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BRITBASE - British Chess Game Archive

Tournament: Evening Standard Islington Open • 158 games
Venue: Islington, London • Dates: 15-17 December 1972 • Download PGNupdated: Wednesday 17 February, 2016 11:03 AM

1972 Evening Standard 8th Islington Open, 15-17 December, Islington Green School

As will be fairly obvious, the crosstable below is a long way from being complete and not entirely in score order, having been generated from the 158 available games, but hopefully it will be useful to a limited extent insofar as it identifies players whose games appear in the file.

1972 Evening Standard Islington Open Fed Elo 1 2 3 4 5 6  Total 
1 Robert Bellin ENG 2328 ◊ 1/48 ♦ 1/47 ◊ 1/7 ♦ 1/21 ◊ 1/12 ◊ 1/4 6
2 Michael J Basman ENG 2328 ◊ 1/46 ♦ 1/45 ◊ 0/21 ♦ 1/58 ◊ 1/38 ♦ 1/23 5
3 Michael F Stean ENG 2328 ◊ 0/45 ♦ 1/96 ◊ 1/95 ♦ 1/94 ◊ 1/89 ♦ 1/93 5
4 Daniel Wright ENG 2320 ♦ 1/20 ◊ ½/17 ◊ 1/85 ♦ 1/39 ◊ 1/8 ♦ 0/1
5 Simon Webb ENG 2336 ♦ 1/87 ◊ 1/41 ♦ ½/22 ◊ 1/56 ½ ◊ 1/15 5
6 Ludek Pachman CZE 2512 ◊ 1/90 ♦ 0/21 ♦ ½/39 ◊ 1/53 ♦ 1/86 ◊ 1/26
7 Piet Van der Weide NED 2310 ♦ 1/97 ◊ 1/10 ♦ 0/1 ◊ 1/40 1 ◊ 1/41 5
8 Goran Antunac CRO 2430 ½ ◊ 1/61 ♦ 1/26 ◊ 1/22 ♦ 0/4 ◊ 1/46
9 William Roland Hartston ENG 2472 ½ ◊ 1/55 ◊ ½/30 ♦ 1/54 ◊ 1/27 ♦ ½/21
10 Norman Littlewood ENG 2328 ◊ 1/13 ♦ 0/7 ◊ 1/91 0 ◊ 1/98 ♦ 1/60 4
11 David Sherman USA 2200 ♦ 1/71 ◊ 0/22 ♦ ½/75 ◊ 1/100 ♦ 1/99 ◊ ½/49 4
12 Keith Bevan Richardson ENG 2328 ♦ ½/15 ◊ 1/102 ♦ 1/103 ◊ 1/59 ♦ 0/1   3½ / 5
13 Jonathan Isaac Century ENG 2280 ♦ 0/10 ◊ ½/29 ◊ 1/73 ♦ 1/85 ◊ 1/74 ♦ 0/40
14 David Parr ENG 2152 ♦ 1/38 ◊ ½/28 ♦ 1/104 ◊ 0/16   ◊ 1/105 3½ / 5
15 Gerald H Bennett ENG 2232 ◊ ½/12   ◊ 1/29 ♦ ½/18 ◊ 1/108 ♦ 0/5 3 / 5
16 Michael J Franklin ENG 2320   ♦ 1/27 ◊ ½/18 ♦ 1/14 ◊ 0/19 ♦ ½/72 3 / 5
17 Alan G Trangmar ENG 2200 ◊ 1/57 ♦ ½/4   ♦ 1/109 ◊ ½/28 3 / 4
18 (Arthur) Howard Williams WLS 2424 ♦ 1/52 1 ♦ ½/16 ◊ ½/15 ♦ 1/110 1 5
19 Predrag Ostojic YUG 2440   ♦ 1/32 ◊ 1/86 ♦ 1/16   5
20 Martin Fleury ENG   ◊ 0/4   ◊ 1/111 ♦ 1/88 ◊ 1/92   3 / 4
21 Brian Ratcliffe Eley ENG 2296 1 ◊ 1/6 ♦ 1/2 ◊ 0/1 1 ◊ ½/9
22 A Jonathan Mestel ENG 2256 ◊ 1/112 ♦ 1/11 ◊ ½/5 ♦ 0/8   ♦ 0/34 2½ / 5
23 A Melville ENG 2024   ♦ 1/63 ◊ ½/24 ♦ 1/87 ◊ 0/2 2½ / 4
24 George Steven Botterill WLS 2440   ◊ 1/65 ◊ 1/62 ♦ ½/23   ♦ 0/52 2½ / 4
25 Charles W Kennaugh ENG 2064   ◊ ½/31 ◊ ½/51 ♦ 1/45 ◊ ½/71   2½ / 4
26 AJ McDonnell ENG   ◊ 1/44 ♦ 1/33 ◊ 0/8   ♦ 0/6 2 / 4
27 Peter J Romilly SCO   ◊ 0/64 ◊ 0/16 ♦ 1/77   ♦ 0/9 ◊ 1/106 2 / 5
28 Seth Saverymuttu ENG 2344 ◊ ½/43 ♦ ½/14   ♦ ½/79   ♦ ½/17 2 / 4
29 Andrew J Morley ENG 2088 ◊ 1/114 ♦ ½/13 ♦ 0/15 ♦ ½/50   2 / 4
30 William Adaway ENG 2144 ◊ 1/89   ♦ ½/9 ♦ 0/57   ♦ ½/80 2 / 4
31 Michael V Lambshire ENG 2280   ♦ ½/25 ◊ 1/88   ♦ ½/38 2 / 3
32 Thomas Keith Hemingway ENG 2104   ♦ 1/90 ◊ 0/19 ♦ 1/51   2 / 3
33 David Brine Pritchard ENG 2240   ◊ 0/26 ◊ 1/50   ◊ 1/91   2 / 3
34 Geoffrey James Nicholas   2048   ♦ 1/115   ◊ 1/22
35 Sean Thrower ENG 2136 ◊ 0/47   ◊ 1/101   ◊ 1/88 2 / 3
36 Andrew P Shepstone ENG 2112 ♦ ½/72 ◊ ½/73 ♦ 1/101   2 / 3
37 William A Linton ENG 2160   ◊ 1/92   ♦ 1/116 2 / 2
38 Ronald JM Farley   2080 ◊ 0/14   ◊ 1/76 ♦ 0/2 ◊ ½/31 1½ / 4
39 Michael J Yeo ENG 2120   ♦ 1/107 ◊ ½/6 ◊ 0/4   1½ / 3
40 Brian F O'Sullivan ENG 1992   ◊ ½/42 ♦ 0/7   ◊ 1/13
41 Geoffrey H James ENG 2232 ◊ 1/107 ♦ 0/5   ♦ 0/7 1 / 3
42 John DM Nunn ENG 2320 ♦ ½/76 ◊ ½/81 ♦ ½/40 ◊ 0/66   1½ / 4
43 Alexander Neil Brilliant ENG 2120 ♦ ½/28 ◊ 0/62   ◊ 1/117   1½ / 3
44 Maurice J Staples ENG 2152 ♦ 0/26 ◊ ½/78   ◊ 1/113 1½ / 3
45 Graham P Burton ENG 2232 ♦ 1/3 ◊ 0/2   ◊ 0/25   1 / 3
46 Terry C Fox ENG 2224 ♦ 0/2 ◊ 1/106   ♦ 0/8 1 / 3
47 G Kerr AUS 2160 ♦ 1/35 ◊ 0/1   1 / 2
48 Richard C Lemon ENG 2232 ♦ 0/1 ◊ 1/118   1 / 2
49 T Shaw AUS 2392   ♦ ½/51 ◊ 0/54   ♦ ½/11 1 / 3
50 SL Green   1720   ◊ ½/82 ♦ 0/33 ◊ ½/29 ♦ 0/55   1 / 4
51 Mark Howard Horton ENG     ◊ ½/49 ♦ ½/25 ◊ 0/32   1 / 3
52 Bernard M Rothbart ENG 2248 ◊ 0/18   ◊ 1/24
53 Augustine A Aaron       ◊ 1/64   ♦ 0/6   1 / 2
54 H Morphy ENG 2024   ♦ 1/49 ◊ 0/9   1 / 2
55 Rene De Milliano ENG 2160   ♦ 0/9   ◊ 1/50   1 / 2
56 Terence P D Chapman   2152   ◊ 1/74 ♦ 0/5   1 / 2
57 Vogel GER   ♦ 0/17   ◊ 1/30   1 / 2
58 Donald G Mackay       ♦ 1/119 ◊ 0/2   1 / 2
59 Johann P Sommerville ENG 2184   ♦ 1/120   ♦ 0/12   ◊ 0/67 1 / 3
60 Richard W O'Brien IRL 2008   ◊ 1/78   ◊ 0/10 1 / 2
61 Norman A Hutchinson ENG 2120 ◊ 1/121 ♦ 0/8   1 / 2
62 Alan Peter Ashby ENG 2080   ♦ 1/43 ♦ 0/24   1 / 2
63 Paul A Hutchinson ENG     ◊ 0/23   ♦ ½/83 ◊ ½/77 1 / 3
64 Stefano Bruzzi ITA 2296 ♦ 1/27 ♦ 0/53   1 / 2
65 PV Wade ENG 2152 ◊ 1/122 ♦ 0/24   1 / 2
66 Arthur Pope AUS 2070   ♦ 1/42   1 / 1
67 George W Wheeler   2024   ♦ 1/59 1 / 1
68 James Stuart Emsley   2152   ♦ 1/113   1 / 1
69 Edward G Lea ENG 1968 ◊ 1/123   1 / 1
70 David A Curnow ENG     ◊ 1/124 1 / 1
71 David E Rumens ENG 2200 ◊ 0/11   ♦ ½/25   ½ / 2
72 David J James WLS 2168 ◊ ½/36   ◊ ½/16 1 / 2
73 D Kovic   2104   ♦ ½/36 ♦ 0/13   ½ / 2
74 MD Osmond ENG 2056 ◊ ½/84   ♦ 0/56   ♦ 0/13   ½ / 3
75 DG McDonald ENG 2024   ◊ ½/11   ½ / 1
76 Roger Webb ENG 2240 ◊ ½/42   ♦ 0/38   ½ / 2
77 David John Sully WLS 2000   ◊ 0/27   ♦ ½/63 ½ / 2
78 MJ Hall ENG     ♦ ½/44   ♦ 0/60   ½ / 2
79 JG Stainton ENG 2152   ◊ ½/28   ½ / 1
80 P Seagroat ENG     ◊ ½/30 ½ / 1
81 Anthony J Stebbings ENG 2136   ♦ ½/42   ½ / 1
82 Nigel J Holloway ENG 2264   ♦ ½/50   ½ / 1
83 George Szaszvari ENG 1888   ◊ ½/63   ½ / 1
84 Kevin J Wicker ENG 2128 ♦ ½/74   ½ / 1
85 L Harris       ♦ 0/4 ◊ 0/13   0 / 2
86 Dan E Mayers USA     ♦ 0/19 ◊ 0/6   0 / 2
87 Charles De Villiers RSA 2200 ◊ 0/5   ◊ 0/23   0 / 2
88 Boguslaw Okrzeja   1664   ♦ 0/31 ◊ 0/20   ♦ 0/35 0 / 3
89 George A Dickson ENG 2176 ♦ 0/30   ♦ 0/3   0 / 2
90 Jonathan S Speelman ENG 2240 ♦ 0/6 ◊ 0/32   0 / 2
91 RS Johnson ENG     ♦ 0/10   ♦ 0/33   0 / 2
92 R Pool ENG 1968   ♦ 0/37   ♦ 0/20   0 / 2
93 Gennadi Sosonko NED 2400   ◊ 0/3 0 / 1
94 Nick Argyris ENG 2144   ◊ 0/3   0 / 1
95 D George ENG 1680   ♦ 0/3   0 / 1
96 Gerry M Hayes ENG     ◊ 0/3   0 / 1
97 Roy A Batchelor ENG 2120 ◊ 0/7   0 / 1
98 Maximilian Ernst Poolake ENG 1960   ♦ 0/10   0 / 1
99 Alan E Hanreck ENG 2048   ◊ 0/11   0 / 1
100 H Bigham       ♦ 0/11   0 / 1
101 Larry E Marden ENG 1880   ◊ 0/36 ♦ 0/35   0 / 2
102 D Morris ENG 2128   ♦ 0/12   0 / 1
103 MJ Gilhespy ENG 1920   ◊ 0/12   0 / 1
104 Anthony CP Milnes ENG 2016   ◊ 0/14   0 / 1
105 Peter Morrey ENG 1968   ♦ 0/14 0 / 1
106 Michael J Dymond       ♦ 0/46   ♦ 0/27 0 / 2
107 Hugh MacGrillen ENG 2328 ♦ 0/41 ◊ 0/39   0 / 2
108 James Burnett ENG 2016   ♦ 0/15   0 / 1
109 John M Quinn ENG     ◊ 0/17   0 / 1
110 Chris CW Shephard ENG 2160   ◊ 0/18   0 / 1
111 DW Wilson ENG     ♦ 0/20   0 / 1
112 Robert S McFarland ENG 2200 ♦ 0/22   0 / 1
113 M Belt   1800   ◊ 0/68   ♦ 0/44 0 / 2
114 Paul V Byway ENG 2152 ♦ 0/29   0 / 1
115 W Sirk ENG     ◊ 0/34   0 / 1
116 DA Scott ENG 1928   ◊ 0/37 0 / 1
117 DJ MacIntyre ENG     ♦ 0/43   0 / 1
118 Stephen Macdonald-Ross ENG 2048   ♦ 0/48   0 / 1
119 T Howdle ENG 1864   ◊ 0/58   0 / 1
120 Vernon Dilworth ENG     ◊ 0/59   0 / 1
121 David I Lister ENG 2088 ♦ 0/61   0 / 1
122 B Carpinter NZL 2080 ♦ 0/65   0 / 1
123 H Ozbilen TUR 2080 ♦ 0/69   0 / 1
124 NN       ♦ 0/70 0 / 1

Evening Standard London Chess Congress (BCM, February 1973, ppn 74-75)

(Report by Stewart Reuben)

Name a record and it seems we broke it at this event which took place at Islington Green School from December 15th to 17th. There were a total of 1208 entries for the five Swiss events, a world record for an adult congress. The 434 competitors in the Novice Championship was the largest Swiss ever held, the U.S. Open has never exceeded 400 players. This was the reason that we did not split the event, so as to have a world record for our sponsor.

484 seemed like a large entry for the 1971 congress. Why the dramatic increase? A 100 was expected for a natural increase, 25% increase has been reported everywhere due to the Spassky-Fischer match, the other 450 players must have been due to the tremendous pre-tournament coverage given by the Evening Standard in articles by Leonard Barden. More than any other English event this tapped the vast number of new players produced by the publicity this year.

Such numbers lead to great difficulties of organisation, more especially so as three weeks before the match I was still burying my head in the sand and expecting an entry of only 700! Conditions were too cramped but the school cooperated magnificently in closing the youth centre so as to give us maximum room. At the time of writing, several local education authorities are coming in for adverse criticism, The Inner London Education Authority was more helpful than we had any right or hope to expect.
The best controllers from all over England rallied to our desperate cries at the last moment. When I started the Islington congress in 1965, there were 24 competitors. I knew everybody by name, ran the congress practically single-handed and had time to go to the theatre in the evening. This time I did not even know all the organisers by sight!

There were 196 competitors in the London Open Championship, making it the largest ever open tournament outside the U.S. The 50 players graded over 200 also made it the strongest ever in western Europe. Ludek Pachman, who had only just left Czechoslovakia was the main star but a large question mark hung over his head. Grandmaster he may be, but could he overcome the problems of advancing age; several years without tournament practice and some time in prison (due to his bitter opposition to the Soviet invasion)? After he lost to Brian Eley in the second round, he was never in the running and the field was wide open.

Richard Bellin showed what a fine weekend Swiss competitor he is by winning with 6/6. This corresponded to a 257 grading result as he played nobody graded under 200 and beat Danny Wright in the last round (another of England’s most uncompromising players), although a draw would have sufficed to win the £250 first prize (another European record for an open tournament). 2-6 winning £46 each, P.Ostojic (Yugoslavia), P. Van der Weide (Holland), M. J. Basman, M. F. Stean, S. Webb, A. H. Williams with 5/6. 7-14 G. Antunac (Yugoslavia), A. Helman (Israel), W. R. Hartston, G. Nicholas, B. M. Rothbart, D. Wright, B. F. O’Sullivan, B. R. Eley with 4½.

These results show the advantage of using an ultra-sophisticated accelerated pairing system. Ordinary random Swiss pairings would almost certainly have produced at least one 5½/6 besides a player with 100%. This was impossible after 5 rounds, although still theoretically possible after 4. A Swiss can only be said to have been moderately successful if it was impossible for one player to draw clear of the field. The 1971 Islington Open produced a seven player tie, but it was a satisfactory result for the players could have scored more than 5/6 if they had been good enough.

Adjudications are also a great bug-bear in all these types of event. The problem was solved as best it can be by employing Ray Keene, Bernard Cafferty and Peter Clarke as professional adjudicators. This is a far better method than yielding to Mach 2 rates of play.

The Amateur Championship for players rated under 190 was won by Nigel Povah with 5½/6 and with it the BEA prize of a holiday for two in Holland during the USSR v Rest of the World Match next May [which never happened - JS]. T. J. Bean, J. Johnson, R. C. Lynn, J. Skilleter, A. Surtees, D. C. Taylor all scored 5/6 in this 140 player event to win £20 each.

M. Young won the £40 first prize in the Major Tournament (for players graded under 160) with 6/6 ahead of 210 other players. P. Corbin, R. Murphy and R. C. Pentecost all scored 5½.

P. F. Dyson also scored 6 to win the Minor Tournament (for players graded under 140) and first prize of £30. M.Dunne, C. H. Gibbons, S. V. Graham and R. L. Povey scored 5½. The latter won the Hamley’s prize of board, set and clock for the highest scoring under 18 in the congress.

It had been expected that there would be two players on 100% in both the Major and Minor. Both players were to win £40 and £30 respectively in that case, so as to overcome complaints about unresolved tournaments, but it did not prove necessary.

The Novice Championship, restricted to players graded under 120, had an unbelievable 434 competitors. We doubled the prize fund over that announced. M. Farthing, J. Stark, C. Whittington scored 6/6, winning £33.50 each. A. W. Binks, A.Marchant, M. Schwartz, J. Buttinger and M. Charter all scored 5½. Marchant won a case of Pommery and Greno Champagne as the highest placed newcomer to competitive chess.

Association with the Evening Standard enabled us to obtain many other quite valuable prizes as well. There were over 100 book prizes from assorted publishers and prizes from Alexandra National Hotel, Carrier’s restaurant, The Chess Centre, Cutty Sark, Games and Puzzles, The National Games Club, Mary Chess perfume, The Workshop. Most valuable of all was one year’s free computer time for a school, donated by Time-Sharing Ltd., who also had a computer competing in the Minor Tournament which scored 2 points. St. Albans School won this £500 prize.

Hal Shaper donated £50 for the brilliancy prize which was won for the following game [Speelman-Hemingway, Rd 2]


File Updated

Date Notes
11 December 1997 First uploaded in zipped file format
18 August 2022 Upgraded to modern standard, with viewer and crosstable, etc.
24 June 2023 Corrections made to two round six pairings, resulting from a mix-up between two players surnamed James: David J James drew with White vs MJ Franklin, while P van der Weide won with White against Geoffrey H James. My thanks to Brian Denman for first alerting me to this and David James for confirming that he drew with Michael Franklin and that the score of the game is correct.