English Chess Forum

Happy Birthday IM William ("Bill") Hartston (12-viii-1947)

Bill did more to put chess into the public domain in the UK than most.

And he has written a few more books - decent ones - than even that selection.

Happy Birthday bill. I true legend of the game.
I remember watching the Master Game series which gave me the inspiration to take up the game.

Picture captioned "Bill plays his trusty Sicilian Taimanov against an unknown opponent" - is it Jan Timman?

Reg Clucas wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 12, 2021 4:00 pm

Picture captioned "Bill plays his trusty Sicilian Taimanov against an unknown opponent" - is it Jan Timman?

I'm wondering if it is Joaquim Durao from the 1969 Praia da Rocha Zonal, 31st October, 1969?

I'll share a story which I hope readers will find amusing. As a 14 year old, I played in the British Rapidplay Championships in 1990 and after day 1 I had 5/6 and was in second place, half a point behind Speelman. Having faced 7 GM's in a row, I duly fell back through the field and faced Bill in the last round. I took another beating and after the game he consoled me the memorable phrase "Didn't you use to a promising junior?"
We've subsequently met at a number of matches and dinners and I've always enjoyed his wit and wisdom. His book, Better Chess is in my opinion a true classic. If you want to understand the thinking of strong players there is no better starting point.

Matthew Turner wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 12, 2021 11:08 pm

Having faced 7 GM's in a row, I duly fell back through the field and faced Bill in the last round. I took another beating and after the game he consoled me the memorable phrase "Didn't you use to a promising junior?"

After a rapidplay tournament someone greeted me with "When I saw you were an IM I thought you'd be really good" Clearly my abject capitulation to Mike Surtees from a huge position a pawn up had convinced them otherwise.

Matthew Turner wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 12, 2021 11:08 pm

His book, Better Chess is in my opinion a true classic. If you want to understand the thinking of strong players there is no better starting point.

Yes an excellent work and one that i was thinking of when I mentioned books of his not included in this profile.

John Upham wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 12, 2021 6:49 pm

Reg Clucas wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 12, 2021 4:00 pm

Picture captioned "Bill plays his trusty Sicilian Taimanov against an unknown opponent" - is it Jan Timman?

I'm wondering if it is Joaquim Durao from the 1969 Praia da Rocha Zonal, 31st October, 1969?

Doesn't seem likely to me. Durao would have been in his late thirties by then, quite a lot older than the player in the photo (and unlikely to have been sporting that hairstyle). I don't think it's Timman either - the hair's a bit too sleek and dark.