Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2025 i British Chess Magazine

On Saturday, March 8th, hosted by London’s Royal Automobile Club, the world’s longest established chess fixture continued into its third century. Cambridge University led by the narrowest of margins (60 wins to 59) against Oxford, and if the latter could have triumphed in the latest annual clash, then the scores would have been equalised! I profusely thank Stephen Meyler of the RAC for giving me access to the official background information on what has become the undoubted highlight of the British social chess calendar. A HISTORY DATING BACK TO 1853 The idea of a regular chess match between Oxford and Cambridge Universities was first suggested in 1853 by Howard Staunton. In 1871 the Oxford University Chess Club challenged Cambridge to a match but at that time, the Cambridge Club was…

While chess is helpful for children in teaching them order and thinking, introducing them to these concepts can also be fun and engaging - as shown by a recent book published by Batsford. An updated edition of the Chess for Children Activity Book by Sabrina Chevannes is a well-structured guide aimed at helping children improve their chess through puzzles, games, and strategy-based challenges. Priced at £12.99, the colourful hardcover edition combines strong educational value and easy fun packed in interactive exercises. The book follows Chevannes’ earlier title, The Batsford Book of Chess for Children, and builds on its success by offering a more hands-on approach. The book is tailored to both newcomers and very young players entering the chess realm. From piece movement to chess notation, tactics and conceptual position…

This tournament held at Ryde on the Isle of Wight attracted a very good entry with several grandmasters and young international masters seeking grandmaster norms. There was a four way tie for first place, Bobby Cheng of Australia, Sebastian Bogner of Switzerland, Boris Chatalbashev of Denmark and Matthew Wadsworth with 7/9. They all shared £3050 in prize money. Matthew Wadsworth is playing actively to complete his grandmaster qualification having gained the grandmaster norms he also needs an ELO rating of 2500. The tournament was sponsored by Wightlink a ferry operator to the Isle of Wight who run ferries from Portsmouth to Ryde and Fishbourne and from Lymington to Yarmouth. In this edition of BCM we will look at two very interesting games from this event. We start with a sharp…

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has launched the world’s first digital museum dedicated to the game’s rich history, marking its 100th anniversary with a major push to digitise its archives. The FIDE Open Chess Museum, now freely accessible, promises to become the definitive repository for chess artefacts, from ancient origins to modern-day championships. The initiative, part of FIDE’s centenary celebrations, consolidates rare and previously unseen materials—handwritten scoresheets, championship medals, personal items from legendary players, and historical documents—into a single, curated platform. Researchers and enthusiasts alike can now explore chess’s evolution through a structured digital exhibition, filling a longstanding gap in the sport’s historiography. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said the project offers “a closer, in-depth perspective on chess” and reflects “FIDE’s broader push towards digital engagement with the public.” “Chess is…

We are pleased to reprint this insightful interview with GM Vladimir Potkin, originally published in American Chess Magazine (Issue #43). Potkin is not only a former European Champion but also one of the most respected coaches in modern chess, having worked with stars like Aronian, Karjakin, and Nepomniachtchi. His reflections offer a rare behind-the-scenes look at top-level preparation, creativity, and team dynamics at the very summit of the game. Our thanks to ACM for this richly detailed and engaging piece—an excellent example of their consistently high editorial standard. Editor Article and images - courtesy of American Chess Magazine. How would you sum up the Gukesh-Ding match? Nothing less of what I expected before the match had started. It was an intense battle that went down to the wire and…

England had several teams in the two competitions. The over 50s was won by the USA while England’s first team won the over 65s, retaining their title. The 2025 FIDE World Senior Team Chess Championships took place from February 17 to 27 in Prague, Czech Republic, featuring competitions in both the 50+ and 65+ age categories. The event concluded successfully, with England emerging as triumphant in the 65+ category. The English team displayed remarkable consistency, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament and showcasing strategic depth and enduring mastery of the game. Meanwhile, in the highly competitive 50+ category, the USA edged past Italy in a tense tiebreak battle, with Kazakhstan claiming bronze. England’s representation in this category also left a strong mark. The England Teams were as follows: OVER 50s England…

6287 The Morra Gambit, named after Pierre Morra, is older than you might think. Sometimes also named after GM Matulovic, sometimes after Ken Smith. The sequence 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.♘xc3 predates the birth of all three. Let us follow the trail back down the years. Lodewijk Prins - George S.A.Wheatcroft Hastings Premier Reserves, 1933-34 1.e4 c5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.♙c4 e6 6.0-0 d6 7.♘xc3 ♘f6 8.♕e2 a6 9.♖d1 ♕c7 10.♙f4 ♘e5 11.♙b5+!? A piece sac very much in the spirit of the gambit. 11.♙xe5 dxe5 12.♖ac1 was Matulovic - Segi Yugoslavia 1953. 11.♙b3 may well be best Tal - Neibults Riga 1959 continued 11...♙e7 12.♖ac1 ♕b8 13.♘d4 0-0 14.♙g3! ♘ed7 15.f4 e5 16.♘f5 and white won in 24 moves. 11...axb5 11...♙d7 seems more prudent.…

1 D. Gatti EG, 2025 BLACK TO PLAY, WHITE WINS 2 P. Byway original composition 2025 DRAW 3 P. Byway original composition 2025 DRAW 4 R. Guy (version by P Byway 2025) Revista Romana de Sah 1948 WIN Update: in the last issue, we looked at the first study to achieve the "Babson Task" - Black’s defences include all four promotions of a pawn (Q/R/B/N) and White responds to each by promoting a pawn of his own to the same piece that Black did. An extraordinarily difficult task. The study, however, had an illegal position. Since I wrote that column, a new study has been published that achieves the task and is a legal position. Daniele Gatti is the composer, building on the previous work by Gady Costeff. Here’s the…