Hackney Chess Club

[Warren Kingston]

Anyone here a member of Hackney Chess Club in 1987 at the Library, just dont remember anyones name?

Only the Under 21 London Champion was a member. Remember going to see Short Kasaprov for the Speed Chess Challenge in Leicester Square with the club.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Hi Warren,

I was a member of Hackney Chess Club then. I'm pretty sure I remember you. Tall and thin, is that right?

The London under 21 champion was Robert Willmoth. Other people you may remember are Roy Brown, Andy Dunn, Dave Griggs, Dave Nicholson, Jerry Simons. I can remember the name of just about everyone who was a member then. I also remember the Short-Kasparov trip and the silly suits (White played in a white suit, Black in a black suit) and Ray Keene's silly football-like commentary. After one game, when everyone had left, myself and Andy Dunn sneaked onto the stage and played a few blitz games with the outrageously expensive set and clock.

[Warren Kingston]

Hi Jon

Thanks for replying, my memory is quite bad, the reason I am no good at chess lol. I can not remember you, sorry, but your correct I am tall and thin, bit beefy now mind you. I only remember David Griggs as a name. I also remember Robert having head phones on playing that record you spin me right round baby and the music coming out so everyone could hear it.

I took the day off sick to go to the Short Kasaprov games and ended up on the evening news, everyone at work saw me, bar the boss!!!

Hope your well Jon and speak soon

Regards Warren

This was written on a Blackberry, so excuse the spelling mistakes, as its really small.

[Gerard Killoran]

Can I say how upset I am to be overlooked by both of you although I have to admit my games were pretty forgettable.

Other members of what Chess magazine then called 'The notorious Hackney Chess Club' included Nigel Rose, and of course Terry 'Dazzler' Donnelly.

I am now playing top board for the mighty Ilkley club in the Bradford League, where one of my unlucky victims included Mark Crowther.

[Warren Kingston]

Sorry Gerard, can't remember my own name never mind anyone else's!!

What was the name of the pub on the corner, we used to go to after getting turfed out of the Library?

Remember waiting for the fella to come and unlock the door so we could get in, library that is, not the pub.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Sorry Gerard. Two of the stronger members of the Cheesy Slack Bunch were Dominic Mackle and Bob Eames, who are both playing in the British Championships at the moment. Dominic has moved to Devon and I think he plays for the same team as Andy Dunn.

Here is a game you might remember in which Andy Dunn (playing black) duffed up some King's Head patzer:

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.a3 Qh4 5.Be3 Bc5 6.Qd3 Nxf2 0-1

We played at several pubs in the few years I was a member. My favourite was the Rosemary Branch. I can't remember the name of the one where we used to play league matches on flimsy wallpapering tables in the bedroom of the landlord's son.

[Gerard Killoran]

The pub with the tiny bedroom in Dalston you're trying to remember was The Willow Tree. At one time we played in the Labour Club further down the road in Dalston Lane with boards balancing on beer barrels. No wonder teams hated playing us.

Andy's infamous game upset me as I'd drawn against Whitely previously and that had been my only positive result against an IM. Didn't seem so impressive after that.

[Jon Mahony]

Hi Warren,
The London under 21 champion was Robert Willmoth. Other people you may remember are Roy Brown, Andy Dunn, Dave Griggs, Dave Nicholson, Jerry Simons. I can remember the name of just about everyone who was a member then. I also remember the Short-Kasparov trip and the silly suits (White played in a white suit, Black in a black suit) and Ray Keene's silly football-like commentary. After one game, when everyone had left, myself and Andy Dunn sneaked onto the stage and played a few blitz games with the outrageously expensive set and clock.

You can actually get footage of that event on DVD now (bit expensive mind you!) you may be able to see yourselves in the crowd shots.

Agree about the silly suits + commentary - but I suppose it had to be a bit mainstream for TV, so none chess players could watch. I once saw a pic of Ray Keene wearing a half black, half white bow tie though so it can get worse

Kasparov tripped and nearly broke his neck before the final game started!

[John Ariss]

Dominic Mackle is playing for Newton Abbot, Andy Dunn is playing for Torquay.Both still attend congresses together.When Andy 1st moved down here he played for Paignton(now defunct), before myself and Tom Maloney set up the St Marychurch (now Torquay)club and he decided to join us.Dominic joined but moved to Newton Abbot last season.

[MikeTasker]

We are still going strong, with IMs Richard Bates,Simon Ansell,John Cox playing for us and also
several FMs. At one point a few years back,with member Peter Thompsons support we
nearly had a national u25 side going (Gormally,Williams,the Perts etc etc) although Wood Green
still stopped us from getting the London League, partly due to a mix up involving myself and another
player going to the wrong venue at the last match (it wasn't at Golden Lane)
Several of the players mentioned still play,Terry Donnelly, Rob Willmoth back after a long
gap,Jerry Simons (now Bloom), etc. I also played lots of matches with posters Jon Eva and Gerry
Killoran. Our website is http://www.hackneychess.org.uk/ ,new members welcome at all levels
(we now have a London league 4th team).
btw For blitz chess fans (none blitz is fine also) we play at The Rochester Castle on Saturday nights,
which maybe one of the longest nights of its kind as I think it was going even before I joined ....

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Hi Mike,

Something is wrong with the grading system if I have a higher grade than you.

One name not mentioned yet is George Szaszvari. He met a woman on the internet, went off to Arizona to meet her, married her and is living there yet. I e-mailed him several years ago and he told me he doesn't play chess anymore.

I've been captain of a team in Oxford (Cowley 1) for the last few seasons, and for one match against Banbury I managed to get Dave Griggs to turn out for us (Banbury is as close to Northampton, where Dave lives, as it is to Oxford). He was delighted to see how fat I've become.

Funnily enough Simon Ansell used to play for Cowley when I first moved to Oxford. When I joined Cowley I had the same grade as some 15 year old girl called Harriet something or other. I was quite put out when they insisted I play below her. That same season we also had an American student called Jesse Kraai (now a GM) join and he and Simon used to have wonderful blitz sessions.

One ex-Hackney player I'd like to to track down is Mike Paley - any idea what happened to him?

Jon

[Simon Ansell]

Hi Mike,

Funnily enough Simon Ansell used to play for Cowley when I first moved to Oxford. When I joined Cowley I had the same grade as some 15 year old girl called Harriet something or other. I was quite put out when they insisted I play below her. That same season we also had an American student called Jesse Kraai (now a GM) join and he and Simon used to have wonderful blitz sessions.

Jon

My A-level results weren't quite up to scratch due to too many all night chess/drinking sessions with Jesse

Jesse's now in San Francisco, I discovered this a couple of weeks ago when I was playing a tournament in LA. Which was really annoying as I'd been in SF a few days before and would have liked to catch up.

[Warren Kingston]

Hi Mike

Have registered for both website and newsletter. Well done on website looks good.

Warren

[MikeTasker]

Hi Mike,

One ex-Hackney player I'd like to to track down is Mike Paley - any idea what happened to him?

Jon

He moved to the south coast sometime in the 90's, but I don't think he plays anymore.
Other ex players: Roy Brown, Guy Simpson in London, sometimes visit the club, Ken Jackson
not sure, Peter Catt moved to Brighton. If you or any other ex members are in town let me
or the club secretary know and we can arrange to meet up.

[David Sedgwick]

Other ex players: Roy Brown, Guy Simpson in London, sometimes visit the club

Do give my regards to Roy "Game Fee" Brown when you next see him.