|
NAME |
PROFILE |
OPENING/PLAYING
STYLE |
ACHIEVEMENTS |
LEAST/MOST
LIKELY
TO SAY |
|
BRANISLAV
SUDJIC |
Long-standing
member B-team stalwart (when
he manages to find the opposing team's venue, of course).
|
Penchant
for turning any Black position into some mutant Dutch
Defence. May play the London as White
Be prepared for a
mass pawn charge leading to quick victory or ridiculous position
with on the seventh rank and pieces on the
first! Be warned, he has had the audacity to recover from such
situations!
|
Overcoming
the handicap of having an East European-type name which makes
people think he is a Ukrainian grand master. |
Least
likely to say,
"I wonder if I should develop a piece before moving that pawn
further up the board?" |
|
PETE
SELBIE |
Long-time
member and B or C-team captain.
Claims to
need the comfort and space of his SAAB to get to work, but others
suspect the real purpose is for the long trips to play Nancy Elder
matches in Wick. |
Plays
just about anything, really! Though the deadly Petrov used to be a
favoured weapon.
Forget the theory
after four moves, play the opening really poorly, drop a pawn and/or
attain a rubbish position, fight back gallantly only to lose on time.
|
Retaining
a modicum of sanity despite years of Walter Pearson's post-match
analysis.
Jumping from 1322
to 1458 in the 2003/4 season - after remaining stationary around 1340
for years. Doping authorities have been informed! |
Most
likely to say:
'It is a book move' (regarding some really bizarre, hitherto unknown
fourth move)
'Okay,
I'll play the Nancy Elder Trophy this year, again'
'I
know, I saw that, but I only had two seconds left on my clock'
Least
likely to say:
'That
two hundred mile round trip, to play in the Nancy Elder against that
bloke graded three hundred and fifty five points above me was worth it.
'I
reached the time control with half an hour on my clock'' |
|
GEORGE
PYRICH |
Long-time
member, club President, A-Team captain and one of the strongest players
at the club. Past winner of the mythical club championship trophy.
George will be hoping to get back to 2000+ for next season. George
is also a very accomplished correspondence player. |
A
very steady versatile player who plays a range of openings
and who likes to strangle you positionally before moving in for
the kill. Despite his steadiness, knowledge and versatility George
has been known to get into a bit of time trouble – presenting him with
the dilemma of whether or not to risk scuttling off for another fag.
Indeed, it may be that George's time trouble is historically linked to
bans on over the board smoking. |
Surviving
bans on smoking over the board. |
Most
likely to say:'And
after that it's just a position'
Least
likely to say: 'How
about having more Committee meetings?' |
|
WALTER
PEARSON |
Former
secretary and regular. Made up for
taking chess up late in life by playing all congresses and spending
hours on post-match analysis. (most of it trying to refute
suggestions that he had a poor position).
Also
liable to argue that, if he could have reached the end game, he’d have
been fine.
Walter
has, in his time as a teacher, coached many kids, the most notable being
one Andrew Burnett, now graded at around 2200
|
1.
e4 as White, with a Vienna to follow if possible. The
Sicilian Accelerated Dragon or much-maligned Benoni as Black
Likely
to play his favoured opening system very quickly, aim to put opponents
under time pressure or to head for an endgame where he hopes to apply
his technique in this area of the sport Has been known to play on
for hours in a totally drawn position, believing his opponent will fall
asleep and lose on time.
|
Hawick
Major, 2000
Glenrothes
Major, 2001
|
Most
likely to say:
‘Your
flag's fallen’
‘I
thought my position was fine.’
'Did
I ever show you that interesting endgame from the weekend?''
'Has
anyone seen my copy of Capablancas Endgames?'
Least
likely to say:
‘Aye,
I’ll take that draw offer’
‘I
didn’t like my position after move ten’
|
|
TOMMY
THOMSON |
Staunch
member and regular attendee when around. Known as rather a
'bookish' player who is well-acquainted with theory – reflected in his
high rating as a correspondence player. |
Not
sure nowadays, though I believe he used to play the Catalan and French
Theoretical,
likes to take his time |
Managing
to overcome the trauma of shorter time controls and no adjournments. |
Most
likely to SING:
'
We don't need no Constitution'
(TO THE TUNE OF ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL BY PINK FLOYD)
Least
likely to say:
'What
about more quickplay matches'
'What
about shorter time controls'
|
