Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Historical knowledge and information regarding our great game.
Ron de Haas
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Ron de Haas » Mon Jun 18, 2012 8:44 pm

Christopher Kreuzer wrote:Steve Giddins has written a piece that mentions this thread, in which he provides one of Donner's games from this period and states that it is unlikely many of these games survive:

http://stevegiddinschessblog.blogspot.c ... itzen.html

Giddins says "the festivals were never the subject of a bulletin, to the best of my knowledge, and almost all of the games will have been lost". He also states that the events at Bognor Regis were 'Stevenson Memorials' (not B. H. Wood Chess Festivals). To be fair to harrylamb, what was said in the original post was "I think the first few may have been played at Bognor but maybe I am getting confused with a separate event", so harry was never making an absolute claim about events at Bognor. There is also a link to John Saunder's Britbase from Steve Giddin's blog post. Maybe some of Donner's games are there (I don't have time to check right now): http://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/
Thank you for bringing the blog of Mr Giddins to my attention, I can delete the game Cafferty-Donner, Eastbourne 1960 of my list of missing Donnergames

Ron de Haas
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Ron de Haas » Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:00 pm

Leonard Barden wrote:The British Chess Magazine for this period is sure to have published some games which CHESS did not.

The thread, by mentioning only late 1950s events, does not make it clear if Mr de Haas is aware that Donner also played several times in England in the early 1950s:

Staunton Centenary 1951
Paignton 1951
Hastings 1951-52
Cheltenham 1953 (1st CHESS festival)
Bognor 1954 (Stevenson Memorial)
Hastings 1954-55
Southend 1955 (2nd CHESS festival)

Of these, only Staunton Centenary and the two Hastings are in modern databases.
Donner also played in the Dutch v British Universities match in December 1950. This took place in the Netherlands, but one or both of Donner's two games may be available in CHESS or BCM.

To anticipate a possible follow-up question, although I played Jan Hein six or seven times in these events, I don't now possess any of the game scores.
A surprise, the reaction of Mr Barden. Mr Barden gives a few tournaments of which I have only one game:

Paignton 1951, only the game of Donner against Euwe is in my Donnerbase
Cheltenham 1953, only the game against Andric is in my Donnerbase
Bognor 1954, only the game against Radojcic is in my Donnerbase
Of the Dutch v British Universities match in December 1950, I have the secondgame Barden-Donner in my Donnerbase, the first game in this match (Donner-Barden)is missing.

If someone can help me to get more information abouts these tournaments, please let me know

Ron de Haas
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Ron de Haas » Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:03 pm

Ron de Haas wrote:
Leonard Barden wrote:The British Chess Magazine for this period is sure to have published some games which CHESS did not.

The thread, by mentioning only late 1950s events, does not make it clear if Mr de Haas is aware that Donner also played several times in England in the early 1950s:

Staunton Centenary 1951
Paignton 1951
Hastings 1951-52
Cheltenham 1953 (1st CHESS festival)
Bognor 1954 (Stevenson Memorial)
Hastings 1954-55
Southend 1955 (2nd CHESS festival)

Of these, only Staunton Centenary and the two Hastings are in modern databases.
Donner also played in the Dutch v British Universities match in December 1950. This took place in the Netherlands, but one or both of Donner's two games may be available in CHESS or BCM.

To anticipate a possible follow-up question, although I played Jan Hein six or seven times in these events, I don't now possess any of the game scores.
A surprise, the reaction of Mr Barden. Mr Barden gives a few tournaments of which I have only one game:

Paignton 1951, only the game of Donner against Euwe is in my Donnerbase
Cheltenham 1953, only the game against Andric is in my Donnerbase
Bognor 1954, only the game against Radojcic is in my Donnerbase
Of the Dutch v British Universities match in December 1950, I have the secondgame Barden-Donner in my Donnerbase, the first game in this match (Donner-Barden)is missing.

If someone can help me to get more information abouts these tournaments, please let me know
Did Donner really play in Southend 1955, I don't know anything about this tournament

Ron de Haas
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Ron de Haas » Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:15 pm

Ron de Haas wrote:I'm trying to collect the chessgames of the Dutch grandmaster Jan Hein Donner (1927-1988). He played several tournaments in England of which I can hardly find any information, so I decided to register on ECF. I hope some one can help me! Donner played in 1957, 1958 and 1959 in a open tournament in Whitby, who can help to find information about these tournaments ( playing schedule, the games Donner played in these 3 tournaments)? I have some more questions, but they will follow in the coming weeks.
I'm curious if someone can help me?
At first, I'm surprised bij the reactions on my post about Donner-games. I had no idea about what I could aspect!
Some tournaments in which Donner participated are mentioned in reactions,
The following tournaments/matches are also on my list of missing Donnergames:

Whitby 1960, Eastbourne 1960

Holland played in the 50's, 60's and 70's matches against England

In October 1973 a match was played in Manchester, Donner played penrose on board 2. Who can help me on the two games they played
In October 1975 a match was played in Hartley Wintney, hampshire. The game Keene-Donner is missing in my Donnerbase, anyone who can send me this game?
Last edited by Ron de Haas on Tue Jun 19, 2012 1:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Ian Thompson
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Location: Awbridge, Hampshire

Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Ian Thompson » Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:42 pm

Ron de Haas wrote:In October 1975 a match was played in hartley whitney, hampshire.
Hartley Wintney is the correct spelling.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Roger de Coverly » Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:52 pm

Ron de Haas wrote: In October 1975 a match was played in hartley whitney, hampshire. The game Keene-Donner is missing in my Donnerbase, anyone who can send me this game?
Would it be this one?

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1555121

The chessgames.com site has 1024 Donner games.

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=14765

E Michael White
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by E Michael White » Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:34 pm

Would that be the Elvetham Hall game ? I have one which Donner won as White in 46 moves. I noticed you suggest Keene had White so perhaps you already have the game I have.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Roger de Coverly » Tue Jun 19, 2012 12:02 am

E Michael White wrote:Would that be the Elvetham Hall game ?
Elvetham Hall was the name of a training centre in Hartley Wintney. There were a handful of matches there. I can recall being a spectator at one, but I think it was against West Germany. I'm not sure whether the match against Holland featuring Keene-Donner was the Euro Championship or the then annual Anglo-Dutch match. If it was the Anglo-Dutch match there were always two rounds, but it was possible for players to be substituted in the event of illness.

(edit) It wasn't the Euro match, as ENG were away to NED and Miles played Donner. (/edit)
Last edited by Roger de Coverly on Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

Colin Patterson
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Colin Patterson » Tue Jun 19, 2012 12:58 am

I believe Barden, but not Donner, played the Southend Open held in August 1955 (ref BCM Sept 1955, p 267). I'm hesitating slightly however, as BCM does not describe it as part of a 'Festival' ... hence I'm wondering if Leonard knows of another event held there the same year?

Colin Patterson
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Colin Patterson » Tue Jun 19, 2012 1:12 am

Just found my 1956/57 CHESS bound copy - re:Whitby tournament - won by Donner with 11/11, ahead of Wade (8), Seitz (7.5).

Two Donner games are given in full. I will type these up and post here when I get some more time.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Roger de Coverly » Tue Jun 19, 2012 1:24 am

Colin Patterson wrote:Just found my 1956/57 CHESS bound copy - re:Whitby tournament - won by Donner with 11/11, ahead of Wade (8), Seitz (7.5).
We know he became a GM but how good was Donner? Evidently much better at bashing British amateurs than Wade. In a slightly later era, there were numerous Keene v Donner games. My impression would be they were evenly matched.

Colin Patterson
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Colin Patterson » Tue Jun 19, 2012 1:40 am

Forget the 1957 games; I see from a previous post that Alan McGowan is already dealing with this.

Roger - yes, I'd probably agree. No idea of their head to head score, but their careers overlapped in the 1970s, at which time they were both about 2480-2510 Elo - some time after Donner's heyday of course.

Colin Patterson
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Colin Patterson » Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:27 am

On further inspection, it looks like it's 4-2 to Donner with 2 draws:

1. Keene vs J H Donner 1-0 46 1968 Anglo-Dutch match, Vlissingen D79 Neo-Grunfeld, 6.O-O, Main line
2. J H Donner vs Keene 1-0 39 1968 Chess Olympiad E45 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Bronstein (Byrne) Variation
3. J H Donner vs Keene 1-0 48 1971 Cambridge A A56 Benoni Defense
4. J H Donner vs Keene 0-1 25 1971 Tournament (candidates) A42 Modern Defense, Averbakh System
5. J H Donner vs Keene 1-0 41 1971 London (England) D07 Queen's Gambit Declined, Chigorin Defense
6. Keene vs J H Donner 0-1 20 1971 Team Match E04 Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3
7. Keene vs J H Donner ½-½ 22 1971 FRG-ch int A49 King's Indian, Fianchetto without c4
8. Keene vs J H Donner ½-½ 58 1975 Anglo-Dutch Match E94 King's Indian, Orthodox

Ron de Haas
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Ron de Haas » Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:55 am

Roger de Coverly wrote:
Ron de Haas wrote: In October 1975 a match was played in hartley whitney, hampshire. The game Keene-Donner is missing in my Donnerbase, anyone who can send me this game?
Would it be this one?

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1555121

The chessgames.com site has 1024 Donner games.

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=14765
I think you are right, i'm going to check my Donnerbase
Last edited by Ron de Haas on Sun Jun 24, 2012 9:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

Ron de Haas
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Re: Chessgames of Jan Hein Donner

Post by Ron de Haas » Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:57 am

Colin Patterson wrote:On further inspection, it looks like it's 4-2 to Donner with 2 draws:

1. Keene vs J H Donner 1-0 46 1968 Anglo-Dutch match, Vlissingen D79 Neo-Grunfeld, 6.O-O, Main line
2. J H Donner vs Keene 1-0 39 1968 Chess Olympiad E45 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Bronstein (Byrne) Variation
3. J H Donner vs Keene 1-0 48 1971 Cambridge A A56 Benoni Defense
4. J H Donner vs Keene 0-1 25 1971 Tournament (candidates) A42 Modern Defense, Averbakh System
5. J H Donner vs Keene 1-0 41 1971 London (England) D07 Queen's Gambit Declined, Chigorin Defense
6. Keene vs J H Donner 0-1 20 1971 Team Match E04 Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3
7. Keene vs J H Donner ½-½ 22 1971 FRG-ch int A49 King's Indian, Fianchetto without c4
8. Keene vs J H Donner ½-½ 58 1975 Anglo-Dutch Match E94 King's Indian, Orthodox
As far as I know Donner didn't play against Keene in the Olympiad 1968. I think this is the second game of Vlissingen 1968
Last edited by Ron de Haas on Tue Jun 19, 2012 12:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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