Help with photo research (Junior chess from 1930s or 1950s)

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Christopher Kreuzer
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Help with photo research (Junior chess from 1930s or 1950s)

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Sun May 07, 2023 3:31 pm

Can anyone help solve the mystery of the dodgy photo caption information here?

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/ne ... to/3292491

From Getty's Hulton Archive, that is allegedly a picture of Michael Davis playing chess, allegedly in 1932, three years before he was born.
24th July 1932: Michael Davis, the 17 year old competitor and Sussex junior champion is studying a move during the Junior International Chess Championships at Bloomsbury. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
If that is Davis (born 1935) and he is 17, then the year is about 1951 or 1952, and in 1951 the BCF hosted the first World Junior Championship, so the photo is more likely to be from that event (i.e. 1932 is a typo for 1952). But looking on Britbase, I can't see Davis listed as playing in anything that would make sense.

Does anyone recognise who that is (long shot, I know), and can anyone solve the possibly contradictory information?

Bonus points available if you can identify the game position on the board and his opponent! :D

Ah, found it! It was the Glorney Cup of 1952:

https://www.irlchess.com/2021/05/18/glorney-cup-1952/
The Glorney Cup in 1952 was held at the College of Preceptors, Bloomsbury Square, London, from July 23-24, 1952. Once again, four teams competed.
Davis played twice, against Foster of Wales (Davis was Black in that game) and against Neville of Ireland (Davis was White in that game). If those were the only games that Davis played, we are looking at his game against Brendan Neville which he lost. I will leave others to work out the possible opening!

Another photo from the same event here (with a better caption):

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/ne ... /613477312
Fonton Doyle of Dublin competes in the Junior International Chess Championships, between teams from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England.
(Actually, should be 'Fintan Doyle'.)