While most of world’s leading chess players gather in Stavanger for the Altibox Chess Tournament, it is worth looking back to a time when a Thanet club was the centre of the chess world. Sadly, it was not Broadstairs but for five years in the 1930s Margate managed to attract some of the strongest players in the world to compete in a series of international chess tournaments. The first of these was held in the Grand Hotel in 1935 and featured the former world champion Jose Raul Capablanca, the American prodigy Sammy Reshevsky and a number of British stalwarts including Stuart Milner-Barry, Sir George Thomas and Vera Menchik. Not surprisingly, Capablanca was favourite to win but his defeat by Reshevsky was decisive and the American went on to win the tournament with an unbeaten score of 7½/9.

White: Samuel Reshevsky   Black: Jose Raul Capablanca

Margate International Chess Tournament 1935

   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. cd5 ed5 6. e3 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 c5 9. Nf3 c4 10. Bf5 Re8 11. O-O g6 12. Bh3 Nf8 13. Bc8 Rc8 14. Bf6 Bf6 15. b3 Qa5 16. b4 Qd8 17. Qa4 a6 18. b5 Re6 19. Rab1 Rb8 20. Rb2 Be7 21. ba6 Ra6 22. Qc2 Ne6 23. Rfb1 Ra7 24. a4 Nc7 25. Ne5 Qe8 26. f4 f6 27. Ng4 Qd7 28. h3 Kg7 29. Nf2 Ba3 30. Ra2 Bd6 31. Nfd1 f5 32. Nb5 Ra5 33. Nc7 Bc7 34. Nc3 Qd6 35. Qf2 b6 36. Qf3 Rd8 37. Rab2 Qe7 38. Rb4 Rd7 39. Kh1 Bd8 40. g4 fg4 41. hg4 Qd6 42. Kg1 Bc7 43. Kf2 Rf7 44. g5 Bd8 45. Ke2 Bg5 46. Rb6 Qa3 47. Kd2 Be7 48. Rb7 Ra4 49. Qd5 Ra5 50. Qc4 Rh5 51. Kd3 Qa8 52. Qe6 Qa3 53. Rd7 Rhf5 54. Rb3 Qa1 55. Re7 Qf1 56. Kd2   

Hot on the heels of our victory in the Team Buzzer comes news of another Broadstairs triumph – joint winners of the Jamboree. For the uninitiated, the Jamboree is an annual competition where teams from Thanet League clubs turn up and pairings are mixed so you could be playing anyone from another club at your level i.e. Board 1 plays against Board 1 or 2 etc. Unlike the Team Buzzer, however,  this was a genuine contest with five teams competing: Broadstairs, Margate, Bridge, Herne Bay and Woodnesborough. Here are our pairings and results:

1. David Faldon   1-0   Peter McGill (Margate)

2. Nick McBride   0-1  Shany Rezvany (Bridge)

3. Bob Page        ½-½   Paul Arnold (Herne Bay)

4. Paul Carfrae      1-0     David Erwee (Woodnesborough)

5. Andy Flood       ½-½  Malcolm Snashall (Bridge)

6. Michael Doyle    1-0   James Maskell (Margate)

The first three games finished quite early. Michael had an easy win over James Maskell, Paul won a piece against David Erwee who never managed to achieve parity and Andy drew a game he thinks he probably should have won. When Bob agreed a draw in a complicated game, Broadstairs were on 3/4. David was already in a strong position against Peter McGill which he soon managed to convert into a win. By this time, most other matches had finished and Herne Bay with 4/6 were the only team who could prevent Broadstairs becoming outright winners. All eyes now turned towards Nick McBride, who needed only a draw in his match. Unfortunately, Nick did not know this and, valiantly chasing a win, he lost on time with both players having seconds left. Disappointing but we all agreed we would have settled for joint winners at the start of the evening and our name will still be on the trophy. Many thanks to all who took part.

                             The 2016 Open in action (photo courtesy of Brendan O’ Gorman)

Encouraging numbers of entries are already coming in for the 48th Thanet Chess Congress at Canterbury Christ Church University, Broadstairs, from August 18th-20th 2017. The attraction of free entry for IMs and GMs had already been noted and we are delighted to welcome back last year’s winner of the Open, IM Alan Merry. Here he is the picture above, possibly surveying the opposition although more likely simply returning to his chair on the number one board.  It is also hoped that the offer of a reduced entry of just £5 for U15s will encourage several of the strong Kent Juniors to take part. Facilities are excellent: a comfortable and air-conditioned playing area, a well-priced, stylish canteen – how often do you hear that about a chess congress? – offering a varied menu and excellent breakfasts. The canteen combines as an analysis room (see picture) and accommodation is available at the venue but book early if you want to take advantage of this as rooms are limited. See http://www.thanetchesscongress.co.uk for further details including online entry.

                 The canteen and analysis room

Twenty-nine years ago your correspondent was fortunate enough to win the Minor section at the Congress.  Some might consider that use of the word ‘fortunate’ is false modesty but not so. No matter how well you may be playing, there is always that element of luck that you need – the draw, mistakes by an opponent, rivals faltering at key moments – that invariably play a part in ultimate victory. The Thanet Congress has taken place at several venues over the years – none as smart as the current one – and this was the last to be held at Holy Cross School in Broadstairs. Here is the decisive game in the final round. My opponent was on 4/4, half a point ahead of me so that essential good fortune was needed.

White:  Joe Farrell (113)   Black:  Robert Page (100)      

Thanet Minor 1988 Round 5

   1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 a6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 6.c3 c5 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.0-0 f6 9.Re1 Qc7 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nb3 Bb6 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Bg5 0-0 14.Qc2 g6 15.Nbd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 e5 17.Nb3 e4 18.Bf1 Ng4 19.g3 Bxf2 20.Kh1 Nxh2 21.Bf4 Rxf4 22.gxf4 Qxf4 23.Re2 Qf3 24.Bg2 Qh5 25.Rxf2 Nf3 26.Bh3 Bxh3 27.Rh2 Rf8 28.Qe2 Qh4 29.Qf2 Qg4 30.Nd2 e3 31.Qxe3 Bg2 32.Rxg2 Qh3 White resigns   

Broadstairs ‘A’: Bob P, Nick, David , Paul

All hail the conquering heroes! Broadstairs ‘A’ won the Team Buzzer for only the second time since 1990 with a storming performance against all the other…er…two teams (one of which was Broadstairs ‘B’).  It was disappointing that none of the other Thanet League teams turned up but well played Broadstairs in managing not only to be there but to put out two teams. Indeed, as Colin Gregory wryly pointed out early in the evening, it looked as if only two teams turned up and Margate would come third.

For those unfamiliar with the format of the Team Buzzer, it is quite simple.  Once players are paired, a buzzer sounds every ten seconds and players must move on the buzzer – not before and not after or you lose the game. An illegal move also results in a loss as does failure to recognise a check when the king can be taken and the game ends.

     Broadstairs ‘B’: Jordan, Bob C, Tim, Viktor

It was decided that the competition would be an all-play-all double round and the ‘A’ team began with an excellent 3½-½ win against Margate but round two between the two Broadstairs teams saw the first surprise when Tim beat David on Board 1. Fortunately, the other three ‘A’ team boards managed to hold on for a 2½-1½ victory and the last two rounds were 4-0 formalities. The ‘B’ team did not disgrace themselves and it was a good evening for the Selyukovs as Viktor also managed to win a game, defeating Clive Le Baigue. Indeed, Viktor proved to be a tough opponent in all his matches, achieving an excellent draw in the first game with Paul Carfrae. 

The last time Broadstairs won the Team Buzzer was in 2012, once again with an ‘A’ team consisting of David Horton, David Faldon, Nick McBride and Ian Hames. Before that we have to go back to 1990 when Broadstairs won with Mac Greaves, Bob Page, Hugh Hosking and Alek Zielinski. Many thanks to all those who played and the trophy will be presented at the Thanet AGM in July.

                                                              Final Table