Chess Pages of Mike Donnelly

12. NEW AND SECOND- HAND CHESS BOOKS Tony Peterson. Specialist in rare and second-hand chess books and magazines. Very large stock. Contact details.

IM Sergey Bystrov. Specialist in a wide range of Russian books plus some non-Russian books. Now offering a greater range. Contact details.

Hello!

I little bit about myself: I live in the historic town of Kenilworth (close to the medieval castle) in Warwickshire, England. I have just retired (this time certainly!), after several years as a Scientific/Technical and Regulatory Advisor, from full time work as a Technical Manager at a biotechnology company that manufactures hydrogels for wound-care, monitoring electrodes, and cosmetic applications. Previously I was a research scientist working in a diverse number of scientific areas (science publications, committees, science journal refereeing etc). In my spare time I enjoy chess, the history and culture of the Ancient Greeks and their Modern counterparts, various types of music, and until recently Wing Tsun Martial Art (achieving grade 11).

Over a decade ago I shifted from playing over-the-board (o.t.b) chess as well as correspondence chess to playing only correspondence chess (peak average rating 2492, final average rating of 2454 (ICCF rating history 1993-2018). In 2016 I returned to some relatively regular o.t.b chess in local leagues currently playing at about 1940-2000 elo (a somewhat reduced level from that of a decade or more ago (approximately 2100 elo) and also from my highest many years ago of about 2275 (grading history). After some 25 years of playing National and International level Correspondence Chess I completed my last few games at the end of 2018, annotated these games in detail for presentation in correspondence magazines in early to mid-2019, and now just play o.t.b chess.

I will attempt to offer a wide range of chess material on this site including game and opening based articles, games for downloading from famous players I have known or competed against, chess problems and some current and past results. This will include both o.t.b and correspondence play. A major part of the web site is the presentation of annotated games in the "Monthly Articles" section of the site. Often these include annotations by players other than myself.

In addition to more advanced articles, I will also occasionally provide articles for beginners to mid-club strength of player also on a very wide range of chess topics.

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MONTHLY ARTICLES SUMMARIES (section 1 of web site) *

This month, the second of the series “Games from the West London Chess Club War Time Gazette” is presented. This book is one of the most unusual but most interesting books purchased from Tony Peterson (see section 12 of this web site). The book in a series of Bulletins, from November 1941 to December 1948, describes the complications of, and significant effort required, to run a chess club in the middle of a World War and its aftermath. Apart from many interesting games, from then and later famous players, there are some fascinating and some tragic stories told. There are also some more trivial matters covered such as payment of club fees an issue still often relevant in current times.

This month two remarkable games by some of the strongest players of that era are annotated The earlier article on this clubs gazette featuring games by Alexander, Thomas and Tartakower, for example, can be found in the articles archive for March-April 2015.

Nowadays the West London Club, founded in 1893, still exists and plays in the remarkable Chiswick Town Hall Building. Teams include a number of male and female Grandmasters.

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All material for downloading from this site is zipped. Use WinZip, or similar, to extract. Monthly articles are in .pgn format (from May 2000, previously in .txt format) whilst games for downloading are in .pgn format (or .cbv occasionally).

Contributions (preferably one or two annotated games), suggestions for articles and comments to improve this site are welcome: mail me!

	SCCA Magazine
	The SCCA magazine is published quarterly and consists of 24xA4 pages packed with correspondence chess news, articles, reviews and games.
	SCCA members receive the magazine as part of their annual subscription (£8). This entitles them to download pdf files (the e-mags) from a secure area of the SCCA website.
	If you prefer to receive a printed copy of the magazine, an extra £5 per annum covers print costs and UK postage and you get the four issues mailed directly to you.
	The SCCA magazine is unbeatable value! You can try a complimentary copy by contacting the membership secretary.

NEWS AND NOTICES *

Kenilworth Chess Club (KCC) Individuals and Teams (November 26).

1. Kenilworth teams continue to build on their good start to the season: In the Leamington League (Div 1) Kenilworth A lead with 9 points with Kenilworth B in second place on 8 points. Banbury A also have 8 points but have played one additional match. Kenilworth C move off the bottom of the table after some good wins and are now above both Olton A and Leamington A teams.

In the Coventry and District League (Div 1) Kenilworth lead on 8 points followed by Warwick University A on 6 points, the same score as Coventry A but who have played an additional match.

An emphatic win by Kenilworth against Warwick University B was marred by a multiple infringement of one of the most fundamental rules of Chess. Also, once a winning game was obtained by a miraculous recovery from what appeared a very serious disease during a protracted time scramble with no increment. This followed last season’s University A team turning up as the “B team” when facing Kenilworth.

More details on the above events and updates of league results can be found at kenilworthchess.blogspot.com

2. Ben Graff continues his most interesting series of articles for the famous magazine CHESS. The latest features the enigmatic and highly controversial writer and player Aron Nimzowitsch and explores his impact on some later top players.

This article, and Ben’s earlier articles, in paper or pdf format, can be obtained from chess.co.uk.

Local Players (November 26).

(a) Marek Soszynski has extended his high-quality opening books range with the publication earlier this year of one entitled “Smashing the Spanish Stunning the Scotch”. He is currently working on an update of an older opening book recently taken up by a very strong player indeed.

(b) Keith Escott Memorial Correspondence Event.

After a long delay the ICCF has completed organisation of a Correspondence Chess Event in Keith’s Memory and play, after proceeding briskly is close to finishing. This event has comprised no less than 17 titled players (LGM, IM or CCM).

With a small number of games left to complete the final positions and qualification for titles is becoming crystallised.

CCM Jones (with one game left), untitled Bowley, CCM Schirmer and CCM Rozanski, with these 3 players having completed all games, lead the table and have scored the 8,5 points necessary for an IM norm. A win for Jones in his last game would attain an SIM norm.

Currently lower in the table CCE Rosales has secured a CCM norm and with a win in the last game would achieve an IM norm, Similarly for CCM Hooker who required a final game win to achieve an IM norm.

Knowing Keith for many years I’m certain he would have been pleased at the relatively high number of decisive games in this event and the fact a number of players have, or may achieved, title norms.

Some details of Peter’s enormous impact on both over-the-board and Correspondence Chess are detailed in the Recent Archive section of this web site (Section 2-article for August-September 2023 inclusive of two annotated games).

The English Federation for Correspondence Chess (EFCC) has under the auspices of the International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF) organised two 15 player events in memory of Peter. These started on May 1^st, 2024, and features players from a wide range of countries and includes 9 Correspondence Chess Experts.

Section A- CCM Campani wins with the excellent score of 10/14 including many wins and no losses. CCE Spanton finishes second on 9.5. There is one game left to complete in this event, but it does not affect the leading scores

Section B- Lopez is confirmed as winner with a score of 9.5/14 and Hall as runner-up. Verneulen has moved rapidly to third place on 8.5 points also having completed all games. Heidtmann is in fourth with 8 points having just defeated Quirk who if he had won both his last games could have finished second. However, Quirk still has one game left to complete hence could achieve 3^rd equal place with a win.

ICCF/EFCC (October 24))

I was saddened to hear to news of the death of Andrew Dearnley at the age of only 61. Whilst I never played Andrew, he was always “about” in the world of correspondence chess both as a player and organiser and achieved his IM and SIM titles, as well as becoming an IA, over all the years I was active in this form of the game.

A Memorial Event is scheduled to start in 2026.

Next main update due earlier than usual on or about December 20 2025.

(minor updates may occur during each month)