Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
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Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
England's third OTB Grandmaster.
Lost to the game aged 29 in 1982 to become a tax accountant.
England's third OTB Grandmaster.
Lost to the game aged 29 in 1982 to become a tax accountant.
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
A great pity that Michael was lost to the game.
The terrible sadness of chess? It doesn't pay. Even if you've been in the camp of a world championship contender.
The terrible sadness of chess? It doesn't pay. Even if you've been in the camp of a world championship contender.
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
IIRC he was not happy with Campomanes becoming FIDE president in 1982, and this contributed to his withdrawal from OTB play.
(he carried on writing his Observer column for a while afterwards)
(he carried on writing his Observer column for a while afterwards)
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
I was perhaps a little surprised to see Eley in the list of notable opponents.
Has there ever been a weaker British champion?
Has there ever been a weaker British champion?
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
A few other candidates going back to before either of us was born, yeah. But he is probably the weakest "modern" winner.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
So not surprising that Stean gets a plus score against him.
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
You'd probably have to define what you meant by "weaker". Absolute standard? World ranking at the time? Ranking among then eligible players?
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
It was ChessBase that created the list.Nick Ivell wrote: ↑Sat Sep 04, 2021 4:18 pmI was perhaps a little surprised to see Eley in the list of notable opponents.
Has there ever been a weaker British champion?
You may be correct about weakest. I've not been tempted to write an article about Eley for hopefully obvious reasons.
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
Michael is a really nice guy and a superb tax accountant.
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
I don't find that entirely convincing.Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Sat Sep 04, 2021 4:09 pmIIRC he was not happy with Campomanes becoming FIDE president in 1982, and this contributed to his withdrawal from OTB play
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a QR code stamped on a human face — forever.
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
His own comments at the time correlate, only he knows how sincere they actually were.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
The Olympiad reports of one of the chess magazines quoted an unnamed member of the England team as saying that he would retire if Campomanes was elected. Stean would have seen Campo in action at first quarters in Baguio.Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Sat Sep 04, 2021 8:05 pmHis own comments at the time correlate, only he knows how sincere they actually were.
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
IIRC a subsequent issue of the same magazine named Stean as the GM concerned.
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
Hear, hear.Simon Brown wrote: ↑Sat Sep 04, 2021 7:42 pmMichael is a really nice guy and a superb tax accountant.
He has acted professionally for more than one of England's leading players, although I shall not of course mention any names.
He wasn't entirely lost to chess after 1983; for instance, he was the captain of the England team at the Manila Olympiad 1992.
I imagine that the election of Campomanes as FIDE President in 1982 may have accelerated a decision which he was contemplating anyway. He was a very strong player indeed, but possibly a touch below the very highest class. As a result he felt that he needed a more secure career. Sixteen years later, Matthew Sadler made the same decision.
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Re: Best Wishes GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
Michael was Nigel Short's manager at around this time.David Sedgwick wrote: ↑Sun Sep 05, 2021 12:08 pmHe has acted professionally for more than one of England's leading players, although I shall not of course mention any names.Simon Brown wrote: ↑Sat Sep 04, 2021 7:42 pmMichael is a really nice guy and a superb tax accountant.
I've mentioned a name and I hope to have gotten away with it.
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