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) *

After a short post-Christmas break monthly articles resume on this web site on or about the 25th of each month.

This month two annotated games are featured from the British University Chess Associated Championship held in Leicester in 2025. Player’s ratings in this event ranged from a relatively low level up to quite a few of the strongest players in the country. In the latter case many of the games featured highly imaginative chess and as would be expected from young players dominated by tactical play. Often knowledge of the latest wrinkles in opening theory are displayed too. A few games also show severe reversals where winning positions are not converted.

The two selected games are both highly interesting and will reward close study.

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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 (February 20).

1. Pre-Christmas, Kenilworth teams were leading both local leagues. However, a couple of titanic moments followed in subsequent weeks in which all teams suffered drastic defeats in key matches. Following a slight recovery, Kenilworth A again leads the Leamington and District Division 1 by some margin with 19 points from 10 matches and a massive game score advantage over Banbury A in second place on 15 points from 12 matches. Currently in third place is Kenilworth B on 14 points from 11 matches. Further down the table are Warwick University and Stratford A, some way behind, but with matches in hand so may vie for second or third places if they score well. The third Kenilworth team in the top Division, Kenilworth C, are at the bottom of the table but just one point behind Leamington A but have defeated several higher placed A” teams so far ths season.

In the Coventry and District League (Division 1) Kenilworth also led pre-Christmas but after several reversals are now in third place, 6 points adrift of Warwick University A, three points adrift of Nuneaton A although two points ahead of Coventry A in fourt. In all cases Kenilworth have a match in hand.

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

2. Ben Graff continues his well-chosen and interesting series of articles for the famous magazine CHESS. The latest explores the World of Chess Poetry with significant references to the “human condition”.

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

3. In the recent Solihull Rapid event Billy Fellowes finished second to the very strong player Bowcott Terry in the Open section. In the Intermediate section Rhys Edwards shared 3rd-5h place.

In the Blitz section Billy Fellowes scored a remarkable winning 13.5/14 points whilst the Major section was won by Joshua Pink with Ben Graff sharing 3rd-5^th place.

Local Players (February 20).

(a) Marek Soszynski has extended his high-quality opening books range with publications not only in paper format but now in digital format. The latest “Smashing the Spanish, Stunning the Scotch” can now be obtained from Forward Chess.

He has also just published a book entitled “Carlsen goes Ape-A World Champion plays 1. b4”. An on-line database check today shows a bevy of top players dabbling in this opening which has now also been observed in several games in local leagues in recent weeks.

(b) Digital copies of the magazine “Rabbits Review” are now available to be downloaded on the Michael Basman Legacy web site. IM Basman was well known, if not somewhat notorious, for proving moves such as 1…h6 and 1…g5 were in fact playable even against strong opponents. The magazines contain a wealth of useful and interesting material for players of beginner to mid-club strength covering a very wide range of chess topics by numerous different writers, including myself.

(c) Sometime local league player Carl Portman has been awarded the MBE for his extensive work involving chess in Prisons.

(d) 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).

CCM Jones wins with 9 points scoring a SIM norm as does CCM Hooker in second place on 9 points. Untitled Bowley, CCM Schirmer, CCM Smith, CCE Rosales, and CCM Rozanski, all score 8.5 points and an IM norm. Lower in the table, and the only game left to complete, is CCM Graham versus LGM Williamson. Both have 7 points hence are fighting for seventh place.

Keith Escott was the Captain of the Warwickshire Correspondence chess team which won the prestigious Ward-Higgs event several times, editor of the famous magazine CHESS and did much for both otb and correspondence chess locally and nationally. It is pleasing that this Memorial, contrary to many other recent events, had a high number of decisive games and that a number of players have achieved, title norms.

(e) Peter Gibbs Memorial Correspondence Events

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^st2024, and features players from a wide range of countries and included nine 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.

Section B- Lopez is confirmed as winner with a score of 9.5/14 and Hall as runner-up on 9 points. Verneulen has moved rapidly to third place on 8.5 points having now completed all games. Heidtmann is in fourth with 8 points. Only one game is left to complete in this tournament which is Quirk on 7.5 points versus Illingworth on 6 points. A win for the former would mean a share of 3^rd place.

British Chess Problem Society (BCPS)

The BCPS has once again efficiently organised the Winton British Chess Problem Solving Championship. The final of the 2025-26 event will be held in Harrow shortly. Notable finalists include otb GMs Nunn, Mestel and McShane.

The Society has also organised a Memorial tournament for IM Barry Barnes who edited the Problemist magazine for an impressive 38 years. Entrants need to compose a Direct mate in 2 moves a field of composition which was a forte of Barry for many years and for which he won many prizes.

The web site of the Problemist continues to be updated and now back issues of the magazine, even up until quite recently, can be viewed on line as well as increasing numbers of past awards problems.

Next main update due earlier than usual on or about March 25 2026.

(minor updates may occur during each month)