tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59156525471365345952024-03-04T20:13:54.285-08:00Marsh TowersMarsh Towers features reviews of books, shows and events together with sundry musingsSean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.comBlogger1641125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-14483623572606192042023-10-15T07:38:00.007-07:002023-10-15T07:39:25.208-07:0014th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdy1VAFAfe4II46mjbRn9Zz4YfDxmcKMCSeHdERH9y9Wq6DeeGhDhZJVxEEFZm2fRbgpeS6tuEQswDFI4rMxqhw2NJZ7Vimen9Wk-9lkPuET7jPb41fFba7M17W1W6ZNYfHfmck_mL0H8xiWZI8TCtN8Ym7OlshkgirbpWPLj-emE8tVVa7h9DENQF1w/s640/IMG_5972.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdy1VAFAfe4II46mjbRn9Zz4YfDxmcKMCSeHdERH9y9Wq6DeeGhDhZJVxEEFZm2fRbgpeS6tuEQswDFI4rMxqhw2NJZ7Vimen9Wk-9lkPuET7jPb41fFba7M17W1W6ZNYfHfmck_mL0H8xiWZI8TCtN8Ym7OlshkgirbpWPLj-emE8tVVa7h9DENQF1w/w400-h300/IMG_5972.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />The 14th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament took place today.<br /><p>Four strong players - David Baillie, Matt Jackman, Kevin Winter and Peter Harker - battled away over the course of the day in honour of our late friend and colleague.</p><p>David is the only player to have played in every event so far and the only one playing today to have won the title in former times (2011, to be exact).<br /><br />The set openings this time (as voted for by the players themselves) were the French Winawer, King's Indian Defence and French Tarrasch.</p><p>David, a former county champion and renowned expert in the Winawer, beat Peter 2-0 in the first round and Matt defeated Kevin by the same score.</p><p>Round Two's King's Indian led to more mayhem on the board. Matt - the reigning county co-champion - seemed to be cruising to a 2-0 score against Peter (Hartlepool club and Cleveland County captain), but the latter pulled off a snap checkmate just when he appeared to be without hope. Kevin, looking on, could not resist shouting, 'He's done him! He's done him like a kipper!'<br /><br />Globetrotting Kevin, who has just returned from a successful event in Crete with two trophies, will next be playing in Barcelona. Crete-Marsh Towers-Barcelona is not a bad run of consecutive venues at all.</p><p>It was then Kevin's turn to pull a checkmate out of the hat, with an unexpected end to his second game with David.<br /><br />This set up the final round nicely, with Matt and David both on 3/4 and due to play against each other, while on the other board Kevin and Peter went into battle with 1/4.</p><p>The final battleground took the form of the French Tarrasch. Kevin and Peter drew 1-1 and David won the first game against Matt. The latter, needing to win the final game of the day to tie for first place, let rip with a Greek Gift sacrifice which set the board ablaze and went on to win after enormous complications.<br /><br />Thus, the final standings were:<br /><br />David and Matt: 4/6</p><p>Peter and Kevin: 2/6<br /><br />We now have co-champions for the first in the 14 years we have running the memorial tournament.<br /><br />A celebratory meal in The Keys of Yarm followed and Peter was exposed as a lightweight for leaving half of his sticky toffee pudding.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9f-BLMaVucc29qWWjOwQYm1pCUFHWOZMo5SoFUl33CmM_YBp3I6k6t_X_gcwOqlOXTesFqNxnqhUc_2BRmX0JgvLcjSf4DE4IQDmikRKHXtfIp_JHmLl_VPLLtlagPDejRwCTt2OizvvMCJpgehVpzLDOBB_fT2FbHv0c0IyR30GXJfi-CyrVHllQ0Ts/s640/IMG_5973.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9f-BLMaVucc29qWWjOwQYm1pCUFHWOZMo5SoFUl33CmM_YBp3I6k6t_X_gcwOqlOXTesFqNxnqhUc_2BRmX0JgvLcjSf4DE4IQDmikRKHXtfIp_JHmLl_VPLLtlagPDejRwCTt2OizvvMCJpgehVpzLDOBB_fT2FbHv0c0IyR30GXJfi-CyrVHllQ0Ts/w300-h400/IMG_5973.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmQHiSTNdLedTZm-jlzAS4gWq0y30iSVQ0dLL-8-xWqUeiEpKYWiTFSW0V_qfkXqju6_J5lr2uVKHnzhncVI-mHoOiMf4f76VDWumQCnasdane0NYaupAypgDhCFN_IzIsnjXc7444LMy_ltmXoYaNUVgI1lVV5ZSyl7liyvIALCYonONxK_vjOL8yuQ/s640/IMG_5972.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmQHiSTNdLedTZm-jlzAS4gWq0y30iSVQ0dLL-8-xWqUeiEpKYWiTFSW0V_qfkXqju6_J5lr2uVKHnzhncVI-mHoOiMf4f76VDWumQCnasdane0NYaupAypgDhCFN_IzIsnjXc7444LMy_ltmXoYaNUVgI1lVV5ZSyl7liyvIALCYonONxK_vjOL8yuQ/w400-h300/IMG_5972.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrZm2QFiCmUSCi2XT0IdqXxcKHX59A839D2AkdYcgBSXgbxPKAbdOnK3mZ2m8Ko0G3AeXVOHRf4kRha785WwblLxxUvDpbLOsECkvKzEm9Ooz28nKehlBJ1V8vtohy-CBZKXFjVFpoTyGYdrAOeS0ToH9NX4ws5WuTd0N_3SBUQrMyVeNWSYUaXWPEQ4/s640/IMG_5971.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrZm2QFiCmUSCi2XT0IdqXxcKHX59A839D2AkdYcgBSXgbxPKAbdOnK3mZ2m8Ko0G3AeXVOHRf4kRha785WwblLxxUvDpbLOsECkvKzEm9Ooz28nKehlBJ1V8vtohy-CBZKXFjVFpoTyGYdrAOeS0ToH9NX4ws5WuTd0N_3SBUQrMyVeNWSYUaXWPEQ4/w400-h300/IMG_5971.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZOD9nXErVfcCuRDcYguHJEg2cUJSwq6XArDakIVDb6aKKWYeQu0mkZzZf-dYjFIJhMUrxB9r0fAy3JyaIqXOy8vleOK6k4TP0pNWeu05IRh2gyPDgHHLqSCh6CKPwTsZWQ2ZiGJsTGGSqFHykdZJJIIGhmq880aza-gJu-_pXaUFdBwSui-l1ENa7Ko/s640/IMG_5970.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPKl01Zb41k08nkEgvD5dWBIEFPlqTaLJxzjkPzJJw91D1vE8jlV19agiX938g0-VP_CHPylexYeYR5yQS5WdAp4p_raAmB8CsbOajYyo_L4ywCJrD7PhfscfVILsGNT8OMoG-0tj9l67hJMsLklKGP8dYUuKFSZypj6-Vek6iTwYQRnDMrEYfBbULXw/w400-h300/IMG_5974.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuxc7Ag4T33jM_gVPFgTkhQbOUlCpH_B35B0tI9xT0vrvn9JVuIfm86SSBzBZvT2FiifEbHG_0nPRlewO1soDdmo_vGePBmwKmWfRiZdb0xHWq9VjGkn0TyPx500o4RUmTyWuyLNTORDND5tENcd35IJjMD86eQ_KXkwMLx7r-VzsmlQ0V5T1Ui-3DPc/s640/IMG_5976.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuxc7Ag4T33jM_gVPFgTkhQbOUlCpH_B35B0tI9xT0vrvn9JVuIfm86SSBzBZvT2FiifEbHG_0nPRlewO1soDdmo_vGePBmwKmWfRiZdb0xHWq9VjGkn0TyPx500o4RUmTyWuyLNTORDND5tENcd35IJjMD86eQ_KXkwMLx7r-VzsmlQ0V5T1Ui-3DPc/w300-h400/IMG_5976.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDANue20VUg2tgStElcDCWvrCjwo1a5g0T771KmJ2qkRqJ_v4WIh4Bc_bxu7dcZ77ahh-wfhV7qQ-8v-nxHWiPFnhD5hzlk_wiwJixFIYkBiK14axRMnOpC_q_dewBpGZCUNX7agJIW0mwMibTBuCcgZdNybOGXKtMvoI2Kpg5KpYjCuF6ZtYxIa22l7w/s640/IMG_3643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDANue20VUg2tgStElcDCWvrCjwo1a5g0T771KmJ2qkRqJ_v4WIh4Bc_bxu7dcZ77ahh-wfhV7qQ-8v-nxHWiPFnhD5hzlk_wiwJixFIYkBiK14axRMnOpC_q_dewBpGZCUNX7agJIW0mwMibTBuCcgZdNybOGXKtMvoI2Kpg5KpYjCuF6ZtYxIa22l7w/w400-h300/IMG_3643.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b>Index of Tournament Reports</b></p><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">1st Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2010</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/2nd-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">2nd Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2011</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/chess-at-library.html">3rd Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2012</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/4th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">4th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2013</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/5th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">5th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2014</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/6th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">6th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2015</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/7th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">7th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2016</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2017/09/8th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament_10.html">8th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2017</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2018/06/project-30-9th-mike-closs-memorial_3.html">9th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2018</a><br /><br /><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2019/09/10th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament_29.html">10th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2019</a><br /><br /><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2020/12/11th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">11th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2020</a></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2021/11/12th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">12th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2021</a><br /><br /><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2022/12/13th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html" target="_blank">13th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2022</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2023/10/14th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">14th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2023 </span></a></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-85894152099988399112022-12-29T02:01:00.008-08:002022-12-29T02:22:40.155-08:00Project 50 Results Update<div>Two more fixtures have now been completed in the <a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2022/10/project-50.html" target="_blank">Project 50 events</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the results to date (new ones in green).</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rapidplay Tournament </b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">David Baillie 0-2 Matt Jackman</span></div><div><br /></div><div>David Baillie 2-0 Royce Parker</div><div><br /></div><div>David Baillie 1.5-0.5 Peter Harker</div><div><br /></div><div>Peter Harker 1.5-0.5 Matt Jackman</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Blitz Event</b></div><div><br /></div><div>David Baillie 10-0 Royce Parker</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">Kevin Waterman 6-4 Richard Harris</span></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-74143194406216469232022-12-22T05:52:00.004-08:002022-12-22T06:17:19.253-08:00Project 50 Christmas Quiz 2022We had a lot of fun during the Project 50 Zoom Quiz last night.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpklhUKMg6C5uHhum7h3p-n80Pm74XAv4zO69OeawBm468QQZO5pqOigb0EbUPPJPsCrMgOeOqbIqtNlEl0p4Rjh0pQWbpTdgCMVxqo3j3wBtMj-bYICF-rmJvg3L0_d60JowORkE8vJObLkCkSCg1ogcoTJ65-FfnE_vmjgO26jtUCedlbWsqFQWk/s1272/Xmas%20Quiz%202022.2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1272" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpklhUKMg6C5uHhum7h3p-n80Pm74XAv4zO69OeawBm468QQZO5pqOigb0EbUPPJPsCrMgOeOqbIqtNlEl0p4Rjh0pQWbpTdgCMVxqo3j3wBtMj-bYICF-rmJvg3L0_d60JowORkE8vJObLkCkSCg1ogcoTJ65-FfnE_vmjgO26jtUCedlbWsqFQWk/w400-h211/Xmas%20Quiz%202022.2.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3o7d8qSVRzohfgzi244ojOgYdNfjrXHZJI6Xy_ZzVkUlfiW_ytzp6X_723DBIU5OSYnqpo8GugeAgZiqtEPXmh0TrzmXgbqQfJGxY6jGYEXNruhkm_Kxb1rpv9qjKTOYJchFNq0gXZSJ4Z9H2yCsrSUYfPm0LNlVmarExtSemYvLVRlBHapUf4K0/s1271/Xmas%20Quiz%202022.3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1271" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3o7d8qSVRzohfgzi244ojOgYdNfjrXHZJI6Xy_ZzVkUlfiW_ytzp6X_723DBIU5OSYnqpo8GugeAgZiqtEPXmh0TrzmXgbqQfJGxY6jGYEXNruhkm_Kxb1rpv9qjKTOYJchFNq0gXZSJ4Z9H2yCsrSUYfPm0LNlVmarExtSemYvLVRlBHapUf4K0/w400-h219/Xmas%20Quiz%202022.3.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Dave Baillie is the new champion, with a fabulous score of 62 points from a possible 65.<br /><br />The team of Matt, Florence and Clementine Piper finished in second place, with 56 points. Peter Harker and Stephen Ollis shared third place with 53 points.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTwSBLMSH5yYMMEngpOGwtNc3pwJky0JNRV5aUbZMcZU8hcFLoiG6ZQhkoGw5IvCXeTxoj2YmYhiEiTyM6xby1Ss1qFazm9bJvkVt9br3_uVW1qLs7foUN9hrIVQ4XCRYwquaLQt0xB5v03DOdPHHl_3Er19xrYkNBtgUmzyA2J1V7g96LK2aZMkG/s893/Quiz%202022.1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="893" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTwSBLMSH5yYMMEngpOGwtNc3pwJky0JNRV5aUbZMcZU8hcFLoiG6ZQhkoGw5IvCXeTxoj2YmYhiEiTyM6xby1Ss1qFazm9bJvkVt9br3_uVW1qLs7foUN9hrIVQ4XCRYwquaLQt0xB5v03DOdPHHl_3Er19xrYkNBtgUmzyA2J1V7g96LK2aZMkG/w400-h171/Quiz%202022.1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-50990531942582822572022-12-19T10:52:00.005-08:002022-12-19T10:52:49.819-08:00Project 50: Results Update<div>Some fixtures have now been completed in the <a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2022/10/project-50.html" target="_blank">Project 50 events</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the results to date.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rapidplay Tournament </b></div><div><br /></div><div>David Baillie 2-0 Royce Parker</div><div><br /></div><div>David Baillie 1.5-0.5 Peter Harker</div><div><br /></div><div>Peter Harker 1.5-0.5 Matt Jackman</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Blitz Event</b></div><div><br /></div><div>David Baillie 10-0 Royce Parker</div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-79160039122502264162022-12-19T02:36:00.002-08:002022-12-19T02:37:11.938-08:0013th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament<div>The latest in our series of tournaments to honour the memory of my friend Mike Closs took place yesterday.</div><div><br /></div><div>This time, four players contested a double round-robin event with ten minutes on each clock and every game featured one of Mike's favourite openings - the Sicilian Dragon.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>1. e4 c5</b></div><div><b>2. Nf3 d6</b></div><div><b>3. d4 cxd4</b></div><div><b>4. Nxd4 Nf6</b></div><div><b>5. Nc3 g6</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-W1D6Ip6Mnyxof4729pNV3DjleWZkmkLVwKX0eMIHavCo6JFZWWbQi3JZS0IeHhvGcfXYoQemAvniKeWVCeDDWuNLeNFLZhaXjfFG1nMBgx32R-8Mo02hHZ1T7QmqLUJedaDrxNLWieX3gsk-awOmWaoyqgAjxTsjLcvTC8z-5xd4FDWEj9yAwF71/s257/Dragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="257" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-W1D6Ip6Mnyxof4729pNV3DjleWZkmkLVwKX0eMIHavCo6JFZWWbQi3JZS0IeHhvGcfXYoQemAvniKeWVCeDDWuNLeNFLZhaXjfFG1nMBgx32R-8Mo02hHZ1T7QmqLUJedaDrxNLWieX3gsk-awOmWaoyqgAjxTsjLcvTC8z-5xd4FDWEj9yAwF71/w400-h400/Dragon.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Mike loved to play both sides of this sharp opening and it certainly suited his tactical style. However, the four invited guests had no prior history with the Dragon from either side of the board, so they were definitely out of their comfort zone.</div><div><br /></div><div>As it happened, Royce Parker, who was invited, was beaten by car trouble and a calendar clash. I had only intended to watch this year, but stepped in at the last moment. I <i>have</i> played both sides of the Dragon, but not since the mid-1980s.</div><div><br /></div><div>We saw only one example of the famous Levenfish trap (which, incidentally, caught out Mike Closs in his <a href="https://www.chessable.com/blog/chess-opening-basics-the-sicilian-dragon/" target="_blank">first-ever game with the Dragon</a> - and almost put him off it completely, until I convinced him to stick with it), when Dave uncorked it against the unfortunate Richard.</div><div><br /></div><div>All of the games were extremely tactical, with opposite-side castling the norm and unsafe kings tottering around all over the place. The second of my two draws with Matt, for example, had to be seen to be believed - and a draw was the least likely result by some considerable margin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Elsewhere, Richard's crushing kingside attack against Matt, using the Yugoslav Attack, was probably the best game from the White side of the board and the final game of the day, which saw Dave blunder a piece in the opening against Matt but then proceed to gain unlikely counterplay in an endgame featuring rooks' pawns charging down both sides of the board to somehow earn a draw was another fabulously entertaining encounter.</div><br /><br /><b>Final Scores</b><br /><br />5/6: Sean Marsh<br />3.5/6: Matt Jackman<br />2.5/6: Dave Baillie<br />1/6: Richard Harris<div><br /></div><div><b>Dragon Tally</b><br /><div><br /></div><div>White wins: Five</div><div>Black wins: Four</div><div>Draws: Three</div><div><br /></div><div>I am sure Mike would have enjoyed such exciting games and maybe - just maybe - at least one of the competitors will be tempted to take up the Dragon properly in the New Year...!?</div><div><br /></div><div>We enjoyed our lunch at <a href="https://www.cenayarm.com" target="_blank">Cena</a> afterwards. The staff were friendly and quickly found a way to accommodate a party of people who had not booked a table.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was a very enjoyable day, topped off by an exciting World Cup Final immediately afterwards.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a gallery from the day.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNarlPA5yDxnYyLqTTQNhLRwlKNH8B5F4Cycp04NPY1DcsUG0pkoMvtwuimAiuxo0sAn-TJ-spnDGQ4FofHLSIQtHS9KsrHSCRhP836WRSFdIitDCR19_VaLD3puMRP7rfOt3FI4yoG5p4jR6MFa74mRWoV_W23L6speQNmSw1pzLs1XtmzlAkvpvZ/s640/MM2.1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNarlPA5yDxnYyLqTTQNhLRwlKNH8B5F4Cycp04NPY1DcsUG0pkoMvtwuimAiuxo0sAn-TJ-spnDGQ4FofHLSIQtHS9KsrHSCRhP836WRSFdIitDCR19_VaLD3puMRP7rfOt3FI4yoG5p4jR6MFa74mRWoV_W23L6speQNmSw1pzLs1XtmzlAkvpvZ/w400-h301/MM2.1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVNTfAVDM1Y5NimvuC-0OSKuv7CIZQc6nJlW-FZ_dHRZS1xF3411Jry4cV7niYcCFZRb2BpXdS0yhE9ZCA6WmUsdjZ4voqhMQekksvZyemc0EHXdH89C31O5iHmToUfcNv4quiQD4QV8OOdokOFIq_g1Gx1B-08syLTSWWyVS3jVlesaHz2nESgDs/s640/MM2.2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVNTfAVDM1Y5NimvuC-0OSKuv7CIZQc6nJlW-FZ_dHRZS1xF3411Jry4cV7niYcCFZRb2BpXdS0yhE9ZCA6WmUsdjZ4voqhMQekksvZyemc0EHXdH89C31O5iHmToUfcNv4quiQD4QV8OOdokOFIq_g1Gx1B-08syLTSWWyVS3jVlesaHz2nESgDs/w400-h301/MM2.2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9sGv1tjmGZb7FN4VkbxEaoLMKNIkQiB71V-senVqEvxHpXkhn84rnsGk9ENtAhBepaWFkOedR6lgWgtrR1Z0gNPa33KL3kPXy1Bxl-eOTIMYZrx69nxTEkcStsyUGpvap5Sx2vvSg1H4-PVcf0AmwH5JDBBI6MQN-AwfyE9HtJBG0SzYZGnyxJ7R/s640/MM2.3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9sGv1tjmGZb7FN4VkbxEaoLMKNIkQiB71V-senVqEvxHpXkhn84rnsGk9ENtAhBepaWFkOedR6lgWgtrR1Z0gNPa33KL3kPXy1Bxl-eOTIMYZrx69nxTEkcStsyUGpvap5Sx2vvSg1H4-PVcf0AmwH5JDBBI6MQN-AwfyE9HtJBG0SzYZGnyxJ7R/w400-h300/MM2.3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1hiKIrYg2eZT7ZM-5xarQ8eKMMFgR4BsKvZrtnrAhW9jLOtUOUrhbeU9QtdpRa1czX8v0S0jFQX8PM_V1fFwa1XY8yj6XFX9UWWUlJLKi93j50NgoLVwytYuFPXRSOGxLLCfDrhZhrG5EU4Numq0dG0XRePL35wYS265ubggF2VWwdsyYraOohBt/s640/MM2.4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="471" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1hiKIrYg2eZT7ZM-5xarQ8eKMMFgR4BsKvZrtnrAhW9jLOtUOUrhbeU9QtdpRa1czX8v0S0jFQX8PM_V1fFwa1XY8yj6XFX9UWWUlJLKi93j50NgoLVwytYuFPXRSOGxLLCfDrhZhrG5EU4Numq0dG0XRePL35wYS265ubggF2VWwdsyYraOohBt/w295-h400/MM2.4.jpeg" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRCQXieTjIH0X-lM5RwzEvEI-Viv2REAfwBnn5JnYzLt_GejJjUkstNq_R0Uhu53NwGX1XVp14xdJT6wT6zHhIMxnXYHM15p5swqUgRIAs4MEYSmzD0bu8LIlChl13_SmZe-xpK8EnIs5_RTXFMWi0Rwzb2nXGgiDpX8Xm3ZATZgA8xzVqryguad5/s640/MM2.5.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRCQXieTjIH0X-lM5RwzEvEI-Viv2REAfwBnn5JnYzLt_GejJjUkstNq_R0Uhu53NwGX1XVp14xdJT6wT6zHhIMxnXYHM15p5swqUgRIAs4MEYSmzD0bu8LIlChl13_SmZe-xpK8EnIs5_RTXFMWi0Rwzb2nXGgiDpX8Xm3ZATZgA8xzVqryguad5/w300-h400/MM2.5.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozeqZguCJp6LxUlOsP2zwaMNECmmlCmGuLZma6WlOsnOaeSKeVU8vytpEKj4QtlJMth3fC-A9dwToRhVWfVgRYdMLdNMBJ8s0QfhbchpcIhhqEXnC8vwDok8XZNzxbvr58hqRPv5C_ldtgmBLdRqCTaL3PNS0DIGzWBdH5kaa44gxUvUcgl9JpqON/s640/MM2.6.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozeqZguCJp6LxUlOsP2zwaMNECmmlCmGuLZma6WlOsnOaeSKeVU8vytpEKj4QtlJMth3fC-A9dwToRhVWfVgRYdMLdNMBJ8s0QfhbchpcIhhqEXnC8vwDok8XZNzxbvr58hqRPv5C_ldtgmBLdRqCTaL3PNS0DIGzWBdH5kaa44gxUvUcgl9JpqON/w300-h400/MM2.6.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXEtug5Z-bYeut-tyUW0w0-kP8lTCwCGJlavALReULcC-R46GG7SnN-4GVKMMO4W2BJPYJXncyMoNogVRhKlpaqCbdsK4fXmySIaPaBviCGnlpcF2mjya3hcnFC2VKprjbqI8rKdggIw34Cnu-Fli5bqV9y6-5Da6S5oVzDOZ7vilrt2XX5y_qNBY/s640/MM2.7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="481" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXEtug5Z-bYeut-tyUW0w0-kP8lTCwCGJlavALReULcC-R46GG7SnN-4GVKMMO4W2BJPYJXncyMoNogVRhKlpaqCbdsK4fXmySIaPaBviCGnlpcF2mjya3hcnFC2VKprjbqI8rKdggIw34Cnu-Fli5bqV9y6-5Da6S5oVzDOZ7vilrt2XX5y_qNBY/w301-h400/MM2.7.jpeg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-QrjCzzKdrcdIv2EKTOI3P7jjeg7cpt7LsG10O9zYrvgNh5DtGHoJ04w4xtT79Q98ifMNHOc9wwyd__UnucDYfSARrtXuU9sKLHguoxUHdJQEKkYH6alPf560-A2yTgejUDwujQjWhBayqLU_ApyjB3vdJ9qFsOS7kAzIRGFi0OcDR_aS_-nBM95/s640/MM2.8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-QrjCzzKdrcdIv2EKTOI3P7jjeg7cpt7LsG10O9zYrvgNh5DtGHoJ04w4xtT79Q98ifMNHOc9wwyd__UnucDYfSARrtXuU9sKLHguoxUHdJQEKkYH6alPf560-A2yTgejUDwujQjWhBayqLU_ApyjB3vdJ9qFsOS7kAzIRGFi0OcDR_aS_-nBM95/w400-h301/MM2.8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><div><br /></div><div><b>Index of Tournament Reports</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">1st Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2010</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/2nd-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">2nd Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2011</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/chess-at-library.html">3rd Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2012</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/4th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">4th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2013</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/5th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">5th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2014</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/6th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">6th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2015</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/7th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">7th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2016</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2017/09/8th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament_10.html">8th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2017</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2018/06/project-30-9th-mike-closs-memorial_3.html">9th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2018</a><br /><br /><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2019/09/10th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament_29.html">10th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2019</a><br /><br /><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2020/12/11th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">11th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2020</a></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2021/11/12th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">12th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2021</a><br /><br /><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2022/12/13th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html" target="_blank">13th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2022</a></span><br /><div><p></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div></div></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-5929401069580700112022-10-27T12:45:00.003-07:002022-10-27T12:46:38.105-07:00Project 50<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp4dRGgkYXUgQ6ArVa9L9bapeVBlxcxSkcTS2WYotcqcYwXAQPuPGT34KB_u4eATy3IZsUTrWSQv9MKYFDh0_JzewzMW7xyZMeIpcKSv0pZ4QnwY5irQP8GZ5-L8gqcV4bpzG-oO2kBq8puS4m116r1GMc0Zbj9AnCAsqMs0M5630oDfNeL0qUfS2/s640/IMG_1315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="592" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp4dRGgkYXUgQ6ArVa9L9bapeVBlxcxSkcTS2WYotcqcYwXAQPuPGT34KB_u4eATy3IZsUTrWSQv9MKYFDh0_JzewzMW7xyZMeIpcKSv0pZ4QnwY5irQP8GZ5-L8gqcV4bpzG-oO2kBq8puS4m116r1GMc0Zbj9AnCAsqMs0M5630oDfNeL0qUfS2/w370-h400/IMG_1315.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><p>Project 30 <a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2022/08/project-30-results-update-both.html" target="_blank">recently concluded</a> and has now been replaced by Project 50, which promises to shine even more brightly.</p><p>Project 30, which was created as a celebration of my first 30 years of teaching chess in schools, brought five years of hugely enjoyable chess events, featuring players from novice juniors to Grandmasters. We even switched to online events during the lockdown years.</p><p>The mathematicians amongst us may have expected Project 30 to be replaced by Project 35.</p><p>In fact, the new project name marks 50 years since I received my first chess set. This was on Christmas morning, 1972. Shops had plenty of chess sets back then, as they riding on the wave of publicity created by the big World Chess Championship match between the reigning champion, Boris Spassky, and his challenger, Bobby Fischer.</p><p>Fischer's eccentricities, indulged by most of the world who just wanted to see him play, together with the context of USSR versus the USA, guaranteed big chess headlines throughout 1972.</p><p>I still consider Bobby Fischer to be the greatest of all chess players (so far), despite 50 years having flown by since he finally achieved his goal of becoming World Chess Champion.</p><p>There will be many events over the course of the year. Indeed, we have already had the inaugural <a href="http://cscteesside.blogspot.com/2022/10/project-50-womens-invitation-tournament.html" target="_blank">Women's Invitation Tournament</a>, which was a great success.</p><p>We have three main events which will run throughout the year and the <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">10 players have been </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(36, 36, 36);">confirmed</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">.</span></span></p><b>David Baillie<br /><br />Sean Cassidy<br /><br />John Garnett<br /><br />Peter Harker<br /><br />Richard Harris<br /><br />Matt Jackman<br /><br />Sean Marsh<br /><br />Stephen Ollis<br /><br />Royce Parker<br /><br />Kevin Waterman</b> (Blitz and Rapidplay; not Classical)<br /><br />Here are basics.<br /><br /><b>Rapidplay Tournament </b>(All-play-all; two games against each opponent with 30 minutes on each clock. A 1-1 result does not require a tiebreaker. The champion will be the player with the most points.)<br /><br /><b>Blitz Event</b> (All-play-all; 10 games against each opponent with five minutes on each clock. NO increments. Three points per match win; two points each if 5-5; one point per match defeat. All 10 games do not need to be played in a single sitting. The champion will be the player with the most match points, with 'goal difference' used as the tiebreaker - so please play all 10 games, even if the match has already been decided before then.)<br /><br /><b>Full-length games</b> (36 moves in 90 minutes and then 15 extra minutes each for the remainder of the game. All-play-all; random draw for colours immediately prior to the game. Drawn games do not require a replay. The champion will be the player with the most points.)<br /><br />All games will be unrated, so we can focus on the games themselves and enjoy chess without inhibitions.<br /><br />Please arrange your games with each opponent (I won't do a formal round-by-round draw). Start as soon as you like.<br /><br />The venue can be anywhere you like. Face-to-face chess is the default setting, but online encounters are OK if both players agree.<br /><br />All three tournaments have a deadline of the end of May 2023.<div><br /></div><div><b><i>Results Update</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rapidplay Tournament </b></div><div><br /></div><div>David Baillie 2-0 Royce Parker</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Blitz Event</b></div><div><br /></div><div>David Baillie 10-0 Royce Parker</div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-24521579251210694772022-08-31T04:23:00.001-07:002022-09-21T11:22:35.126-07:00English Chess Federation BOOK of the YEAR 2022 Short List<b>English Chess Federation<br /><br />BOOK of the YEAR 2022<br /><br />Short List</b><br /><br />Many of the high quality books received this year concentrated on chess training. Perhaps reflecting current anxieties the emphasis was not only on chess positions, but also on how the chess mind<br />works in actual play. Three have been selected. The exception was the final volume in a trilogy on one of the greatest players who ever lived.<div><div><br /><br /><b>Analyzing the Chess Mind Gulko and Sneed Quality Chess pp 224 £26.99</b><br /><br />Gulko is an extremely strong grandmaster who uniquely has won both the Soviet and US championships, while Sneed is a Professor of Psychology. Together they are very well placed to consider chess mind issues in a well – chosen selection of games and positions. Two sample subjects: Losing winning positions and Problems in self- confidence. This book is both instructive and very readable.</div><div><br /><b>Emanuel Lasker Volume Three </b></div><div><b>Forster, Negele, Tischbierek editors Exzelsior Verlag pp 468 £54.95</b></div><div><br /><br />Subtitled, Labours and Legacy Chess, Philosophy and Psychology this third volume which covers Lasker’s life from 1914 to his death in New York in 1942. Lasker was a complex man with a myriad of interests and occupations outside chess. It has needed three large volumes to adequately cover all aspects of Lasker’s life. This volume, with the two previous volumes, (both of which featured in earlier Short Lists), are the work of many experts over more than a decade. They and the books do full justice to a world champion of 27 years. An outstanding trilogy in every way.</div><div><br /><b>Improve Your Chess Calculation </b></div><div><b>Ramesh New in Chess pp332 £26.95</b></div><div><br />This is the book for anyone who wishes to improve their calculation abilities and work their way through this substantial volume. But it is much more than that as many other aspects of chess improvement are touched upon throughout the text. Ramesh is a very gifted coach and writer. He was coach to the Indian “B” team consisting of young players, most of whom are his pupils, to a bronze medal at the recent Olympiad, ahead of the Indian “A” team. No wonder that this book is already a best seller.</div><div><br /><b>Think Like a Super-GM </b></div><div><b>Adams and Hurtado Quality Chess pp464 £29.50</b><br /><br />Adams, a super-GM himself, and Hurtado who has an engineering scientific, statistical background, have teamed up to produce a most interesting book which works on several levels. Players of varying abilities from amateur to GM were asked to examine 40 selected positions, find the best and follow up moves, whilst their time taken and thoughts were recorded, which were then analysed and compared. Readers can test themselves and calculate their performance. Adams provides analysis and after each puzzle “Adams Insight”. Both authors provide interesting essays on aspects of what makes (or does not) a super-GM. Quality Chess deserve credit for investing in the work behind the book and it is produced to their usual high standards.</div><div><br /><b>Ray Edwards Jovanka Houska Sean Marsh 31 August 2022</b></div></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-10252706737163155922022-08-30T00:15:00.003-07:002022-08-30T00:15:29.625-07:00On the Brink of Year 35<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMATHlnkNTOrlN3x5FuKSM7_ZGbq3YnuGLNWVX6f8mJdJ3Iz51YSXrlmRdqpQijHCNsg9g4LVqs8BrISzqovj9vH9wSG7jCk0DkrX47Q8JxKePW7dxDKsr1zR3nXASUMPYWiqRjhDf27jKNwPe-mXMZf50h7DanWtw7pI8weEZGURpFaNOuN3lcmhu/s1014/35.16.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="803" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMATHlnkNTOrlN3x5FuKSM7_ZGbq3YnuGLNWVX6f8mJdJ3Iz51YSXrlmRdqpQijHCNsg9g4LVqs8BrISzqovj9vH9wSG7jCk0DkrX47Q8JxKePW7dxDKsr1zR3nXASUMPYWiqRjhDf27jKNwPe-mXMZf50h7DanWtw7pI8weEZGURpFaNOuN3lcmhu/w506-h640/35.16.jpeg" width="506" /></a></div><p></p>I am ready to start my 35th consecutive year of teaching chess in schools.<br /><br />Every year, I have the same thoughts and questions, including:<br /><br /><i>'Can I still teach as well as I did last year?'<br /><br />'What new obstacles will I find in my way this time?'<br /><br />'How much can I achieve with all of my schools and pupils?'<br /><br />'Will this year be the last?'</i><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOj0x-tbo-_C2aV7BjH3YuhcYeDNZwmPgNkn8tAQlI_7aPyIz5eDbbbh_l4ILW-duOGio8w0AJz31-cjQQqphLuTz6CR_TTVovkEhIw1xuT6zXOxPvxHM4oXSYMrCMnBcwrxgARWVlljkmpLo79ABaDiK_ip1gocvXhkEv6gidZPAdXQaDgjTkokS/s1753/35.7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1753" data-original-width="1727" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOj0x-tbo-_C2aV7BjH3YuhcYeDNZwmPgNkn8tAQlI_7aPyIz5eDbbbh_l4ILW-duOGio8w0AJz31-cjQQqphLuTz6CR_TTVovkEhIw1xuT6zXOxPvxHM4oXSYMrCMnBcwrxgARWVlljkmpLo79ABaDiK_ip1gocvXhkEv6gidZPAdXQaDgjTkokS/w394-h400/35.7.jpeg" width="394" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Over the course of the first 34 years, there has been much I have enjoyed. Many people have done their best to help me and some have remained extraordinarily loyal for a very long time. One day, I will write all about my favourite people.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkQGB2XdOYaSZUcRwqjmpUGr-fCdCH5xUBl14QbLlFPIVY46gyAaPWF4DQtGLwUKjRt4is77PgcZX1o3IVS15WuivK8z9m_Whrk-S86tguRWuQ_pfd_xJ7IgRu-SJZ82dANbLA7dJxIJrrM2_KWDvLouM_PDGM457YmbnBB1ypU1F6RuSi7cDvtht/s720/35.4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkQGB2XdOYaSZUcRwqjmpUGr-fCdCH5xUBl14QbLlFPIVY46gyAaPWF4DQtGLwUKjRt4is77PgcZX1o3IVS15WuivK8z9m_Whrk-S86tguRWuQ_pfd_xJ7IgRu-SJZ82dANbLA7dJxIJrrM2_KWDvLouM_PDGM457YmbnBB1ypU1F6RuSi7cDvtht/w400-h300/35.4.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>There has also been much I have had to endure, with some people trying their hardest to stand in the way of progress. I try not to suffer fools at all, let alone gladly; something I have been working on in recent times - and very successfully, too.<br /><br />Also, what passes for normal behaviour in the classroom has changed dramatically and alarmingly for the worse. One day, I will reveal all of the extremes, but most of it will be unbelievable to anyone who does not work in schools.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdyiiknLCjuOvCus5NdI5fzT9Bs20EwSYGL9WvPZrIxUQn5JSgtDaEE_5Iw6MeneezSQdSnE5XiTMpXjNWOLNl_tqZ3h92KzQYWpHtY53P2OsmmhiAXWJMC48Op9K-pj-VJ23aDcEepbj2VCf-raVAjnoLhz7JP3lhYbtHpY6XYX5MiFFxypQhyVB/s3264/35.10.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="3264" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdyiiknLCjuOvCus5NdI5fzT9Bs20EwSYGL9WvPZrIxUQn5JSgtDaEE_5Iw6MeneezSQdSnE5XiTMpXjNWOLNl_tqZ3h92KzQYWpHtY53P2OsmmhiAXWJMC48Op9K-pj-VJ23aDcEepbj2VCf-raVAjnoLhz7JP3lhYbtHpY6XYX5MiFFxypQhyVB/w640-h157/35.10.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>I don't need to prove anything about the benefits of chess. They should be too obvious. The important detail is that the skills we encourage to develop are definitely transferable. <div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5OKjBYFzxM_c0f5mtJ20Ao5OaO0i2-7GcGXeERoWzYl-43-_wsgRoz0aulipJthlYLMvwX_TiqoO_YbUpsGuWHVVQpP08FIbN4q3Jx2_oOLkr2OySsx1zFRRM4AqlZDdvLfTs5j-Cx68i7Xk2HsqpxfsNbLIizsE3Q7ev7g8W5JFCwXQg4Fb8svo/s1509/Greatham%20School%201988.1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1509" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5OKjBYFzxM_c0f5mtJ20Ao5OaO0i2-7GcGXeERoWzYl-43-_wsgRoz0aulipJthlYLMvwX_TiqoO_YbUpsGuWHVVQpP08FIbN4q3Jx2_oOLkr2OySsx1zFRRM4AqlZDdvLfTs5j-Cx68i7Xk2HsqpxfsNbLIizsE3Q7ev7g8W5JFCwXQg4Fb8svo/w400-h272/Greatham%20School%201988.1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Strong chess players can make very poor tutors. Great teachers can be novice chess players. Which is the better combination of the two? The one with the great teacher - every time. Great teachers can teach virtually anything. Strong chess players can really struggle to find the most suitable level to be able teach chess successfully.</div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx0ElpqbnDrOrRWzbIVV8a0thD0J9iSf9TedP8L4xs-n_A-QyLuFa0gYQiIbtStYRykYYZVGmHUyoHNkr1AXMdVGtObbQElBf0rBjhzU5pqoYHNoRLMiM9JGldeAGRKfLEYTw1XFtl0Aehppav6AwYtuiff1TtPdyGSEdnhG29ssj9hrvZ4Bxgliz/s720/35.1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx0ElpqbnDrOrRWzbIVV8a0thD0J9iSf9TedP8L4xs-n_A-QyLuFa0gYQiIbtStYRykYYZVGmHUyoHNkr1AXMdVGtObbQElBf0rBjhzU5pqoYHNoRLMiM9JGldeAGRKfLEYTw1XFtl0Aehppav6AwYtuiff1TtPdyGSEdnhG29ssj9hrvZ4Bxgliz/w400-h300/35.1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />What does teaching chess in schools entail? A plethora of skills one wouldn't normally suspect were required. Lifting and rearranging furniture - and making sure it is all back in the correct place afterwards. Making sure children are collected by their parents at the end of an after-school session. Not really the chess tutor's job, but who else is going to do it?</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEIlFMtaPaZdAidOdPK38tib2ta9jVNyiWRhatoqj2fi1AstGN9dvaEP_337v1rAD_Y-H8QL6d1KgR7VPGiGCEgHKB308XqFZhF8ZIAufpecYy2xFc-wy_3BqE--i0cLPofTusz8rE07ES-cm25oOSer0dRqF7iY9cw4NC7aV7MbgayGVOFSAPnk6/s2048/35.9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEIlFMtaPaZdAidOdPK38tib2ta9jVNyiWRhatoqj2fi1AstGN9dvaEP_337v1rAD_Y-H8QL6d1KgR7VPGiGCEgHKB308XqFZhF8ZIAufpecYy2xFc-wy_3BqE--i0cLPofTusz8rE07ES-cm25oOSer0dRqF7iY9cw4NC7aV7MbgayGVOFSAPnk6/w300-h400/35.9.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><div>Taking the register if the teacher is late into class. Maintaining classroom discipline. Not upsetting teachers from neighbouring classrooms with the unmistakable sounds of children having fun. Finding another room to make way for someone else. In the distant past I fell for the 'one where we use the school hall and get booted out shortly after starting because it's nearly lunchtime.' </div><br />One learns to avoid the more obvious traps, over time.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUerr37wvljFj_bxIx2YQaaUnCdz2atuumeXTQfWd9hVB9tGpYVGUuPv7dZP4JpEDGQoHRnFteb_EVr2BcWw82ass5MA62FH2ZVuCuxuAcn4et-3N2_tUX5lHJVrTfyAA7aahhSXzq77ZXZYXWxQZdSDmt3GH2c5my_2XgGHCh0emWfdW3FSMtpdN/s265/35.11.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="265" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUerr37wvljFj_bxIx2YQaaUnCdz2atuumeXTQfWd9hVB9tGpYVGUuPv7dZP4JpEDGQoHRnFteb_EVr2BcWw82ass5MA62FH2ZVuCuxuAcn4et-3N2_tUX5lHJVrTfyAA7aahhSXzq77ZXZYXWxQZdSDmt3GH2c5my_2XgGHCh0emWfdW3FSMtpdN/w400-h400/35.11.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCjKBhP6LcZqpONhTB98OQFo47QUNSuSTjq2EcJFCxKGQZAyT-sUv3Pg0RIyDYcMX-diqsNVbQKb1-tMtAuxkqf7299A8cV_m54zkjY62dHHwjxA73aaT49DrmuiGzJEnOukzxyzwFWYKX8ymAe-I5Jk4OaIPCuBBvv_ZKFHrqZvv4_tzTGV1Aeu7/s628/35.3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="490" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCjKBhP6LcZqpONhTB98OQFo47QUNSuSTjq2EcJFCxKGQZAyT-sUv3Pg0RIyDYcMX-diqsNVbQKb1-tMtAuxkqf7299A8cV_m54zkjY62dHHwjxA73aaT49DrmuiGzJEnOukzxyzwFWYKX8ymAe-I5Jk4OaIPCuBBvv_ZKFHrqZvv4_tzTGV1Aeu7/w313-h400/35.3.png" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><br /><br />Working in schools is a proven way to build up resilience and moral fibre.<br /><br />The largest class I've ever had? Over 65 - in a Secondary School. They had messed up the internal timings and sent three groups at once (send three groups at once in 2022 and the number of children could well exceed 100). <div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdDPIod0FHx0n728zZuX6aYI7Od0XUlgPpsH8Hs3Jln7O9lwMWPkfhPnwfQcmi_blNM-RMXdOWYoHt60_oPUGxLtqSrRcaBApWax89CzetiJsvFDKelm73xajeebgrKp2jAnJiZaU81lHMXsxsGavjHx28TOsJBMVTBPijnveUoFTNakPXzGWndXE/s2048/35.13.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdDPIod0FHx0n728zZuX6aYI7Od0XUlgPpsH8Hs3Jln7O9lwMWPkfhPnwfQcmi_blNM-RMXdOWYoHt60_oPUGxLtqSrRcaBApWax89CzetiJsvFDKelm73xajeebgrKp2jAnJiZaU81lHMXsxsGavjHx28TOsJBMVTBPijnveUoFTNakPXzGWndXE/w300-h400/35.13.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HAPpeKocEkWvJYBy4_lfyfQWfhHeF_CJYvGKNi1z78LD8Uc7zr93k5oYz7K_nQqdnWrOIvQEAwXsBczLs_m9X3lSsspyM85soeKH6Av79KZh90C4bDDFTzA1P4TPrEly0jUhZhlYLCa5R1Tk-7q-Mgu1Y3f5-lQ7ECEvKQbeOcTqQ8WhYEW1YHW4/s2048/67436526_131846499499646335.5_3161276318482432_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HAPpeKocEkWvJYBy4_lfyfQWfhHeF_CJYvGKNi1z78LD8Uc7zr93k5oYz7K_nQqdnWrOIvQEAwXsBczLs_m9X3lSsspyM85soeKH6Av79KZh90C4bDDFTzA1P4TPrEly0jUhZhlYLCa5R1Tk-7q-Mgu1Y3f5-lQ7ECEvKQbeOcTqQ8WhYEW1YHW4/w300-h400/67436526_131846499499646335.5_3161276318482432_n.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The most members of staff I have had talking loudly in classroom during a chess session? Six, ten years ago. </div><br />The smallest room I've ever been expected to use? A broom cupboard - and I still had to share with the brooms and buckets.<br /><br />The journey continues. The remarkably good people still outnumber the remarkably bad ones; an important yardstick. Although the winds of change continue to blow. David Hardy and Richard Harding, two of my closest friends, retired from frontline chess teaching this year and my own world will be a poorer place now that I will no longer be able to work alongside them.<br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EQWM87Kjy68qdj9db3b9nMpTTHHQMLMw3omCp4DSkWFBNDMwi9xqdL1TwbOCTHS2Pa4cLlfsuzTHmlTOlcjYFZLwkEfh5nWZRstwLskedN89fcc4m6Sz99mSSSdFPpmM9DHKgiB50_rS2qFRz13aRMChXbwz7PRdQyoc4zrdFleRfo7bOtnpW-u-/s552/35.2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="552" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EQWM87Kjy68qdj9db3b9nMpTTHHQMLMw3omCp4DSkWFBNDMwi9xqdL1TwbOCTHS2Pa4cLlfsuzTHmlTOlcjYFZLwkEfh5nWZRstwLskedN89fcc4m6Sz99mSSSdFPpmM9DHKgiB50_rS2qFRz13aRMChXbwz7PRdQyoc4zrdFleRfo7bOtnpW-u-/w400-h375/35.2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Will this year be the last? All manner of futures are possible, from this moment on.<br /><br />In recent times, there has been an unexpected pandemic through which to navigate. It could have destroyed most of what it took so many years to build up and maintain, yet by retraining to accommodate the option of online delivery enough continuity was retained to keep on going and to pick up the fragments afterwards.<br /><br />We continue to lurch from crisis to crisis. Will schools still be able to fund 'luxury items' now that their power bills are quadrupling? Indeed - will any of us manage to keep on going and still be able to pay the bills? Serious consequences will have to be endured as we are forced to pick up the tab for the extreme profiteering of others.<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOOdMFF5prDMiJPdHvtlnR7oQ1y2PYO_8Zx4FjuDvPxs5_vb0Kb3-4TRf9xbueoqyeJLxmorqystoeJTsJFCL-1ZG1S0UVs_SMrwwaTOFr8XIcIqGidQ0AXjqfhiDd6GijRb6LSB05gBP-NiiDHApYiRK3y9jYTgmWjq4TASzg2BDhVEjJnP_lZZm/s1224/35.12.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1224" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOOdMFF5prDMiJPdHvtlnR7oQ1y2PYO_8Zx4FjuDvPxs5_vb0Kb3-4TRf9xbueoqyeJLxmorqystoeJTsJFCL-1ZG1S0UVs_SMrwwaTOFr8XIcIqGidQ0AXjqfhiDd6GijRb6LSB05gBP-NiiDHApYiRK3y9jYTgmWjq4TASzg2BDhVEjJnP_lZZm/w400-h300/35.12.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>It would be good to complete at least four full decades but, having started in 1988, I do have a foothold in five different ones.<br /><br />Yes; let's keep the journey going for a while longer. I still have new plans and projects in mind and it will be interesting to see how much more can be achieved.</div></div></div></div></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-70906345743170980352022-08-30T00:09:00.000-07:002022-08-30T00:09:03.937-07:00Project 30 Results Update: Both Tournaments Have Now Concluded<p><b>KO Championship<br /><br />Semi-finals</b><br /><br />Dave Baillie 0-1 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Matt Jackman 1-0 Richard Harris<br /><br /><br /><b>Final</b><br /><br /><b><i>Sean Marsh 1-0 Matt Jackman </i></b><br /><b><br /></b></p><div><b>Rapidplay Championship</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh 3-1 John Garnett (1,1,1,0)</div><div>Matt Jackman 3-1 Dave Baillie (1,0,1,1)<br /><br /><br /><b>Final</b><br /><br /><i><b>Matt Jackman 2-4 Sean Marsh (1,0,0,0,0,1)</b></i><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><b>Earlier Results</b><br /><br /><b>KO Championship<br /><br />Round One</b><br /><br />Sean Cassidy 0-1 Richard Harris<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 0-1 Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br /><b>Round Two</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh 1-0 John Garnett (the first game was a draw and we required a replay)<br /><br />Dave Baillie 1-0 Peter Harker<br /><br />Matt Jackman 1-0 Royce Parker<br /><br />Richard Harris 1-0 Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br /><b>Confirmed semi-finalists</b><br /><br />Sean Marsh<br /><br />Dave Baillie<br /><br />Matt Jackman<br /><br />Richard Harris<br /><br />The draw will be made soon.<br /><br /><br /><b>Rapidplay Championship</b><br /><br /><br />The top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals (winner of group A vs. runner-up of group B and vice versa.)<br /><br />The semi-finals will be four Rapidplay games and the final will be six games.<br /><br /><br /><b>Group A</b><br /><br />Sean Marsh<br /><br />Matt Jackman<br /><br />Richard Harris<br /><br />Kevin Waterman<br /><br />Sean Cassidy<br /><br /><br />Matt Jackman 2-0 Richard Harris<br /><br />Matt Jackman 2-0 Sean Cassidy<br /><br />Matt Jackman 0-2 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Matt Jackman 1-1 Kevin Waterman<br /><br />Sean Cassidy 0-2 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 0-2 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 0-2 Sean Cassidy</div><div><br />Kevin Waterman 1-1 Richard Harris<br /><br />Richard Harris 0-2 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Richard Harris 1.5-0.5 Sean Cassidy<br /><br /><br /><b>Final Group Standings</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh 8/8<br /><br />Matt Jackman 5/8<br /><br />Sean Cassidy 2.5/8<br /><br />Richard Harris 2.5/8<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 2/8<br /><br /><b><br />Group B</b><br /><br /><br />Dave Baillie<br /><br />John Garnett<br /><br />Royce Parker<br /><br />Peter Harker<br /><br />Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br />Dave Baillie 1.5-0.5 John Garnett<br /><br />Dave Baillie 1.5-0.5 Stephen Ollis<br /><br />Dave Baillie 1-1 Royce Parker<br /><br />Dave Baillie 2-0 Peter Harker<br /><br />John Garnett 2-0 Stephen Ollis<br /><br />John Garnett 2-0 Peter Harker<br /><br />John Garnett 1-1 Royce Parker<br /><br />Peter Harker 2-0 Stephen Ollis<br /><br />Peter Harker 0-2 Royce Parker<br /><br />Royce Parker 1.5-0.5 Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><b><br />Final Group Standings</b><br /><br /><br />Dave Baillie 6/8<br /><br />John Garnett 5.5/8<br /><br />Royce Parker 5.5/8<br /><br />Peter Harker 2/8<br /><br />Stephen Ollis 1/8<br /><br /><br /><b>Play-off:</b><br /><br />John Garnett 1.5-0.5 Royce Parker<br /><b><br />Confirmed Semi-finalists</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh - John Garnett</div><div>Matt Jackman - Dave Baillie</div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-12812164318629015262022-02-14T23:36:00.005-08:002022-08-30T00:08:04.599-07:00Project 30 Results Update: Semi-finals Now Completed<b>KO Championship<br /><br />Semi-finals</b><br /><br />Dave Baillie 0-1 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Matt Jackman 1-0 Richard Harris<br /><br /><br /><b>Final</b><br /><br />Matt Jackman vs. Sean Marsh<br /><br /><b><br /></b><div><b>Rapidplay Championship</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh 3-1 John Garnett (1,1,1,0)</div><div>Matt Jackman 3-1 Dave Baillie (1,0,1,1)<br /><br /><br /><b>Final</b><br /><br />Matt Jackman vs. Sean Marsh<br /><br /><br />The two finals have a provisional deadline of the end of April 2022.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><b>Earlier Results</b><br /><br /><b>KO Championship<br /><br />Round One</b><br /><br />Sean Cassidy 0-1 Richard Harris<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 0-1 Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br /><b>Round Two</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh 1-0 John Garnett (the first game was a draw and we required a replay)<br /><br />Dave Baillie 1-0 Peter Harker<br /><br />Matt Jackman 1-0 Royce Parker<br /><br />Richard Harris 1-0 Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br /><b>Confirmed semi-finalists</b><br /><br />Sean Marsh<br /><br />Dave Baillie<br /><br />Matt Jackman<br /><br />Richard Harris<br /><br />The draw will be made soon.<br /><br /><br /><b>Rapidplay Championship</b><br /><br /><br />The top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals (winner of group A vs. runner-up of group B and vice versa.)<br /><br />The semi-finals will be four Rapidplay games and the final will be six games.<br /><br /><br /><b>Group A</b><br /><br />Sean Marsh<br /><br />Matt Jackman<br /><br />Richard Harris<br /><br />Kevin Waterman<br /><br />Sean Cassidy<br /><br /><br />Matt Jackman 2-0 Richard Harris<br /><br />Matt Jackman 2-0 Sean Cassidy<br /><br />Matt Jackman 0-2 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Matt Jackman 1-1 Kevin Waterman<br /><br />Sean Cassidy 0-2 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 0-2 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 0-2 Sean Cassidy</div><div><br />Kevin Waterman 1-1 Richard Harris<br /><br />Richard Harris 0-2 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Richard Harris 1.5-0.5 Sean Cassidy<br /><br /><br /><b>Final Group Standings</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh 8/8<br /><br />Matt Jackman 5/8<br /><br />Sean Cassidy 2.5/8<br /><br />Richard Harris 2.5/8<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 2/8<br /><br /><b><br />Group B</b><br /><br /><br />Dave Baillie<br /><br />John Garnett<br /><br />Royce Parker<br /><br />Peter Harker<br /><br />Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br />Dave Baillie 1.5-0.5 John Garnett<br /><br />Dave Baillie 1.5-0.5 Stephen Ollis<br /><br />Dave Baillie 1-1 Royce Parker<br /><br />Dave Baillie 2-0 Peter Harker<br /><br />John Garnett 2-0 Stephen Ollis<br /><br />John Garnett 2-0 Peter Harker<br /><br />John Garnett 1-1 Royce Parker<br /><br />Peter Harker 2-0 Stephen Ollis<br /><br />Peter Harker 0-2 Royce Parker<br /><br />Royce Parker 1.5-0.5 Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><b><br />Final Group Standings</b><br /><br /><br />Dave Baillie 6/8<br /><br />John Garnett 5.5/8<br /><br />Royce Parker 5.5/8<br /><br />Peter Harker 2/8<br /><br />Stephen Ollis 1/8<br /><br /><br /><b>Play-off:</b><br /><br />John Garnett 1.5-0.5 Royce Parker<br /><b><br />Confirmed Semi-finalists</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh - John Garnett</div><div>Matt Jackman - Dave Baillie</div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-24640391199164869462022-01-26T23:21:00.001-08:002022-01-26T23:26:15.759-08:00The Ali Ghiassi Memorial Junior Chess Tournament<div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Ali Ghiassi Memorial Junior Chess Tournament<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sponsored by Marguerita Evans in memory of her son Ali Ghiassi </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Date: </b>Saturday 19 February 2022 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Time:</b> 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Venue: </b>Sports Hall, John Leggott College, West Common Lane, Scunthorpe, DN17 1DS </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Tournament Format:</b> Five-round Swiss</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX4 SCXW235561808" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGq89Ctm1qBICNHy3dps-FQz6fibOKFngBQd3JjVWYNjsURkCP764wzXbnfwV7FQ3Rs4-EefrskrCyyqlNFHLciZrmv3XsdVruYKVYrd4bdwv4EwtBi_catlqDiMiyvOozQ6Ms1d5_EGNi0jsfICBw6eurzuPou230Wbh7moFvZNI8wOLkOKvLf787=s182" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="126" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGq89Ctm1qBICNHy3dps-FQz6fibOKFngBQd3JjVWYNjsURkCP764wzXbnfwV7FQ3Rs4-EefrskrCyyqlNFHLciZrmv3XsdVruYKVYrd4bdwv4EwtBi_catlqDiMiyvOozQ6Ms1d5_EGNi0jsfICBw6eurzuPou230Wbh7moFvZNI8wOLkOKvLf787=w183-h264" width="183" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ali Ghiassi</td></tr></tbody></table></div><i>'Ali started playing at a chess club in London at six years old but it wasn't until he moved to Scunthorpe that he started playing competitively. Ali continued to play chess throughout his life and he would have been so pleased to think that through this tournament young players are being encouraged to participate playing chess into the future. '</i><br /><br /><b>General Information </b><br /><br />Entry Fee: £2.00 per player (cheques payable to ‘Joanne Hutchinson’). Closing date for entries: Wednesday 16 February 2022 <br /><br />Prizes include trophies, medals and certificates. Sections may be combined, depending on the number of entries. <br /><br />We cannot offer full supervision outside of the playing hall and children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the day. Basic refreshments will be available on the day but please bring a packed lunch. <br /><br />ECF Arbiter Jo Hutchinson is the tournament organizer and controller. The controller's decision, in all matters regarding the tournament, is final. All enquiries to: <a href="mailto:johutchinsonchess@gmail.com">johutchinsonchess@gmail.com</a> Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-51583185879704601432022-01-25T22:57:00.004-08:002022-01-26T23:01:48.965-08:00Project 30 Results UpdateProject 30 results update.<br /><br /><br /><b>KO Championship<br /><br />Round One</b><br /><br />Sean Cassidy 0-1 Richard Harris<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 0-1 Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><b>Round Two</b><br /><br />Sean Marsh 1-0 John Garnett (the first game was a draw and we required a replay)<br /><br />Dave Baillie 1-0 Peter Harker<br /><br />Matt Jackman 1-0 Royce Parker<br /><br />Richard Harris 1-0 Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br /><b>Confirmed semi-finalists</b><br /><br />Sean Marsh<br /><br />Dave Baillie<br /><br />Matt Jackman<br /><br />Richard Harris<br /><br /><br /><b>Rapidplay Championship<br /></b><br /><br />The top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals (winner of group A vs. runner-up of group B and vice versa.) The semi-finals will be four Rapidplay games and the final will be six games.<br /><br /><br /><b>Group A</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh<br /><br />Matt Jackman<br /><br />Richard Harris<br /><br />Kevin Waterman<br /><br />Sean Cassidy<br /><br /><br />Matt Jackman 2-0 Richard Harris<br />Matt Jackman 2-0 Sean Cassidy<br />Matt Jackman 0-2 Sean Marsh<br />Matt Jackman 1-1 Kevin Waterman<br />Sean Cassidy 0-2 Sean Marsh<br />Kevin Waterman 0-2 Sean Marsh<div>Kevin Waterman 0-2 Sean Cassidy<br />Kevin Waterman 1-1 Richard Harris<br />Richard Harris 0-2 Sean Marsh<br />Richard Harris 1.5-0.5 Sean Cassidy<br /><br /><br /><b>Final Group Standings</b><br /><br />Sean Marsh 8/8<br /><br />Matt Jackman 5/8<br /><br />Sean Cassidy 2.5/8<br /><br />Richard Harris 2.5/8<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 2/8<br /><br /><br /><b>Group B</b><br /><br /><br />Dave Baillie<br /><br />John Garnett<br /><br />Royce Parker<br /><br />Peter Harker<br /><br />Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br />Dave Baillie 1.5-0.5John Garnett<br />Dave Baillie 1.5-0.5 Stephen Ollis<br />Dave Baillie 1-1 Royce Parker<br />Dave Baillie 2-0 Peter Harker<br />John Garnett 2-0 Stephen Ollis<br />John Garnett 2-0 Peter Harker<br />John Garnett 1-1 Royce Parker<br />Peter Harker 2-0 Stephen Ollis<br />Peter Harker 0-2 Royce Parker<br />Royce Parker 1.5-0.5 Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br /></div><div><b>Final Group Standings</b><br /><br /><br />Dave Baillie 6/8<br /><br />John Garnett 5.5/8<br /><br />Royce Parker 5.5/8<br /><br />Peter Harker 2/8<br /><br />Stephen Ollis 1/8<br /><br /><br /><b>Play-off</b><br /><br />John Garnett 1.5-0.5 Royce Parker<br /><br /><br /><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Confirmed Semi-finalists</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh - John Garnett<br /><br />Matt Jackman - Dave Baillie</div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-34610144527947363642021-12-30T08:14:00.000-08:002021-12-30T08:14:01.577-08:00Best of the Year: 2021<p> It has been another year of greatly reduced gigs, for very obvious reasons.</p><p>Nevertheless, amid the cancellations some gigs still went ahead, including a number of live, online transmissions.</p><p>The online gigs (T-Rextasy, The Skids, Big Country, Gary Numan and Midge Ure) were very good, but nothing can match the real live experience.</p><p>Unfortunately, it soon became apparent that a lot of people had forgotten how to behave in public after the lockdowns and several gigs were tainted by sheer doltery.</p><p>Some venues need to rapidly tighten up their policies on vaping, serving virtually endless amounts of drinks during the gigs and morons talking loudly and repeatedly over the shows.</p><p>The worst offenders this time could be found at the gigs featuring The Bluejays, The Wandering Hearts, Amy Macdonald and, worst of all, Paul Weller.</p><p>An extraordinary about of people appear to be exempt from wearing masks too. I don't believe it - but that's another story.</p><p>Here is a quick spin through the gigs I saw during 2021.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhekCj_YHlB_INeS2PlrEy9eS4KMAzcj6Qi83KASgL4ljSFJKXOiDxJ310x6K-U-54yYEkyTVFLu-7YAfoWbps5ixhmm2tETCBgr98ey5IjMBhhXkS6dH2_4aNJGFH2JWcUeK6TirLLCaWK-qHXYYdoKm0fgFfRZKG5jYAUCrec-tj0_4PqrJcDVYOs=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhekCj_YHlB_INeS2PlrEy9eS4KMAzcj6Qi83KASgL4ljSFJKXOiDxJ310x6K-U-54yYEkyTVFLu-7YAfoWbps5ixhmm2tETCBgr98ey5IjMBhhXkS6dH2_4aNJGFH2JWcUeK6TirLLCaWK-qHXYYdoKm0fgFfRZKG5jYAUCrec-tj0_4PqrJcDVYOs=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calling Planet Earth</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVz4zt_8LYlb6H-Zpi-BGxMHDNjxjNJX2BsbSpLs27HVlRsTKM2I-cTKTpyNq1t51bGxOwZ5JKU4W4eEr72yjfGDASf8YLTAJk2y1tArbbpbOi2tYvhnx1BQUsD-aqqchpXBVZgzYgmELxP2LpN_GAuMDt98wJ7m-Jkp-eKNi9H__MgvZdbH-TvpjW=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVz4zt_8LYlb6H-Zpi-BGxMHDNjxjNJX2BsbSpLs27HVlRsTKM2I-cTKTpyNq1t51bGxOwZ5JKU4W4eEr72yjfGDASf8YLTAJk2y1tArbbpbOi2tYvhnx1BQUsD-aqqchpXBVZgzYgmELxP2LpN_GAuMDt98wJ7m-Jkp-eKNi9H__MgvZdbH-TvpjW=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wandering Hearts</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl_kMHFqmrsyszB1wtDMo_sk-iaQJa6QCTvLn3OAjTxROeWX5WlJqtXooxv8WWEw8ABweACUW_JQs3kBTSbeYEnZiRCouNmuPFWgknaDx_YEj_xrdHh67i0C1jxely15N8SfHlFjz7l69x5zYRMILn4CuyvvDdla-KAk_6dLc-OeluQytOzmVzzWyg=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl_kMHFqmrsyszB1wtDMo_sk-iaQJa6QCTvLn3OAjTxROeWX5WlJqtXooxv8WWEw8ABweACUW_JQs3kBTSbeYEnZiRCouNmuPFWgknaDx_YEj_xrdHh67i0C1jxely15N8SfHlFjz7l69x5zYRMILn4CuyvvDdla-KAk_6dLc-OeluQytOzmVzzWyg=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy Macdonald</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSbH4QGXZSeA_-dv_3RuU3KSuY1_r2YbSJXSz6h38ZVJydKnl5PRxCfHXEfNnKFNVNZov2hCYns2P_gJg8tEcO23RXrgvGHI7arJ7GMlUjYQ5aC_3daSDTcNi2M5KwLmHX-i9Qr1_mJ49XtkdW4CrQhSJjazNfPjDQR2zMBrgc2NKN9IE9eWG4PX2e=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSbH4QGXZSeA_-dv_3RuU3KSuY1_r2YbSJXSz6h38ZVJydKnl5PRxCfHXEfNnKFNVNZov2hCYns2P_gJg8tEcO23RXrgvGHI7arJ7GMlUjYQ5aC_3daSDTcNi2M5KwLmHX-i9Qr1_mJ49XtkdW4CrQhSJjazNfPjDQR2zMBrgc2NKN9IE9eWG4PX2e=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bootleg Blondie</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrfh4IfwBSrr4NWFtnV6IhswyooswjfEajSI5L7M1bWb7dnLouVFNq02wPiO3IdSUP39irEJEs_hsNI9dnU8Fn84ecAUvY8_KXPgTZVusC-nGOkvxq16u3BNS5LkGPtx_8gKLryfQ5W1Bio5KBi5P31B37dbtLFXYaqMaNYGOoZyCovLfA60dYHVl7=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrfh4IfwBSrr4NWFtnV6IhswyooswjfEajSI5L7M1bWb7dnLouVFNq02wPiO3IdSUP39irEJEs_hsNI9dnU8Fn84ecAUvY8_KXPgTZVusC-nGOkvxq16u3BNS5LkGPtx_8gKLryfQ5W1Bio5KBi5P31B37dbtLFXYaqMaNYGOoZyCovLfA60dYHVl7=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bluejays</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvBgfBXiaHTRbdOHjd0chFg-PF4hDJIlF5g642EMK8Bq9TggNhqXEt0zdN1Kd9Z58TR8UUp3TLI27h8JqDNKCeT3Y4O2TLBz_eL44nExr8NF9lsigeJh-tUXLwQ-osTdPIrGnnO7pUotZ9z_BlzkpuhkQ7FqRMMo1Bsw2WvC63j8sRMrbz6q2lWnxS=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvBgfBXiaHTRbdOHjd0chFg-PF4hDJIlF5g642EMK8Bq9TggNhqXEt0zdN1Kd9Z58TR8UUp3TLI27h8JqDNKCeT3Y4O2TLBz_eL44nExr8NF9lsigeJh-tUXLwQ-osTdPIrGnnO7pUotZ9z_BlzkpuhkQ7FqRMMo1Bsw2WvC63j8sRMrbz6q2lWnxS=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowie Experience</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzI0QLdVfLWnpXMQu3tefULlURy5wwElMSef-cjpw44MLwAi_XM4lO513zU17nH8-_51b87ShGf_FHoaVkieUu7hKxMG7S6PoUgifr1sanzl9YliW2QB_VM5MLTOcfz79pq8yuGbvO2ouYo2L5behXW9HCzMUA7JIgANV2xWFJFEp9luG3JnV8y4DL=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzI0QLdVfLWnpXMQu3tefULlURy5wwElMSef-cjpw44MLwAi_XM4lO513zU17nH8-_51b87ShGf_FHoaVkieUu7hKxMG7S6PoUgifr1sanzl9YliW2QB_VM5MLTOcfz79pq8yuGbvO2ouYo2L5behXW9HCzMUA7JIgANV2xWFJFEp9luG3JnV8y4DL=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holy Moly and the Crackers</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIfJ_A12WFGAhlN77VRhBh-H-hpZMwXH0dTAXsTy7VJpRx0agHtTSJxANxovbJ8OIrhGlEKGFgKcF3i9g-sZcTfO8-b0dkCmamju5rnd1gW90uegHbTlcDcGqJBhr8nuamrPSTzSy7UU5gHw-t9yGTlG2tCju87q9Xfbynm9KIkCXXDMM5zsfFtvjS=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIfJ_A12WFGAhlN77VRhBh-H-hpZMwXH0dTAXsTy7VJpRx0agHtTSJxANxovbJ8OIrhGlEKGFgKcF3i9g-sZcTfO8-b0dkCmamju5rnd1gW90uegHbTlcDcGqJBhr8nuamrPSTzSy7UU5gHw-t9yGTlG2tCju87q9Xfbynm9KIkCXXDMM5zsfFtvjS=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nine Below Zero</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjfZD4FGuinlPN7nlrz1LMq1LiE77kYXAh-HRKHygF2q4XRXu8zAZ3_kMdjzqigfAWNIAqDJH7jteAKwffkPPP1blIJNtpygC7rA1rjr9qSlOFdzdxUphw8IuUS9JUgiA2kPmcNmxdRBBxADeKHw1HbO5bE0eE7dWTR-MRzD9imeoYpkRqZ9xeVsxD=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjfZD4FGuinlPN7nlrz1LMq1LiE77kYXAh-HRKHygF2q4XRXu8zAZ3_kMdjzqigfAWNIAqDJH7jteAKwffkPPP1blIJNtpygC7rA1rjr9qSlOFdzdxUphw8IuUS9JUgiA2kPmcNmxdRBBxADeKHw1HbO5bE0eE7dWTR-MRzD9imeoYpkRqZ9xeVsxD=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Skids</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7-lc2I_uP1swaPpeFzE2DGjpt7oujQpixmCZv2YO6DdF2fWqBE95TYFvaGguCKvHDfV6ujQAM82i3gTh3Njr5sTdENJg3LigzndNr_LzxRieYqmJkftw1sA-2_hiYZY__j7t4Yj_9fcVbi6_-coo3ZXKAz6Ch3Aaz9ilGp7AmOEONvyL-Eh9OV1DE=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7-lc2I_uP1swaPpeFzE2DGjpt7oujQpixmCZv2YO6DdF2fWqBE95TYFvaGguCKvHDfV6ujQAM82i3gTh3Njr5sTdENJg3LigzndNr_LzxRieYqmJkftw1sA-2_hiYZY__j7t4Yj_9fcVbi6_-coo3ZXKAz6Ch3Aaz9ilGp7AmOEONvyL-Eh9OV1DE=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma Stevens</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5kKfbb_0sBIgdpeR67UVFK1dI6MlJ-E2GNcfbpnTJvQtlz-UEA6vawEnQLuBhMXtpDS1QwToRwtz2mNEaEkmU9oS8RnztAcy6M2LjEfUaiFW9H7gbhrOitt591X2YJDBy6rGIvcnNpMWOMkQ6p-WuMUS4jffzI8LLbTcBFndJHJgnkKOE_qqfd3Nd=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5kKfbb_0sBIgdpeR67UVFK1dI6MlJ-E2GNcfbpnTJvQtlz-UEA6vawEnQLuBhMXtpDS1QwToRwtz2mNEaEkmU9oS8RnztAcy6M2LjEfUaiFW9H7gbhrOitt591X2YJDBy6rGIvcnNpMWOMkQ6p-WuMUS4jffzI8LLbTcBFndJHJgnkKOE_qqfd3Nd=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally Tina</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ1DuGDF-9Z5cx2bn7IfZQCMQCx4di0b3NFclNMOiWQseQQkWW-6C7NuzpLUp9lYFlsb0JVSUomrQA5Y9aIDf8iFQoPUoAjz6MPOC5ApqPPLFMA8zcNZmKzglXNWk2E8ORUnGgPTsBhhPuMjY70zG9DAPczSq5HqfsbM7M0QQrPMvRvTyiJ8MDykwN=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ1DuGDF-9Z5cx2bn7IfZQCMQCx4di0b3NFclNMOiWQseQQkWW-6C7NuzpLUp9lYFlsb0JVSUomrQA5Y9aIDf8iFQoPUoAjz6MPOC5ApqPPLFMA8zcNZmKzglXNWk2E8ORUnGgPTsBhhPuMjY70zG9DAPczSq5HqfsbM7M0QQrPMvRvTyiJ8MDykwN=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Jane Weaver<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4gtSL6zzItAirGO3A8CyMsknFPtx-tMdCz1qOZc7VbUFE1wdADc0yrna-LFPlo3PmxEDMC3lwKGY6Q5XGgBxnELiu8EFAmHXuJdoQPZyVqJLD9sAxpbEMxYGu-DYuE2zrkr41usOsks5oblz5pT137WpQtC2XkNldN1f2lvndOrazCstOC7DbJz4M=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4gtSL6zzItAirGO3A8CyMsknFPtx-tMdCz1qOZc7VbUFE1wdADc0yrna-LFPlo3PmxEDMC3lwKGY6Q5XGgBxnELiu8EFAmHXuJdoQPZyVqJLD9sAxpbEMxYGu-DYuE2zrkr41usOsks5oblz5pT137WpQtC2XkNldN1f2lvndOrazCstOC7DbJz4M=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Paul Weller</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The gig of the year was undoubtedly Soft Cell, who were fabulous from start to finish - and the audience was perfectly behaved too.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ0R_azSTiNzW3vs4tLuYb24IOujaUBtRuYwLh4YJIMQU2XsMoV6JD8AF0kPUxm3lI_WGi0Y9lbacdEQqyUroTv6TUtGXcNfqazbNwG9hlAFAZzeCcKXSQtQI2igObDuM_QbMM3jYzs44K7P2-k6Bi9oUHvDXCUC4lNQCkSRHhCieY76ZJ2CfZGkZH=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ0R_azSTiNzW3vs4tLuYb24IOujaUBtRuYwLh4YJIMQU2XsMoV6JD8AF0kPUxm3lI_WGi0Y9lbacdEQqyUroTv6TUtGXcNfqazbNwG9hlAFAZzeCcKXSQtQI2igObDuM_QbMM3jYzs44K7P2-k6Bi9oUHvDXCUC4lNQCkSRHhCieY76ZJ2CfZGkZH=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soft Cell</td></tr></tbody></table><p>What will 2022 bring, I wonder? I have tickets for shows which have been repeatedly pushed back for years now but hopefully they will eventually go ahead.</p>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-91045979379932209852021-12-24T05:27:00.004-08:002021-12-24T05:27:28.591-08:00Project 30 Tournament Update<b>Project 30 Tournament Update<br /><br />KO Championship<br /><br />Round One</b><br /><br />Sean Cassidy 0-1 Richard Harris <br /><br />Kevin Waterman 0-1 Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><b>Round Two</b><br /><br />Sean Marsh 1-0 John Garnett (the first game was drawn and we required a replay)<br /><br />Dave Baillie 1-0 Peter Harker<br /><br />Matt Jackman 1-0 Royce Parker <br /><br />Richard Harris v Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br /><b>Rapidplay Championship</b><br /><br /><br />The top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals (winner of group A vs. runner-up of group B and vice versa.)<br /><br />The semi-finals will be four Rapidplay games and the final will be six games.<br /><b><br />Group A</b><br /><br />Sean Marsh<br /><br />Matt Jackman<br /><br />Richard Harris<br /><br />Kevin Waterman<br /><br />Sean Cassidy<br /><br /><b>Results</b><br /><br />Matt Jackman 2-0 Richard Harris<br /><br />Matt Jackman 2-0 Sean Cassidy<br /><br />Matt Jackman 0-2 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Matt Jackman 1-1 Kevin Waterman<br /><br />Sean Cassidy 0-2 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 0-2 Sean Marsh<div><br />Richard Harris 0-2 Sean Marsh<br /><br />Richard Harris 1.5-0.5 Sean Cassidy<br /><br /><b>Remaining Fixtures</b><br /><br />Kevin Waterman - Richard Harris<br /><br />Kevin Waterman - Sean Cassidy<br /><br /><br /><b>Current Standings</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh 8/8<br /><br />Matt Jackman 5/8<br /><br />Richard Harris 1.5/6<br /><br />Kevin Waterman 1/4<br /><br />Sean Cassidy 0.5/6<br /><br /><br /><b>Group B</b><br /><br />Dave Baillie<br /><br />John Garnett<br /><br />Royce Parker<br /><br />Peter Harker<br /><br />Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><b>Results</b><br /><br />Dave Baillie 1.5-0.5 John Garnett<br /><br />Dave Baillie 1.5-0.5 Stephen Ollis<br /><br />John Garnett 2-0 Stephen Ollis<br /><br />John Garnett 2-0 Peter Harker<br /><br />Peter Harker 2-0 Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><b>Remaining Fixtures</b><br /><br />Dave Baillie - Peter Harker<br /><br />Dave Baillie - Royce Parker<br /><br />Royce Parker - John Garnett<br /><br />Royce Parker - Stephen Ollis<br /><br />Royce Parker - Peter Harker</div><div><br /><br /><b>Current Standings</b><br /><br /><br />John Garnett 4.5/6<br /><br />Dave Baillie 3/4<br /><br />Peter Harker 2/4<br /><br />Stephen Ollis 0.5/6<br /><br />Royce Parker 0/0<br /><br /></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-68880311961281101252021-12-22T05:19:00.001-08:002021-12-24T05:21:47.064-08:00CHESS InterviewThe new issue of CHESS Magazine has an interview with me.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzjra_DFoaTMtByr8-1A6p7mfzdg33T0-XYbjDC6T2M79DR36Ul-d_yylqCOdqAOvsyPAM0BGrkbxcT5XmW4OQ7OZzymKtoHD7JKnExGvw8UsHbEvUtdztWQQT9G-YS-tu8iVytLLT7VK03Y9xUHlMO4lUsDDG8Z1g6VZTErY4MuSTKGmCqAeXYu-X=s707" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzjra_DFoaTMtByr8-1A6p7mfzdg33T0-XYbjDC6T2M79DR36Ul-d_yylqCOdqAOvsyPAM0BGrkbxcT5XmW4OQ7OZzymKtoHD7JKnExGvw8UsHbEvUtdztWQQT9G-YS-tu8iVytLLT7VK03Y9xUHlMO4lUsDDG8Z1g6VZTErY4MuSTKGmCqAeXYu-X=w283-h400" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0478/2876/2775/files/chess-magazine-january-2022-sample.pdf?v=1640183389&fbclid=IwAR3NOQrX-cISVMQ9WYaJ9qfSQOk1TEerKDod5gI9q04nZv4sWbn_kUuW3Jo" style="color: #ddbb99; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here</a> </span>for the free sample, which has the interview, some of my book reviews and also a photograph from my recent CSC Stoke Training Day.</div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-4558353736104546602021-12-21T05:22:00.001-08:002021-12-24T05:24:15.329-08:00Project 30 Chessmas QuizThank you to everyone who braved my annual Chessmas Quiz tonight.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpFh59mVhweC_Nzl1qnj9PrwC90q2_Rbe4U_Vc-cSbvyPkAgFiH8-N4pnRNsVGGjLaFp9Jq8L-MkJGXSxEry2yUcrXj1WTh-3b6NVUmGiCVqYvLj9hMyDZ5S8sm2IX4vi-8DrkYikWoCRLXy06Ce1Frg3VNP7Pcfj7DVzYuPoN9Ntai97HuHjbiPfi=s2014" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="2014" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpFh59mVhweC_Nzl1qnj9PrwC90q2_Rbe4U_Vc-cSbvyPkAgFiH8-N4pnRNsVGGjLaFp9Jq8L-MkJGXSxEry2yUcrXj1WTh-3b6NVUmGiCVqYvLj9hMyDZ5S8sm2IX4vi-8DrkYikWoCRLXy06Ce1Frg3VNP7Pcfj7DVzYuPoN9Ntai97HuHjbiPfi=w400-h213" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Congratulations to the Piper Team, who followed up their <a href="https://cscteesside.blogspot.com/2021/12/new-adventures-at-london-chess-classic.html">London success</a> with another victory!</div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-27635553557701308872021-11-26T02:09:00.006-08:002021-11-26T02:09:59.508-08:00London Chess Classic 2021<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IDA4rquczRjZlgaFZ1ZnGNLJWucvPT8LKaBMqh7Fs4BXuPppRy6Hk0CA1bxRi-MMjR5WKEAWrfiNHOyo-sGO4O82CyjXIvXM2JiC-O812TIwDr-gYkgN4kk9ec9GDuzLT41POo5QZpI/s1292/LCC+2021.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1292" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IDA4rquczRjZlgaFZ1ZnGNLJWucvPT8LKaBMqh7Fs4BXuPppRy6Hk0CA1bxRi-MMjR5WKEAWrfiNHOyo-sGO4O82CyjXIvXM2JiC-O812TIwDr-gYkgN4kk9ec9GDuzLT41POo5QZpI/w320-h259/LCC+2021.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Incidentally, there will be expert commentary on the World Chess Championship games as part of the London Chess Classic.</div><br />Head to the Classic website for full details of all of the events on offer this year:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/3/#">https://www.londonchessclassic.com</a>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-77531884126715803522021-11-26T01:58:00.005-08:002021-11-26T01:58:28.347-08:00World Chess Championship: Magnus Carlsen vs. Ian NepomniachtchiThe World Chess Championship match between Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi starts today.<br /><br />Carlsen, the defending champion, starts as the favourite, but I believe the match will be extremely close.<br /><br />Find out more on the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/3/#">official website</a>.Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-1947226477684049612021-11-23T23:28:00.001-08:002021-11-23T23:29:04.238-08:0012th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament<div>12th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament saw a return to over-the-board chess after <a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2020/12/11th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html" target="_blank">last year's temporary switch to the online world</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>This time, five players contested a double round-robin tournament, with 10 minutes on each clock.</div><div><br /></div><div>A selection of Mike's favourite openings was drawn at random, with one such opening featuring in every round. This time, we had the French Wing Gambit, the Sicilian Najdorf, Sicilian Wing Gambit, Sicilian Scheveningen and the Danish Gambit.</div><div><br /></div><div>None of the above openings are specialities of any of this year's participants, but we did our best to play in the spirt of Mike.</div><div><br /></div><div>Trying to work out alien strategies over the board led to time trouble for all concerned and most of the games could easily have gone either way. </div><div><br /></div><div>There was only one draw in the whole event and that came in the very last game to finish, when Jo's queen was able to force a perpetual check on my king, despite my advantage of an extra rook and knight - not to mention a threat of checkmate in one move.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Final Scores</b></div><div><br /></div><div>9.5/10: Sean Marsh</div><div>8/10: Dave Baillie</div><div>5/10: Richard Harris</div><div>4.5/10: Jo Hutchinson</div><div>3/10: Royce Parker</div><div><br /></div><div>Well played, everyone - and thank you very much for supporting the 12th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a gallery from the exciting evening.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUolbAvfzwCdDcevfXD4xhlMcTGAzPflNEc2-j8TrDBot5qMqn0NdPJTKcXuVfBfKRZdhR6jgF7dG1mrjzDY0Prck52dWFAHs3AneES13HXQJZT1Tt3ORn6c6NyMtHr3nAFfRuUJ6_gs/s640/Mish12.1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUolbAvfzwCdDcevfXD4xhlMcTGAzPflNEc2-j8TrDBot5qMqn0NdPJTKcXuVfBfKRZdhR6jgF7dG1mrjzDY0Prck52dWFAHs3AneES13HXQJZT1Tt3ORn6c6NyMtHr3nAFfRuUJ6_gs/w400-h301/Mish12.1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_FLheDYa47a9na_C8aPVvM_9_HXkuDIpWCEfc1k108XFB0zVZd4dKURSm6PeHYM5UGe6oUZOfy2EHS6Etxz7aZKxFeYVZY7Y3GzUdJM1R86bne85bU3t9lNJ_Z9zkbdlSHOLM1lyBEM/s640/Mish12.2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_FLheDYa47a9na_C8aPVvM_9_HXkuDIpWCEfc1k108XFB0zVZd4dKURSm6PeHYM5UGe6oUZOfy2EHS6Etxz7aZKxFeYVZY7Y3GzUdJM1R86bne85bU3t9lNJ_Z9zkbdlSHOLM1lyBEM/w400-h300/Mish12.2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidX1od_zEK4L93_3nogQODCaAAbwPRpVYVyAQ0UYZXW1cPse_8mHEIK770qhsHnOTVaVfuDclb7MYMhIHCM5o2W8k3IVlMqPW7yhvCCK4m59-hyf27erY6expw9dZECOrq5ch_9hwAYC0/s640/Mish12.3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidX1od_zEK4L93_3nogQODCaAAbwPRpVYVyAQ0UYZXW1cPse_8mHEIK770qhsHnOTVaVfuDclb7MYMhIHCM5o2W8k3IVlMqPW7yhvCCK4m59-hyf27erY6expw9dZECOrq5ch_9hwAYC0/w300-h400/Mish12.3.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQXhEJzI3GrAb2eodOwVLmWC9dkT2AYmLx0j7NJvFQ1ifwYhjGjPYV8xujtbZsza6IDtGvitNwSSODCcy547ojsbv-lc7VG03lmnDPO60X5-Qk3uVrO6spY71AhJOyMhgFurI8A_Z32c/s640/Mish12.4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="481" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQXhEJzI3GrAb2eodOwVLmWC9dkT2AYmLx0j7NJvFQ1ifwYhjGjPYV8xujtbZsza6IDtGvitNwSSODCcy547ojsbv-lc7VG03lmnDPO60X5-Qk3uVrO6spY71AhJOyMhgFurI8A_Z32c/w301-h400/Mish12.4.jpeg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jvH04CQxQ7UGLZ6zcaDmY8lNEwz3c28Mu1_F7Zqm4C1gM67obhyphenhyphenolwk9hSNmuilKoJfenMUlpei77O5mBT2iHNQHQaFo7AsdeC_JQddesWxUXcTlnDXFZVwEjiO7J50b3CvPnoFBI6A/s640/Mish12.5.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="481" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jvH04CQxQ7UGLZ6zcaDmY8lNEwz3c28Mu1_F7Zqm4C1gM67obhyphenhyphenolwk9hSNmuilKoJfenMUlpei77O5mBT2iHNQHQaFo7AsdeC_JQddesWxUXcTlnDXFZVwEjiO7J50b3CvPnoFBI6A/w301-h400/Mish12.5.jpeg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY7sGmDgU-JJUNFzkSrQRCBfMrjk7RcNR1BUp_OzukrUWe3SmuJeAegpPSis7kebiQBsEsV5w9_mZv2gEIQDbHd8f_x3fI_4Jeek6sn5gsQN0l2maBTYz2mh74eR-JzbdGpEWNk_Af6s/s640/Mish12.6.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY7sGmDgU-JJUNFzkSrQRCBfMrjk7RcNR1BUp_OzukrUWe3SmuJeAegpPSis7kebiQBsEsV5w9_mZv2gEIQDbHd8f_x3fI_4Jeek6sn5gsQN0l2maBTYz2mh74eR-JzbdGpEWNk_Af6s/w300-h400/Mish12.6.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuj-Nkzhf062LgXIYhyphenhyphenx1ZLro4ZqedRvsMMid41C-KaObzJGyJ6yoB73cDl6Hr7SUnrMYkJU5smp9e-_5ySoe5I0Fb714_HArh2ufiW9ccFPsQM5gvc7c9z86R3ND4dOQvY_QcWBZJbg/s640/Mish12.7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuj-Nkzhf062LgXIYhyphenhyphenx1ZLro4ZqedRvsMMid41C-KaObzJGyJ6yoB73cDl6Hr7SUnrMYkJU5smp9e-_5ySoe5I0Fb714_HArh2ufiW9ccFPsQM5gvc7c9z86R3ND4dOQvY_QcWBZJbg/w300-h400/Mish12.7.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVIfEYc3-nOFvQJNDpRdKPfi58EiZa26ScnBCL7aowRfV2sPVbjQ8_bEb9sF7O0PT91W3DLKyCiWtqiVamihaHNVDguqGHLl2nw9rhEXU_0aT89hx60MmLWlF34lFwt2zFTYKELqLgRU/s640/Mish12.9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVIfEYc3-nOFvQJNDpRdKPfi58EiZa26ScnBCL7aowRfV2sPVbjQ8_bEb9sF7O0PT91W3DLKyCiWtqiVamihaHNVDguqGHLl2nw9rhEXU_0aT89hx60MmLWlF34lFwt2zFTYKELqLgRU/w300-h400/Mish12.9.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><b>Index of Tournament Reports</b></div><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">1st Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2010</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/2nd-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">2nd Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2011</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/chess-at-library.html">3rd Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2012</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/4th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">4th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2013</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/5th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">5th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2014</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/6th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">6th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2015</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/7th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">7th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2016</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2017/09/8th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament_10.html">8th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2017</a><br /><br /><a href="http://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2018/06/project-30-9th-mike-closs-memorial_3.html">9th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2018</a><br /><br /><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2019/09/10th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament_29.html">10th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2019</a><br /><br /><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2020/12/11th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html">11th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2020</a><div><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2021/11/12th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></div><div><a href="https://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2021/11/12th-mike-closs-memorial-tournament.html" target="_blank">12th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2021</a><br /><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-19863311378294148112021-11-01T01:00:00.001-07:002021-11-01T01:00:00.217-07:00The Delancey UK Schools' Chess Challenge 2022<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjCERw7yjDhHdfrGswzH2Njrq_YtAjId5e47sodRMxom5M_EN-hnpQEgNiWxGHKvFZCCk_MOEzOuS3Ns9EhSbKkRWt5mNsHfXobH8fUBk5r1Je11JD8aclnD6bVqnonLdRFxOQ55TbpY/s1556/Logo_Gigafinal-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1556" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjCERw7yjDhHdfrGswzH2Njrq_YtAjId5e47sodRMxom5M_EN-hnpQEgNiWxGHKvFZCCk_MOEzOuS3Ns9EhSbKkRWt5mNsHfXobH8fUBk5r1Je11JD8aclnD6bVqnonLdRFxOQ55TbpY/w400-h173/Logo_Gigafinal-3.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>It has been confirmed that the Delancey UK Schools' Chess Challenge will return in 2022.<br /><br />Sarah and Alex Longson worked wonders to keep the tournament going during the COVID lockdowns and, to the delight of children all across the UK, they even managed to switch the Megafinals and Gigafinals to the online world. The final round of the competition, the prestigious Terafinal, was played at Blenheim Palace in October.<br /><br />Entries are now open for the initial, school-based phase of the competition. In fact, in an interesting break with tradition, all players can now enter the Megafinals, without having to achieve the formerly required 17 points in their own schools.<br /><br />The school events can therefore be seen as excellent and essential tournament experience for children before they play in a Megafinal.<br /><br />We are hoping to run a Megafinal on Teesside again, for the first time since 2019. The date is already pencilled in and further details will follow in due course.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/2/#">Head here</a> for further details on the the whole initiative, including plenty of free resources.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/2/#">This is the page</a> you need to enrol your school for the Delancey UK Schools' Chess Challenge 2022.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-40533430625911679572021-10-23T07:34:00.015-07:002021-10-23T07:36:18.290-07:00Mark Harrison: The Road to Liberty<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNVt05lgLqlqOk8NpCEJxFh_-_BEWJSvQevicYl5u-6qYXCMrEzJZH6CveRi_LhcTI9XCPHv82dCOYuLjhSpqEJbPE9rr1-ZDdZi2mJp2jhWdozhxXg7-fzzlrOv-K1q-pCVE4u47vTY/s1600/Road+to+Liberty+Sleeve+Front+Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNVt05lgLqlqOk8NpCEJxFh_-_BEWJSvQevicYl5u-6qYXCMrEzJZH6CveRi_LhcTI9XCPHv82dCOYuLjhSpqEJbPE9rr1-ZDdZi2mJp2jhWdozhxXg7-fzzlrOv-K1q-pCVE4u47vTY/w400-h400/Road+to+Liberty+Sleeve+Front+Cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">The Road to Liberty</span></div><div><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Mark Harrison</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>We have followed the progress of Mark Harrison's albums here at Marsh Towers for nearly a decade, from the trilogy of <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/3/#">Crooked Smile</a> (2012), <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/3/#">The World Outside</a> (2014) and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/3/#">Turpentine</a> (2016) through to 2018's <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/3/#">The Panoramic View</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>There have been many changes to the world between then and now. For a songwriter, the changes provide inspiration, whether the subject matter represents a good or bad change. Indeed, <i>The Road to Liberty</i> is a double album, chock-full of catchy tunes and extremely thoughtful lyrics. All of the songs were written by Mark himself.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmfT1pSoLLWEEqjhL2TDhqGcFN6O9llr79s_gFlTHvXY-vHk68IonLnayrl26ptbvi6BaiL4e4z-UM1PJOQwpC5AZlGfJtQcDIJvylQ8VagdNbb-S5sk98cfE2EVmMuG_6wvOCV4ttYk/s1600/Road+to+Liberty+Onbody+1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmfT1pSoLLWEEqjhL2TDhqGcFN6O9llr79s_gFlTHvXY-vHk68IonLnayrl26ptbvi6BaiL4e4z-UM1PJOQwpC5AZlGfJtQcDIJvylQ8VagdNbb-S5sk98cfE2EVmMuG_6wvOCV4ttYk/s320/Road+to+Liberty+Onbody+1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>Do not let the catchy aspect of the songs trick you into thinking the songs lack depth; nothing could be further from the truth. Each song tells a story. Some are about people and others are about our own feelings, whether we are looking inward or pondering the effect our actions have on others.</div><div><br /></div><div>The song titles act as fine teasers for the treats in store.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBXvbZJg37xoH9fPMEEI0F_OmaBV79HhVwx3xtDiiVeGhmfLpsZEKR-44iyrCnXtS9zL8XbxVu0WgHFXBfLjXxwRthrPwSQDRsGIQJRED3oUC_eUOvJ0L6FCRKCxShwQdDCC05XRCc3Y/s596/Screenshot+2021-10-23+at+15.24.11.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="596" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBXvbZJg37xoH9fPMEEI0F_OmaBV79HhVwx3xtDiiVeGhmfLpsZEKR-44iyrCnXtS9zL8XbxVu0WgHFXBfLjXxwRthrPwSQDRsGIQJRED3oUC_eUOvJ0L6FCRKCxShwQdDCC05XRCc3Y/s320/Screenshot+2021-10-23+at+15.24.11.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div>The genre is officially roots music but the blues and folk aspects shine through particularly strongly. Mark's style doesn't even need such labels, of course. He remains a true original, with a unique talent for storytelling.</div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjvhcdPBauDOCvzDtuPR-DkRSeQDCle-twNBvniaOhhSH8FBH17LwcG4YMdItej6yeN8C2fLmHXzTTB8PLD2x61q1ofzVZd1FO1EL-ZPgdYraovWrsY9uiEUsCs5ErUQwEv_JT1ZYsHY/s1600/Road+to+Liberty+Booklet+Front+Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjvhcdPBauDOCvzDtuPR-DkRSeQDCle-twNBvniaOhhSH8FBH17LwcG4YMdItej6yeN8C2fLmHXzTTB8PLD2x61q1ofzVZd1FO1EL-ZPgdYraovWrsY9uiEUsCs5ErUQwEv_JT1ZYsHY/s320/Road+to+Liberty+Booklet+Front+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>In contrast to my reviews of Mark's earlier albums, I am going to let the man himself tell you all about the songs by means of this fine brace of YouTube videos.<div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zW90FJW8bIg" title="YouTube video player" width="400"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z8GSuMc_oIM" title="YouTube video player" width="400"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>I still live in hope that I will be able catch Mark and his band at a gig at some point. Meanwhile, I have 21 excellent new songs to explore in greater detail.</div><div><br /></div><div>Find out more about Mark, his music and his tour dates over at his <a href="http://www.markharrisonrootsmusic.com/index.php">official website</a>.</div></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-34100006936023586212021-10-16T02:41:00.005-07:002021-10-16T03:00:35.747-07:00Unprecedented Times - A Cartoon Diary of Lockdown<p>My brilliant friend Bridie Jackson is, together with Clare Brown, releasing a book of her famous lockdown cartoons.</p><p>Here is a short summary of the project and its aims:</p><i>Hello, we are Bridie Jackson and Clare Brown and we are delighted to bring you Unprecedented Times, a cartoon diary chronicling the recent lockdowns of 2020/2021. This project came about because Bridie needed a distraction from the baffling realities of lockdown, so started drawing daily topical doodles and occasionally sharing these on social media. Some people found these amusing and were kind enough to suggest they were turned into a book, Clare came on board as a designer and here we are.<br /><br />After costs, profits raised from book sales will be donated to two amazing charities; Arts Emergency and Rainbow Home. Arts Emergency is an award-winning mentoring charity that help young people from underrepresented backgrounds break into the arts and humanities, and Rainbow Home are a small locally based charity whose fundamental aim is to reduce the significant difficulties and hardship experienced by LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in the North East of England.<br /><br />Rather strategically, we’re bringing the book out just in time for Christmas Shopping, and our promise to you is that everything will be delivered by the first week in December at the latest.<br /><br />There’s several different offers and price points available, from digital downloads to signed copies and even the opportunity to buy an original cartoons, so hopefully there is something for everyone.<br /><br />Thanks in advance for your support,<br /><br />Bridie and Clare</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="250" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wrbA1b39PPI" title="YouTube video player" width="400"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I have known Bridie for a long time (type Bridie's name into the search box of this blog to find out more about her work) and I am happy to support her latest venture.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/unprecedented-times-a-cartoon-diary-of-lockdown?fbclid=IwAR1hqoQG9DXWkK24oaUv_3Da5t6N0swHZwbAekNwmntpNBYInEyUL4tNlls#/" target="_blank">Head here</a> to see the various available packages.</div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-13840359967024455322021-10-02T05:00:00.001-07:002021-10-16T05:04:11.834-07:00Project 30: 2021-22<div>Project 30 is back and here are the details of two new events.</div><b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div>KO Championship</b><br /><br /><br />Each of the rounds will feature one game played at the normal time limit (36 moves in 90 minutes followed by an extra 15 minutes on each clock to play to a finish). Colours will be decided immediately before the games in the usual fashion.<br /><br />Drawn games will require a replay with colours reversed, which can be played at any time limit agreed by both opponents. If both players cannot reach agreement the aforementioned timings will be used.<br /><br /><b><br />Round One</b><br /><br />Sean Cassidy v Richard Harris <br /><br />Kevin Waterman v Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Round Two</b><br /><br /><br />Sean Marsh v John Garnett<br /><br />Dave Baillie v Peter Harker<br /><br />Matt Jackman v Royce Parker<br /><br />Winner of Sean Cassidy v Richard Harris v Winner of Kevin Waterman v Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><br /><i>First Target Date:</i> Please try to complete the first two rounds before Christmas 2021.<br /><br /><br /><b>Rapidplay Championship</b><br /><br /><br />For this year, I have changed the format slightly.<br /><br /><br />This is because I am very aware of the need for all of us to play more games as we try to return to over-the-board action and with this format everyone is guaranteed extra experience.<br /><br /><br />Therefore, we are starting with two groups of players.<br /><br />During the group phase, we will play every player in our own group twice (with 30 minutes on each clock).<br /><br />The top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals (winner of group A vs. runner-up of group B and vice versa.)<br /><br /><br />The semi-finals will be four Rapidplay games and the final will be six games.<br /><br /><br /><b>Group A</b><br /><br />Sean Marsh<br /><br />Matt Jackman<br /><br />Richard Harris<br /><br />Kevin Waterman<br /><br />Sean Cassidy<br /><br /><b><br />Group B</b><br /><br />Dave Baillie <br /><br />John Garnett <br /><br />Royce Parker <br /><br />Peter Harker <br /><br />Stephen Ollis<br /><br /><i><br />First Target Date:</i> Please try to complete at least three of your group fixtures by Christmas 2021.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Stop press - early results: Matt Jackman 2-0 Richard Harris; Sean Marsh 2-0 Sean Cassidy.</i><br /><br /></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-68546383063772491882021-08-29T05:05:00.023-07:002021-10-16T05:12:44.147-07:00Project 30: Back in ActionThe first physical meeting for Project 30 in a long time was a great success at Cafe Nero yesterday.<br /><br />Indeed, the last time I played over-the-board chess was against Peter Parker in the final of the of the Project 30 Rapidplay Championship, on 22 March 2020 (one day before the first lockdown).<br /><br />Yesterday, we finally played again with real people and real pieces!<br /><br />The final scores of our Celebratory Tournament were:<br /><br />Sean Marsh 10<br /><br />Royce Parker and Peter Harker 6<br /><br />Richard Harris 5<br /><br />Sean Cassidy 2.5<br /><br />It was wonderful to see everyone's individual styles shining through once more.<br /><br />Naturally, we all made mistakes but the rust has certainly started to fall off and everyone played some excellent chess over the course of the day.<br /><br />I have medals for those who couldn't make it yesterday (for our previous events) and I will distirbute them over the course of the season.<br /><br />Plans for the next set of events will soon be made available.<div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, here is a gallery from yesterday's event.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqs91Y6nmZrUKYXnPMvQuxHBKF2AnotEjGz_wtHIZghx38LorSC6oSdedHTdsLKA37vXVcB-UXd1Sw1siQe-Bp_hjZzdYK2Y1Yhli487N-vsv2fE6CN44qHZuIePfneZnZSeD9cOTVkI/s640/Nero1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqs91Y6nmZrUKYXnPMvQuxHBKF2AnotEjGz_wtHIZghx38LorSC6oSdedHTdsLKA37vXVcB-UXd1Sw1siQe-Bp_hjZzdYK2Y1Yhli487N-vsv2fE6CN44qHZuIePfneZnZSeD9cOTVkI/w400-h301/Nero1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNCU51cmFeEnCAHqnT8Qq4HZ6oQvbWR8YZKRf6GDvyc60hfYyC0HuJ7fPwrSKXwQN4OfEf-76-mg2zTHXsf2SbRGZIVJlazH9-L_2CqBH7e_vD690YnsTQGJFdE7ZO1ej8jHVcznEyU4/s640/Nero2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNCU51cmFeEnCAHqnT8Qq4HZ6oQvbWR8YZKRf6GDvyc60hfYyC0HuJ7fPwrSKXwQN4OfEf-76-mg2zTHXsf2SbRGZIVJlazH9-L_2CqBH7e_vD690YnsTQGJFdE7ZO1ej8jHVcznEyU4/w400-h301/Nero2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JOO8I3AaVbob10kGOEUepMhRbNsXThB9EQqoPK6V64jda1dRcYp2FfCoycBRBENToX7fGhBSUDSLdZB5eP0C3fnnWdmWaeUiqVhW4V5yd5S3AoO6-rSsBbpP9S6DXqEWzhh15rRMTNQ/s640/Nero3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JOO8I3AaVbob10kGOEUepMhRbNsXThB9EQqoPK6V64jda1dRcYp2FfCoycBRBENToX7fGhBSUDSLdZB5eP0C3fnnWdmWaeUiqVhW4V5yd5S3AoO6-rSsBbpP9S6DXqEWzhh15rRMTNQ/w400-h300/Nero3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXM1nOIzMu49uM-d57LLIkHZbWyhShBwlUP3IBLkiS2BPnlCDs8tbx9YAo75ZIVXOnY_NxNuG10JIvz8I51efkxB2l26teTdW2A44yYLd38oFC4VTiIeH2J8CLqc3WZx39C5oJSOPixeA/s640/Nero4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXM1nOIzMu49uM-d57LLIkHZbWyhShBwlUP3IBLkiS2BPnlCDs8tbx9YAo75ZIVXOnY_NxNuG10JIvz8I51efkxB2l26teTdW2A44yYLd38oFC4VTiIeH2J8CLqc3WZx39C5oJSOPixeA/w400-h301/Nero4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQ-igeMBr2CYyvS9l74dV8L5iMEorUHKp5fU4klP5-Qlf7exdzG3WWneLzO6A9d7QdxCg1HRsTQMOO0F10hCxcLnQ_YMw46CVWUtfhKXCxBh8j9zcdSDiQAlIcau20QRX-cB_C-PdSqI/s640/Nero5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQ-igeMBr2CYyvS9l74dV8L5iMEorUHKp5fU4klP5-Qlf7exdzG3WWneLzO6A9d7QdxCg1HRsTQMOO0F10hCxcLnQ_YMw46CVWUtfhKXCxBh8j9zcdSDiQAlIcau20QRX-cB_C-PdSqI/w400-h301/Nero5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VVozX3Ec9WZpzbTO-1nI_5lcb1HRkPP-RhoGske-V9CErLdYsbuwfrL11mq9RSucCV-taAlrz290bD_kdDakK8lkuLZu7OjJhGLpOdgkH-vRMtn4mHaGN9vduByD1fcTnkFNCnuxK0M/s640/Nero6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VVozX3Ec9WZpzbTO-1nI_5lcb1HRkPP-RhoGske-V9CErLdYsbuwfrL11mq9RSucCV-taAlrz290bD_kdDakK8lkuLZu7OjJhGLpOdgkH-vRMtn4mHaGN9vduByD1fcTnkFNCnuxK0M/w400-h300/Nero6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmTqVi4zYmDHbEEWw-6BTjwoRdIF4QcYV0PeWK6KZsBCaOcr5lWnMUYTFcX269os8ljMBsfkkwpezX0KJg2HS-hOJbkkAdvDByNLGL6ELv1PcwJilL0VwJET_sIHWPk8ZBwpZa5yVMO8/s640/Nero7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmTqVi4zYmDHbEEWw-6BTjwoRdIF4QcYV0PeWK6KZsBCaOcr5lWnMUYTFcX269os8ljMBsfkkwpezX0KJg2HS-hOJbkkAdvDByNLGL6ELv1PcwJilL0VwJET_sIHWPk8ZBwpZa5yVMO8/w400-h300/Nero7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlKUToDWjpZX4sDu2ff1-9XfNd2w8rchTU67x3_6yYbnB0VjdQL1zh6p9N5stwmwxaPTquYY0wj5RLXsrzfBLA1gT3kgQsGP_IzPZlWwj3KDb2-BWUXtZpJZI19kjqUW-m2dn8k-tLXA/s640/Nero8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlKUToDWjpZX4sDu2ff1-9XfNd2w8rchTU67x3_6yYbnB0VjdQL1zh6p9N5stwmwxaPTquYY0wj5RLXsrzfBLA1gT3kgQsGP_IzPZlWwj3KDb2-BWUXtZpJZI19kjqUW-m2dn8k-tLXA/w400-h301/Nero8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYY9hI8h9ThywRjXIt1XIcTLHOcXICPqvdE1isJ1SWmdAzUvF9I8QWoX8JY4mP2TmTii07ov6cQUdtn8AgpevnFnBaTwmhwF8VNElhowByFZDqkFYVzquay3_IO0C21rabo3t2XTCJ6g/s640/Nero9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYY9hI8h9ThywRjXIt1XIcTLHOcXICPqvdE1isJ1SWmdAzUvF9I8QWoX8JY4mP2TmTii07ov6cQUdtn8AgpevnFnBaTwmhwF8VNElhowByFZDqkFYVzquay3_IO0C21rabo3t2XTCJ6g/w400-h300/Nero9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915652547136534595.post-49634933131413186562021-06-16T00:24:00.002-07:002021-06-16T00:25:39.568-07:00ChessFest 2021<div data-block="true" data-editor="3plk0" data-offset-key="8tje2-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8tje2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8tje2-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">CSC will be taking over Trafalgar </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Square</span><span data-offset-key="8tje2-2-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> on Day Three of our Summer Festival of Chess!</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="3plk0" data-offset-key="45rlr-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="45rlr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="45rlr-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="3plk0" data-offset-key="2fr7b-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2fr7b-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2fr7b-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">It sounds outrageous and, despite my predilection for believing six impossible things before breakfast, I assure you I am not lion.</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="3plk0" data-offset-key="b5ak9-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b5ak9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="b5ak9-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="3plk0" data-offset-key="8j0tt-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8j0tt-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8j0tt-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Be there - or be (Trafalgar) Square!</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8j0tt-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8j0tt-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8j0tt-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c3t7t3WmlR2tQNrPMALWHP3I2uNhWb8mIOU974T2HMDmSpgC1YVyzLPxk5DcN1NisOXWPH7HYFVB3sXI5I6c5jnpKS1Hk7GXxjX-tFbpbKvKpaISQMRxzMAUE-2lOlhNVJQssWVw5qA/s1245/ChessFest+Flyer.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="906" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c3t7t3WmlR2tQNrPMALWHP3I2uNhWb8mIOU974T2HMDmSpgC1YVyzLPxk5DcN1NisOXWPH7HYFVB3sXI5I6c5jnpKS1Hk7GXxjX-tFbpbKvKpaISQMRxzMAUE-2lOlhNVJQssWVw5qA/w291-h400/ChessFest+Flyer.png" width="291" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span data-offset-key="8j0tt-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div>Sean Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559575876130377004noreply@blogger.com0