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Atticus Online Blitz Championship 2021
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- Written by Martin Blasczyk
- Category: Club News
Colin Horton won the first
Atticus Online Blitz Championship
Congratulations!
Sad News today the passing of our dear friend Jim Wiseman 28/4/21
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- Written by sjb
- Category: Club News
Jim Wiseman an appreciation
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have to report that my good friend Jim Wiseman passed away today the 28th April.
Jim’s body had fought off Cancer a couple of years ago but alas the beast returned and despite his best hopes and various treatments he succumbed to the second wave today.
People do not fight Cancer, no more than people fight a broken leg. It is an illness that sometimes your body with the help of medicine and science can overcome. If it were an act of pure will then hardly anyone would die of it. Sometimes the disease just takes you.
Jim knew this and bore the second wave with epic Stoicism and good humour right to the bitter end.
In these comments I won’t go into his many good qualities and deeds but in terms of Chess I will say this…
He loved chess, in fact he was obsessed with it and that passion was infectious. Indeed, his last game was on the Monday night before he died, less than 36 hours before his demise
I won’t embarrass folk by naming them but most of Atticus Chess Club have learnt or been inspired by Jim’s play and attacking ideas on chess.
Over the board he had built up a great wealth of theory and would often bang out the opening at a shocking rate. He was always clever if not downright devious with his moves and his chess imagination was, stunning. Some of the combinations he came out with, over the board, were just works of beauty. His skill with rooks and knights were always something to behold. In later years I even began to develop a feel for a ‘Jimbo’ position. There would be a majority of bits for Jim around/have access to the opponents King, locked centre and ideally his opponent was just about to launch their own attack. You just knew something was about to happen and then bang one sacrifice followed by a minimum of one or two later sacrifices and the opposition were once again in tatters. Fantastic to witness
He loved playing the Kings Gambit with White and sometimes he even played it as Black, the Latvian. It just showed his style, a complete contempt for counting material advantage, ‘Just give me the attack. Let me demolish them’
Over the board you always knew you were in for a game. Jim’s style was always fearless., If he saw the right path he had to take it regardless of his opponents grade, status or supposed superiority. I guess that’s why he took so many scalps, he always played the board as he saw it.
At the end of the game Jim, with a pint [or four] in hand, win or lose would always be decent, funny and self- effacing…even though you might just see that little twingle in his eye when he demonstrated a little marvel or novelty
As for chess achievements well, we could list the tournaments he won, the teams he led to glory in cup and leagues championships and promotions but I just think his legacy will be his eternal enthusiasm for the game and his supportive and sympathetic approach to players just starting out or going through a fall in form. If you spoke with Jim about chess, you always left energised
Jim leaves his lovely wife Sue, many friends and the world a poorer place
To my lifelong brother for all that shared joy much thanks, happy memories and warm reminisces.
You were simply the best friend anyone could ever have had
Tom Webb
28th April 2021
Ian Nepomniachtchi wins the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2020
- Details
- Written by Martin Blasczyk
- Category: Club News
Ian Nepomniachtchi challenges Magnus Carlsen
Ian Nepomniachtchi won the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2020 and will challenge Magnus Carlsen in Dubai, 24th November till 16th December this year.
Only 14 games, time control: 2h for 40 moves + 1h for the next 20 moves + 15 minutes and 30 secondes increment from move 61 onwards.
tie-break: four games rapid chess, 20 minutes + 10 seconds increment. In case of a draw they have to play two blitz games, 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment.
Magnus Calsen became World Chess Champion 2013 after defeating Viswanathan Anand (India). He defended his title World Chess Champion against Viswanathan Anand (India) (6½ - 4½) in 2014, against Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin (Ukraine, Russia) (6 - 6, Tie-break 3 -1) in 2016, against Fabiano Luigi Caruana (Italy, USA) (6 - 6, Tie-break 3 -0) in 2018.
Some regard Magnus Carlsen as the favourite in this match, others are not so sure. He might win the tie-break once again, but this has nothing to do with standard chess.
Resumption of League Chess
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- Written by John Redmond
- Category: Club News
To all members of Atticus CC,
With the recent improvement in the outlook for playing chess, the MCA is considering a resumption of over-the-board competition in September. We would like to gauge the interest of Atticus players in playing over-the-board league chess in the coming season. Please get in touch either with your team-captain or with a member of the committee to indicate your interest in playing. Likewise if you have any concerns please let us know.
Note: The Cross Keys will be available for us to use from May 17th. The playing-area upstairs has been completely refurbished.
John Redmond
Chair, Atticus CC
ECF Yearbook 2021
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- Written by Martin Blasczyk
- Category: Club News
The ECF Yearbook 2021 is now available for download for free. The printed version will be soon available too.
Phil Hopkins Chess Coaching 19/1/21
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- Written by sjb
- Category: Club News
Hello all.
I used to be a member of Atticus chess club, from 2007, to 2010. During this time Atticus members, played a huge part in my chess development, and now I would like to help develop some of you, with online chess lessons.
If you are enthusiastic about chess, and are looking to improve your rating, or perhaps know of anyone else who may be looking for a teacher?, then do get in touch.
My contact details:
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Telephone: 07912434358.
All lessons will be hosted via lichess or playchess.com, and over a telephone call during the lesson.
£15 for 1 hour, or £25 for 2 hours, per session.
My Credentials:
I am consistently rated 2300+ on lichess, playchess.com and on the chess24 website.
I have achieved 189 ECF on slow and 201 ECF on Rapid, winning the Norwich open section, late 2019 before the corona virus pandemic hit.
I have already accumulated a number of regular students, who have improved their game through my lessons and have received lots of positive feedback from my teaching methods.
I hope to hear from some of you soon.
Regards Phil