hastings 1961/62
Dec. 28, 1961
Littlewood, John Eric – Botvinnik, Mikhail
B75 Sicilian Dragon, Yugoslav Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 a6 8.Bc4 b5 9.Bb3 Bb7 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.O-O-O Nc5 12.Kb1 Nxb3 13.cxb3 O-O 14.Bh6 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 b4 16.e5 Nd7 17.h4 bxc3 18.h5 dxe5 19.hxg6 Nf6 20.bxc3 exd4 21.gxh7+ Kh8 22.Rxd4 Qa5 23.Qe3 Nd5 24.Qd2 Nxc3+ 25.Ka1 Rad8 26.Rc1 Qxa2+ 27.Qxa2 Nxa2 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 0-1
Barden (in 2009) - John Littlewood, who has died aged 78, was the finest UK attacking player of his generation, notched up numerous grandmaster scalps, and competed at a high level in old age. His 19 British championships spanned 50 years, with highlights in 1962 when he scored 7.5/11, his son Paul winning the title in 1981, and last month at Torquay when he became the second oldest finalist in the event's history.
He represented England in two Olympiads, and he made good scores in the World Senior (over-60) championship. He coached junior talents, managed the national blind chess team, and was a stalwart of the game on Merseyside, where he spent most of his life.
Littlewood was a warm, ebullient and outgoing personality, who had a host of friends and admirers and never lost his intelligent enthusiasm. He taught French and German, and was an accomplished chess writer and editor who wrote his final column the day before his death.
________________
Hastings Masters A nine-round accelerated Swiss Pairing tournament Monday 29 December 2014 to Tuesday 6 January 2015
Rate of Play 40 moves in 100 minutes, followed by 20 moves in 50 minutes, followed by all remaining moves in 15 minutes, with the addition of 30 seconds for each move from the start.
http://www.hastingschess.com/live-games-1415/
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