4NCL - The Four Nations League - www.4ncl.co.uk/pre2010

Daily Telegraph

Malcolm Pein's daily chess column is available at the Telegraph's web site. You need to register, which is free. The daily chess column can be found by clicking the "Chess Club" link in the Arts section.

This article is used on the 4NCL web site with permission.

Peter Morrish, one of the prime movers behind the English Chess Explosion of the 1970s and 80s has died at the age of 85. Peter was never a serious player but he was involved in the organisation of countless tournaments including some of the major international events such as the Evening Standard Congress and Lloyds Bank Masters. He also ran the London Junior Congress for many years.

A craft teacher, he became involved in chess at Ashmole School in London but when the game experienced an upsurge in popularity following the match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in 1972, he gave up teaching and started to import chess sets. He founded what became a thriving business and used his craft skills in the design of such items as pairing boards and plastic pieces.

Peter was a respected chess arbiter and organiser the likes of which are sadly missed today. He assisted in developing the careers of countless young players and will be remembered for his unstinting hard work and good humour. He was awarded the BCF President's Award for Services to Chess in 1988. Donations, in Peter's name, can be sent to the Celebration 83rd Hastings International Chess Congress c/o Con Power, 418 Harold Road, Hastings East Sussex, TN35 5HG.

Weekend one of the Four Nations Chess League was held at Sunningdale. Barbican 1, Guildford ADC1, Betsson and Hilsmark Kingfisher emerged with two victories. Guildford ADC 1 overcame their second team 6-2 but the following game did not follow the expected path. Danny King has scored very well with 3.e5 against the French but found Graeme Buckley very well prepared.

D King (2517) – G Buckley (2379)
4NLC Div1 Sunningdale (2.3)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 (Transposing to the French Defence, the Sicilian Defence method is 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nd5) 4.e5 Nc6 5.d4 Bd7 6.Be2 Nge7 7.0–0 (7.dxc5 Ng6 wins the e5 pawn) 7...Rc8 8.a3 Nf5 9.dxc5 (If 9.b4 cxd4 10.cxd4 Ncxd4 11.Nxd4 Rxc1 12.Qxc1 Nxd4 13.Qd1 but 9.b4 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qb6 11.Bb2 Be7 is adequate) 9...Bxc5 10.Bd3 Nh4! (Trying to undermine e5 11.Nbd2 Bb6 12.Qe2 0–0 13.Nxh4 Qxh4 14.g3 (14.Nf3 Qh5 15.Bf4) 14...Qh3 15.Nb3? f6! 16.exf6 e5!! (There is probably no way back for White now) 17.Be3 (17.fxg7 Bg4! 18.gxf8Q+ Rxf8 19.Qc2 Bf3) 17...e4 (17...Bg4 18.f3) 18.Bb5 Bg4 19.f3 exf3 20.Rxf3 Ne5 21.Nd2 (21.Raf1 Nxf3+ 22.Rxf3 Rxf6) 21...Nxf3+ 22.Nxf3 Rxf6 0-1 In view of 22...Rxf6 23.Rf1 Rcf8

Buckley

board

King

Position after 22...Rxf6

On the adjoining board David Howell was in form.

J Shaw (2446) – D Howell (2519)
4NLC Div1 Sunningdale (2.2)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.Bg5 Be7 6.h4!? Nf6 7.Bxc6 dxc6 8.e5 Ng4 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Qxd4 f6! 11.Nbd2 fxe5 12.Qa4 0–0 13.0–0 (13.0–0–0 Nxf2) 13...Be6 14.Rae1 Rad8 15.Re4 b5! 16.Qa5 (16.Qxa7 Ra8 17.Qb7 Qd7 traps the queen) 16...Bf5 17.Ree1 e4 18.Qxa7 Rxd2 19.Nxd2 Qd6 20.g3 Qxd2 21.Qc5 e3 0–1