Adrian Hollis

[Phil Neatherway]

I believe there is an obituary on today's Times.

[John Foley]

In what way did Adrian Hollis build up "a formidable team of chess experts at Keble, which included the Grandmasters David Norwood, Dharsan Kumaran and Jonathan Rowson, the International Master David Goodman and the FIDE Master Steve Giddins."? FIDE Master Julian Way was also at Keble but hasn't made the Times obit. Did they go to Keble because of Hollis? Did he give some coaching?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Some links might help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Hollis

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/o ... 712704.ece

The latter mostly behind a paywall (did obits appear in any other newspapers?)

[Roger de Coverly]

Did they go to Keble because of Hollis?

If there was a connection, it would have been because he had a say in the selection and admissions process.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Did they go to Keble because of Hollis?

If there was a connection, it would have been because he had a say in the selection and admissions process.

Unless he was the College Senior Tutor - and no one would be over so many years - then no. Either it was a coincidence or, perhaps a bit more likely, because the later GMs may have applied there simply because there was such a good track record, reasoning that if chess mattered at all to any college, then this would be one of them.

Almost applied there myself many years ago - partly because I had recognised and met Julian Way when I went to an open day there!