In October 2022 we celebrated our 90th anniversary of our chess association.  The centre piece of our weekend was the anniversary but there was also competitive chess that needs reporting.

We had a wonderful turnout of 27 players with Olle Engström (Sweden), Eamonn Casey (Ireland).  Neda Koohnavard (Iran) and Bittor Ibanez (Spain) making both sections of our tournament international events.

The Open event was enriched by several players who qualified for the Challengers but opted to play in the Open event.  The Open attracted our reigning champion, Stan Lovell, and three former champions so they were facing five rounds where they could expect strong opposition in several games.  Some had misgivings about their decision but these were groundless fears.  (e.g. Gary Wickett shared second place on 3.5 and all gave performances that justified their choice.  Mark Hague did less well than Gary but in our game, he launched a ferocious attack against my king and he did not deserve to lose.)

White Mark Hague Black Bill Armstrong

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6  4. Bf4 Bg7  5. Be2 0-0  6. Qd2 Nc6  7. h4 Nxd4  8. 0-0-0 Nxe2+       9. Ngxe2 h5
2. f3 Kh7 11. g4 Rh8 12. gxh5 Nxh5  13. Rdg1 Nxf4  14. Nxf4 e5  15. Nfd5 c6  16. Ne3 Bh6  17. Kb1 Qf6
3. Qf2 Be6 19. Ng4 Bxg4 20. Rxg4 Bf4  21. Ne2 Kg7  22. h5 g5  23. Nxf4 exf4  24. Qh4 Kh6  Intending Qe5 and f6 with a safe position for Black’s king and a slight plus in the ending but still with a lot to do for a win.

Here Mark placed the Black king on h7 and chose his next moves on the basis of that placement of pieces.

25. Rxg5 Qxg5 26. Qxg5 Kxg5 White now discovered Black’s King had been misplaced on his board and resigned.  Black gained a full point without really deserving it.

The Open event was won by Steve Burnell with 4.5 from 5 games, demonstrating that he deserved the grade that made him the top seed.  The drawn game was in round 4 and was published in the November edition of Chess magazine.

White Steve Burnell   Black Bill Armstrong

1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6  4. e4 Bg7  5. Be2 O-O  6. Bg5 Nc6 7. h3 a6  8. a4 a5  9. Nf3 h6  10. Be3 Nb4
2. O-O c6 12. Ne1 e5 13. d5 Ne8  14. Qd2 Kh7  15. f4 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5  17. fxe5 dxe5  18. Rd1 Qc8
3. dxc6 Qxc6 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. Qxd5 Be4  22. Qxc6 Rxf1+  23. Kxf1 Bxc6  24. b3 Nf6  25. Nc2 Ne4
4. Bd3 Rf8+ 27. Kg1 Nc3 28. Rd2 e4  29. Bf1 Be5  30. Bd4 Bxd4+  31. Rxd4 and offered a draw which Black happily accepted .1/2-1/2

Despite the absence of those who usually star in the Challengers Section, the event was still highly competitive.  The winner was the steadily improving Simon Highsmith with 4.5 points.

For the record, the scores and prizes were as follows.

OPEN

4.5 Steve Burnell 1st

3.5 James Connors and Gary Wickett =2nd

3 Bill Armstrong, Stan Lovell, Norman Andrews and Eamonn Casey

2.5 Olle Engström, Colin Chambers and George Phillips (Olle and George shared Grading Prize A)

1.5 Mark Hague

1 Malcolm Jones, Voldi Gailans and Tony Elbourn (all three shared Grading Prize B)

CHALLENGERS

4.5 Simon Highsmith 1st

3.5 Neda Koohnavard and John Fullwood =2nd

3 Bittor Ibanez, John Osborne, Gill Smith and Steve Bailey (John and Gill shared Grading Prize A)

2.5 Jim Cuthbert and Abi Baker

2 Phil Rafferty and Richard Harrington (shared Grading Prize B)

1.5 Lea Ryan

1 Irene Elbourn

The chess took precedence on Friday evening and in the mornings and afternoons of Saturday and Sunday. But on Saturday and Sunday evenings the focus was much more on the Association celebrating its anniversary.

More than fifty of us gathered on Saturday to celebrate the 90 years of its existence.  We welcomed Nigel Towers, the ECF Director of Home Chess as our special guest.  Our gathering included relatives of David Hodgkins family and six of the seven surviving members of an elite group, the honorary life members Stan Lovell and Alec Crombie, Peter and Celia Gibbs, Gerry Walsh and Julie Leonard.  The missing honoured member, Julia Scott, prevented from attending by failing health was sadly missed.  I know that everyone values the immense contribution her work as a fund raiser has made to us reaching our 90th anniversary.

It was great to have those six whose past and present efforts have created or continued the traditions of the thriving community of visually impaired chess players, our BCA.

Covid struck a mighty blow to many aspects of social life and chess did not escape this.  But the BCA has come through that.  Stan, Alec and currently Norman Wragg have built on the foundations of the 1932 initiative, have guided our association through some tricky times and established traditions of two weekend tournaments each year, and two seven day events, the Championship and the Chairman’s Cup.  Of recent years, Gerry and Julie have been the main figures controlling these and it was fitting that they took charge with their usual efficiency of the chess part of the celebration.  Peter and Celia Gibbs created and developed the theme break week and by the time you read this, the continuation at Weston super Mare will have taken place under new guidance.  Yet another role for Julie Leonard.

All these events and activities would be impossible without a lot of background organisation which often goes unnoticed when it goes as smoothly as the 90th anniversary celebration did under the control of people such as Steve and Hazel Burnell.  I still remember with pleasure the Harrogate championship where they organised such a wonderful variety of non-chess activities.  The advance preparation for the celebration would have impressed any wedding planner.  We had our seating plan, our individual menu choices and even our selected beverage for the toast all recorded in advance and delivered as planned.  It went like clockwork but if you imagine the scope for chaos, then you appreciate the importance of their efforts.

Here it is worth mentioning the willingness of the hotel staff to give assistance and the good quality of the hotel food and amenities – apart from a two- hour interlude just before the celebration dinner when the hotel lift was not functioning properly.  Fortunately, the problem was solved quickly but I guess the organisers were temporarily worried.

Another group, at this weekend represented by Norman Andrews, Gill Smith, and Richard Murphy, (but which includes also Roger Waters, Christine Andrews and Mike Murphy) are the sighted volunteers who make almost everything run smoothly and, when they don’t run as they should, are quick to sort things out.  The six people just mentioned and Hazel and Steve Burnell were all honoured by the award of honorary life memberships at a soirée which followed the celebration dinner.

Joan Shorrock founded the tradition of soirée at seven-day events and should have been with us to also receive honorary life membership.  Again, ill health prevented her attendance but such has been her success the soirée went ahead even though a weekend leaves limited time for artistic collaboration pre performance.

In Joan’s absence, Julie stepped into the role of organiser and, in addition to her own musical contribution, acted as continuity announcer.  What a great variety of talents were on display!  I chose “continuity announcer” because the soirées always remind me of sitting with a radio and flicking between various channels.  Radio 3 could have a professional violinist Abi Baker showing her versatility by playing a piano piece by Liszt.  Classic FM might happily present Guy Whitehouse with his flute solo piece.  While Radio 1 and 2 might offer Richard Harrington’s Elvis tribute, Stan Lovell’s lively piano playing or Gary Wickett and friends rendering yet another aspect of the musical range of BCA talents.  Not to be left out, Radio 4 could carry Tessa Fullwood’s soirée debut with three poem selections and Julie’s musical item whose chess references might just be wasted on the majority of Radio 1 devotees.  One voice which would not sound out of place on a BBC broadcast will be familiar to those who receive the audio version of the Gazette.  Janet Hempson achieved another step in soirée progress by making a much appreciated and specially recorded contribution to our celebratory soirée without coming to Solihull.

Perhaps because it was a special weekend event, a larger than usual number stayed for the Sunday evening meal.  This provided me with a lasting memory of the event.  It was a very convivial occasion.  It was not just a group of chess players marking an anniversary of their association.  It was a group of friends sharing memories of the past, some of which were tinged with sadness, and creating new happy memories for the future.  The dominant note of that Sunday evening was of happiness and laughter, especially from a riotous group crucial to the soirée performances.  I will spare their blushes by using only that general label.

If anyone questioned the chance of the BCA reaching its centenary, a recording of the joyous sound of hilarity on Sunday evening would dismiss any doubt completely.

Our 90th anniversary was a significant landmark well celebrated.

Bill Armstrong