English Chess Forum

For those who wondered why the Surrey player and organiser Stephen Moss seemed to be moonlighting as a bird watcher, here's the reason.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/ ... any-others

I had presumed they were the same person

Conversely, having encountered the lesser spotted Stephen Moss in his natural habitat, I have always known they were different people.

I find myself in the exciting position of having met the chess Stephen Moss on a number of occasions, but now realise I live a couple of miles from the other one! I may even have met him, but not at Sedgemoor Chess Club obviously.

This is nothing to do with Stephen Moss but might as well be added to this thread.

In Nottinghamshire as well as a Neil Graham, there is a Graham Neil which seems to cause endless confusion especially as he has held a number of admin posts. As well as this several databases have mixed up our games. At the 4NCL a couple of seasons ago my opponent asked me "Why didn't you play the London System?" As I've never gone near that opening, I found that he'd spent his preparation time looking at Graham Neil's games rather than mine.

Neil Graham wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 21, 2026 10:04 pm

At the 4NCL a couple of seasons ago my opponent asked me "Why didn't you play the London System?" As I've never gone near that opening, I found that he'd spent his preparation time looking at Graham Neil's games rather than mine.

I have an exact namesake whose games are mixed in with mine when you do a database search by name. Very useful for ensuring your opponent wastes their preparation time!