If you visit the English Chess Federation’s website hoping to become a member, you will be confronted with a comprehension test. You will scroll past walls of text before appraising your membership options. Would you like to be a Supporter, Bronze, Gold, or Platinum member? Perhaps you are eligible for Junior Bronze, Free Junior Bronze, Junior Gold, Free Junior Gold, or Free Student Gold? Like the intricacies of the tax system, there must be reasons for this befuddlement of detail. The free tiers, for example, are intended as an inducement for members in their first year. But the initial impression is baffling: a simple table would go a long way to clarify the differences. As for the benefits of membership, the ECF’s monthly online magazine ChessMoves deserves greater prominence.
Hurrah at least for the recent decision to merge the Silver and Gold levels, though the option of melting down the Bronze as well was considered and rejected. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
England teams brought home bronze and gold medals from the World Senior Team Championships, held in Krakow last month, as well as a healthy number of board medals for individual performances. The bronze medals came in the 50+ section, which was won by the USA, with Italy as the runners up.
England got gold in the 65+ section, ahead of Israel and a French team from the Cercle d’Echecs de Strasbourg. England’s second team finished in fourth place, from which John Pigott was awarded a silver medal for his performance on top board (behind John Nunn, from the first team). In this game, he defeated the Slovak grandmaster who finished second at last year’s Individual World Senior Championship (again behind Nunn).
John Pigott–Lubomir Ftacnik
Fide World Senior Team Championships, 2024
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4 Nbd7 8 Qf3 h6 Black usually prioritises development with 8…Qc7 9 O-O-O b5, so that 10 e5 can be met by 10…Bb7. Ftacnik’s choice is rare, and its obvious drawback is that White’s lead in development grows. The more subtle downside is that the pawn on h6 no longer protects the kingside light squares (g6), which turns out to be significant later on. 9 Bxf6 Nxf6 10 O-O-O Qc7 11 Bd3 Be7 12 Rhe1 O-O 13 e5 Ne8 14 Kb1 Bd7 15 Qe4 g6 16 h4 This energetic pawn is safe, in view of 16…Bxh4 17 Rh1 Ng7
17 h5! Nxh5 18 g4 dxe5 18…Ng7 19 Rh1 dxe5 20 Rxh6 exd4 meets a brilliant refutation: 21 Nd5! exd5 22 Rdh1, since 22…f5 23 Qxe7 is crushing. But the sacrifice 18…Nxf4 was worth a try: 19 Qxf4 Bg5 20 Qe4 dxe5 is playable, since if the queens are exchanged, Black’s kingside pawn mass could become dangerous. 19 gxh5 exd4 20 Qxd4 A missed opportunity. 20 Rg1! breaks through, e.g. 20…Be8 21 hxg6, or 20…Bf6 21 Rxg6+ Bg7 22 Rf6! Re8 23 Rg1 wins. g5 21 Nd5 exd5 22 Rxe7 Qd6 Short of time, Ftacnik misses his chance for 22…Rae8! when his defences should hold. 23 Re5 The double threat to g5 and d5 is decisive. Bg4 24 Rg1 f6 25 Rxd5 Qe7 No better was 25…Qe6 26 f5 26 fxg5 hxg5 27 Qxg4 Black resigns
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