Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Staunton Memorial: Photograph Report

Thanks to Vad for these splendid pictures of yesterday's Staunton Memorial Tournament, which witnessed the first clash between the English greats Adams and Short this century, I believe!

But first . . .



. . . the venue Simpson's-in-the-Strand from the outside, sandwiched between two buses . . .



. . . who'd know it was hosting a chess tournament?



But inside things are getting ready.



Nigel Short waits for Michael Adams, looking fully concentrated . . .



. . . while Bob Wade peruses the paper - perhaps looking for pointers from Ray Keene's chess column?



The games begin. Arbiter Eric Schiller stands behind the two players.



Meanwhile, Short has surprised Adams on move 1, playing the Alekhine with the black pieces . . .



. . . but the game soon peters out to a twenty-move draw. Looks like the fianchetto variation, where with white against Timman back in 1991, Short won a well-remembered classic.



Things will not prove so nice for Bob Wade, however, in his game against Jon Speelman.



Wells and Chernyaev look to be the last to finish.



Soon there'll be nothing for organizer Ray Keene (in the background) and arbiter Eric Schiller (foreground) to do for the night.



Except of course outside there's London, where there's always things to do!



Thanks again to Vad for these great photographs. The homepage for the tournament is here. Today is a rest day, but the tournament continues from Thursday until Monday from 2pm each day (except on the final day, when they start at noon.) Entry to the venue on the Strand is free and highly recommended.

13 comments:

Jonathan B said...

If you go, and if you're very lucky, you might get to spend time with the S&BCC blog arts correspondent ... as I did yesterday.

Morgan Daniels said...

Yo Jonathan, are you going to be there on the last three days (eg 16th-18th)? I'm back in London on the 15th and very much want to hang out with the cool S&B gang. Also, how expensive is the bar at Simpson's? Hideously so, as one might expect of a restaurant in the Strand?

Anonymous said...

I popped in for 10 minutes or so a couple of times on Monday (Round 5)and found the games quite interesting, but the latest (Round 6)looks disappointing just looking at the results - Draws in 15,17,20,21&32 moves with only Speelman beating Wade in 37 moves, who he clearly outgraded.

Alan

Tom Chivers said...

There's an interesting article by Eric Schiller available here about organizing the Staunton. It basically divides into two parts. In the first part, Eric describes the organization and history of the tournament. In the second part, he describes how it's under threat from Termites!

Jonathan B said...

Word up Morgan*,

I'll be there on Saturday 16th and Monday 18th for the last day. Possibly on the 15th but not til 4 or 5 at the latest.

I've no idea about the bar but I imagine a small beer would cost at least one testicle and probably both. Actually, I saw Nigel Short in the bar just after he lost on time against Timman. He looked so amazingly pissed off I was going to offer to buy him a drink to cheer him up a bit. At the last moment I remembered (a) the likely cost of such a gesture and (b) that he's made millions from chess and therefore decided that he could buy his own sodding drinks.

Tom was floating the idea of meeting for a drink on Monday after the last round finished. Any other takers?



* I've been watching the Wire and this is the sort of thing they say on there.

Morgan Daniels said...

I am 100% behind the idea of a drink or six after the last round. Count me in.

Anonymous said...

Jonathan,

"S&BCC blog arts correspondent" Hey that's the nicest thing you've called me since "Sister Wendy" at Simpsons.

Martin S.

Anonymous said...

Thanks very much for these great photos. But could we also see the Dutch players, please? I met them last year at the same place...
Siegrun

ejh said...

"Arbiter Eric Schiller"???

Jonathan B said...

Eric Schiller is indeed the sole arbiter for the event this year.

Tom Chivers said...

A FIDE International one at that!

Anonymous said...

Is it just me that despairs of the sartorial blundeers of certain members of the chess fraternity?

Schiller appears to be sporting both pants and jacket a few sizes too big in the pic. Sort it out!

Tom Chivers said...

I think he looks dapper!