English Chess Forum

I am presently reading Eric Schiller's second book on Unorthodox Openings. He says many interesting things, some of which are rather difficult to research.

The main one pertains to GM Duncan Suttles of Canada (who once played a simul in my hometown in which FM Peter Gayson participated in amongst others) was one of the rare few to hold a GM title in both classical chess and correspondence chess he claims but doesn't mention who else had the distinction of holding more than one GM title. I've had a look on wikipedia but am unsure how reliable this is. Was Penrose the only Englishman to hold the GM title for both classical and correspondence chess?

This is the only list I found.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category: ... andmasters

You can search by title and country on the International Correspondence Chess Federation site:
https://www.iccf.com/Titles.aspx

You could perhaps include Jonathan Mestel and John Nunn if you are going to include people with two Grandmaster titles as they are Solving Grandmasters:
https://www.wfcc.ch/titles/sgm/

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 10, 2025 3:50 am

I am presently reading Eric Schiller's second book on Unorthodox Openings. He says many interesting things, some of which are rather difficult to research.

According to Edward Winter, most of what the late Eric Schiller wrote was incorrect.

Along with Ray Keene, it was a topic he would return to again and again.

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/schiller.html

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 10, 2025 3:50 am

I am presently reading Eric Schiller's second book on Unorthodox Openings

You have my commiserations.

Eric's books and their poor reviews are infamous which does tend to overshadow any of his good work. He wrote for the lower rated player and very few of these players are interested in correct dates, names and places.
What infuriates Mr.Winter is these popular low priced books are often used as a source and the error is quickly spread all over the globe. A few minutes spent researching and most of these errors would have been caught before going to print. And when the error has been highlighted, it has been ignored in the reprint.

I'm not throwing stones here. I too am a child of the slap-dash, job done, finish and have a cup of tea style. What Eric never had is a Richard Palliser (CHESS magazine.) whose experienced eye has caught a few of my gaffes.

Just thought up a chess joke based on an exchange that was meant to have happened between George Bernard Shaw and Winston Churchill. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/110604 ... t-night-of

Ray Keene sends Edward Winter two copies of his latest book with the message;
"One for you and one for a friend...if you have one.'

Edward send them back with the message;
"Send me the corrected copies of the second edition...if there is one.'

Yes, I think Penrose was the only player with both titles. These days I can't see it being attempted.
James

Besides Jonathan Penrose, players who were both GM and CCGM: Ulf Andersson, Jonny Hector, Janis Klovans, Aivars Gipslis, and Duncan Suttles.

So at least Schiller was correct about Suttles, then.

Klovans famously got the OTB title in his 60s after winning the World Senior Championship, but had in truth been GM strength long before then.

Krishnan Sasikiran is a SIM (2016) at CC, rated 2564. I imagine he would happily chase the GM title. Presumably, he hasn't played the right events.

MSoszynski wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 10, 2025 6:06 pm

Besides Jonathan Penrose, players who were both GM and CCGM: Ulf Andersson, Jonny Hector, Janis Klovans, Aivars Gipslis, and Duncan Suttles.

Plus Lothar Schmid, and Viacheslav Ragozin. There may be more.