Winter Butterfly - 22c 12/7/03
Dear Friends
Firstly many thanks to Mark Adams for the following (sent in response to my comments on James Sherwin)
Here's an 11 move win against Bisguier
Bisguier - Sherwin [A46]
Rosenwald Trophy,
1955
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e3 Qb6 5.Nc3 Qxb2 6.Nb5 Qb4+ 7.c3 Qa5 8.Nd2 a6 9.Nc4 Qxb5 10.Nd6+ Bxd6 11.Bxb5 axb5 1-0
and here's his win against Fischer
Sherwin -
Fischer [E87]
Log Cabin, 1957
1.c4 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 0–0 5.f3 d6 6.Be3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.Qd2 f5 9.exf5 gxf5 10.0–0–0 a6 11.Bd3 Nd7 12.Nge2 Nc5 13.Bc2 b5 14.Ng3 Nf4 15.Nge2 b4 16.Na4 Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2 Nxa4 18.Bxa4 Bd7 19.Bc2 a5 20.c5 a4 21.c6 b3 22.axb3 axb3 23.Bxb3 Qb8 24.Qc4 Be8 25.h4 f4 26.Bf2 Bg6 27.h5 Bf5 28.h6 Bf6 29.Kd2 Ra5 30.Ra1 Rb5 31.Ba7 Rxb3 32.Bxb8 Rxb2+ 33.Kc1 Rfxb8 34.Rd1 Bh4 35.Ra2 R2b4 36.Qa6 R8b5 37.Kd2 Rxd5+ 38.Ke2 Rxd1 39.Kxd1 Rd4+ 40.Ke2 Bd3+ 41.Qxd3 1–0
Mark
Secondly an important email from Leighton Williams. I've reproduced it in full as I think the opening comments are of general interest. I'd like to add a few thoughts, but I'll wait until I'm sober. (Many thanks Leighton).
Dai,
Can you please print the following in Winter Butterfly, as I'm hoping it will be the start of a more open policy on selection, and lift the `veil of secrecy` at selection meetings, and help people understand why some players are selected and some are not. (this was one of the main goals I wanted to achieve if selected as Chairman of Selectors)
All,
Here is the Welsh men's senior team, and Welsh ladies team which was selected on Tuesday 8th July at Cardiff YMCA, to represent Wales in the forthcoming European Team Championships in Bulgaria.
First, a quick word about the European Team Championships. This competition is different in many ways from the Olympiad, the most notable being that the individual players themselves have to meet all the costs (unlike an Olympiad where players only have to cover transport costs) This unfortunately always leaves a lot shallower pool of players from which to select the team.
Another factor is that certain players only decide to play in Wales, and in particular the Welsh Championship, in even numbered years (eg.. 2000, 2002, 2004 or ie. when it's Olympiad time again!!!!!) therefore, there are a very high number of players who have failed to play the required number of games, and therefore are ineligible for selection.
Final note I would like to add is that this competition is VERY tough, and at no point will any player get an `easy` game (if there is such a thing!!!!) Try to imagine having to play someone 200-300 points higher than you EVERYDAY for nine days. Not the easiest thing to do, and NOT EVERY PLAYER can handle this sort of environment and pressure. As if a player starts with 0/3, and who's confidence is probably low, then 0/3 could easily become 0/7, as the quality of opposition will remain at a relative constant.
That in mind, here is the team(s) selected.
Men's Team Selected, (In alphabetical order!!!!!!!) and reasons behind it nb.selectors comments and concerns have remianed anonymous, except in the case of my own, which I've stated clearly. All grades are July 2003 FIDE ratings.
1. Richard Dineley 2269
(Has a good history of being solid and reliable on the higher boards for Wales from previous Olympiads, who has had a decent enough 4NCL season and recent Bled Olympiad. Also has a useful level of experience, and has proven he can handle this level of competition numerous times in the past. All selectors were in agreement with his selection)
2. Daffydd Johnston 2268
(Very aggresive player who always prepares well for his opponents, and has increased his FIDE rating by 150 points in recent successful 4NCL sessions. Not been as active recently as in the past, but never-the-less, all selectors were in agreement with his selection)
3. Ioan Ress 2179
(Currently our top junior player, who has recently had a very successful season in tournament chess, the East Glamorgan/Gwent leagues, and especially the 4NCL for Nidum Knights. Concerns were mentioned about his selection due to his age, and the possible need for someone to `keep a look out for him`. The possibility of his father, Gwynfor Rees, to accompany him was mentioned as a requisite of his acceptance. I mentioned the fact that the `European Team Championships` may not be the best event for Ioan's first senior selection, as it can be very unforgiving due to the fact that there are NO easy confidence boosting games available, and the CONSTANT level of high competition could be something which Ioan is not yet used to. I also mentioned a concern of mine that I thought Ioan would not be in the company of people he knew, unless his father was to accompany him. I also suggested that his debut senior selection be reserved for the next Olympiad in 2004 becuase of my concerns)
4. Alan Spice 2181
(Solid positional player who has a history of giving his best performances against higher rated opposition, as has been the case in previous European Team Championships and European Club Cup competitions. Some concerns were raised about the poor and fluctuating performances he has had this session, but he was given the benefit of the doubt by the selectors that he can again prove that he is in no way `out of his depth` at this level of competition)
5. Sven Zeidler 2246
(An experienced player, who has played for Wales in previous Olympiads and European Team Championships. Not had the best of International seasons in the 4NCL or recent Bled Olympiad, which has seen his FIDE rating drop to its lowest point for 4years. Serious concerns were raised about his limited opening repertoire, and the ease with which his opponents can prepare for him. I also had concerns about his recent Olympiad performance, where his poor handling of the pressure and the clock saw him throw away numerous points for the Welsh team. I also had further concerns about his selection due to his history of poor performances at this level, and seriously questioned how many more of these rare opportunities to represent Wales at the highest level should be given to him because of this)
Reserves. (in Order, without comment)
1. Suan Evans Quek 2261
2. Tim Kett 2145
3. Chris Walsh 2170
4. Iolo Jones 2289
5. Frank May 2153
6. John Trevelyan 2150
Once again the womens team selected itself by a process of elimination, so there was no need to have advice at the selection meeting from someone representing the Welsh Ladies board.
Team Selected (in alphabetical order)
1. Abigail Cast 2104
2. Debbie Evans-Quek 2013
3. Katherine Griffiths 2042
Reserves
1. Annie Powell 2026
2. Olivia Smith
Now if ANYONE has ANY further queries as to the team(s) selected, or why certain other players were not selected, then please contact me, and I will try my best to answer any questions. And before anyone asks me, I am unable to play due to university commitments, and Welsh champion Richard Jones is unable to play due to financial reasons.
Also, anyone who is named on the above list who I have NOT contacted, then can you PLEASE contact me, as I have been unable to get contact details of any of the top Welsh players from the other WCU board members (despite numerous promises from them) since taking over as Chairman of Selectors.
Hope everyone has a good summer :-)
Leighton Williams
Chairman of Selectors
Contact me by:--
email-- calahan@luckypunk.freeserve.co.uk
And finally an update on the position so far in the Monmouth Tournament (Many thanks to Kevin Staveley).
Dai
Monmouth update as promised:
At end of round 3
J.Hodgson; D.Gormally; J.Cobb 3 points
M.Ferguson; A.Ghasi; G.Lock; E.M.White;
D.Evans-Quek (also leading Welsh Ladies) 2.5 points
D.Sully; N.Fogarasi; D.Buckley; L.Cooper; R.Taylor;
S.Cunliffe; A.Spice; J.Sherwin; N.Moss; D.Tipper; S.Ghasi;
J.Waterfield; I.Ponter; C.Murray; A.Haigh 2 points
In round 2
Sherwin lost to Gormally
Cooper lost to Hodgson
A.Haigh (Cardigan) lost to Cobb
Two notable omissions from this list
Francis Rayner withdrew ill before tournament began
R.S.Jones (Welsh Champion) on 1 out of 3
ROUND 4 DRAW (9.30 am Sunday)
GORMALLY V HODGSON
COBB V FERGUSON
GHASI A V LOCK
EVANS-QUEK V WHITE EM
COOPER V HAIGH
MURRAY V SHERWIN
TAYLOR V SULLY
SPICE V PONTER
FOGARASI V GHASI S
TIPPER V BUCKLEY
CUNLIFFE V WATERFIELD
Final positions in the Open will be sent tomorrow evening (hopefully)
Full report later in the week.
Kevin.