tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post7835831143250976450..comments2023-12-28T02:11:22.501+00:00Comments on The Streatham & Brixton Chess Blog: The way of the drawTom Chivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-1001037593964856232010-05-31T20:36:55.398+01:002010-05-31T20:36:55.398+01:00The 1970s were the real heyday of tournament chess...The 1970s were the real heyday of tournament chess with some huge turn outs. I only caught the tail end of this decade, tournament chess wise. I remember the Aronson (Harrow- organised by former Streatham player Bill Philips), LARA (Lambeth) and the daddy of them all The Evening Standard (I can't remember if this morphed into the Islington tourney or not). I remember playing in Islington where Miles and Nunn were battling it out. Miles turned up at the the last minute one tournament and was made to pay a late entry fee. This somewhat surprised/annoyed him, with his comment that he should be given free entry as it was good for publicity being countered with noone knew you were playing so how can we get publicity from that?<br />It would be good to get a return to these mega weekend opens, although I have benefitted through much more modest (in strength and numbers)turnouts in recent years by occasionally making the prize list.<br />AndrewAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-7681429515963182362010-05-30T11:06:31.105+01:002010-05-30T11:06:31.105+01:002nd Luton Congress - The Second Luton Chess Congre...2nd Luton Congress - The Second Luton Chess Congress, held at the recreation Centre over February 7-8-9 [1975], attracted 328 competitors. Prize money totalled £1,000 plus trophies and special prizes. The event was sponsored by the Luton Recreation Services Dept. who granted free use of the centre and facilities plus a generous underwriting allowance. The prizes were presented by GM Lajos Portisch. <br />The organizers were dissatisfied with the way in which some players made sure of their prize money: ‘The first prizes in the Open and Major were decided in a most unsporting fashion. In the Open, Miles and Reuben agreed to a draw without playing a single move. This incident ... was almost infectiously copied in the Major where Smith and Lobo managed four trembling moves before the thought of record prize money for a sub-170 tournament got the better of them and a draw was agreed.’ <br />Results, all tournaments were 6-round Swisses, were as follows: Luton Open Championship: 1. AJ.Miles 5½; 2-5. M.J. Basman, S.Reuben. D.E.Rumens. D.Wright 5. Grading prizes were awarded to (I71-180) D.J. Stone. M.K. Jones. N.P.Alexander. and (U-170) S.K.Fishburne. Major - 1-3. B.D. Smith. A.J. Bagley. R.C.Lobo 5½. Minor - 1. El Mekkawi (Egypt) 6; 2. M.Krawczynski 5½.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-13557627580423519512010-05-30T08:11:41.310+01:002010-05-30T08:11:41.310+01:00....writes a Watford fan.....writes a Watford fan.ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-87385202597876332822010-05-30T00:59:52.508+01:002010-05-30T00:59:52.508+01:00If it was played in Luton I can understand why the...If it was played in Luton I can understand why they wanted to draw asap and get the hell out of the place!<br />AndrewAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-63412463048621023802010-05-29T18:54:33.932+01:002010-05-29T18:54:33.932+01:00It may well have been. Thanks for the correction!It may well have been. Thanks for the correction!ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-42313358388138412412010-05-29T11:49:49.608+01:002010-05-29T11:49:49.608+01:00Wasn't that game "played" in Luton, ...Wasn't that game "played" in Luton, not Birmingham?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com