English Chess Forum

On Top Gear, he's referred to chess a couple of times now.

Last year, he was interviewing Harry Enfield, and commented on his intelligent style of humour, saying "if you don't understand what the Sicilian Defence is in chess, you won't understand the joke."

Last night, while interviewing Michael Schumacher, talking about his competitive spirit, he said "It's like when I play my son at chess. If I'm losing, I just steal his queen when he's not looking."

He seems to know what he's talking about!

Maybe he could be ECF President

Mick Norris wrote:Maybe he could be ECF President

That's really stupid - why, it would like having Boris Johnson as Mayor for London.

Never happen!

Mick Norris wrote:Maybe he could be ECF President

An excellent idea. Can you imagine his reaction after attending his first ECF Council meeting?

What comments do you think he might make on Top Gear about ECF Council?

I'd love to see him as President. Who will make contact? As you might imagine, I have many friends in low places such as MPs, spivs and journalists from my motor sport days. I will attempt to establish contact...

Jeremy Clarkson & Chess


Mentioned here...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/commen ... 488548.ece


from which

"To eliminate the element of luck, I always suggest chess but this doesn’t work either because the only person who knows how to play in my family is my son, who’s 12 and consequently charges around the board on a wave of testosterone, endlessly leaving his queen in silly places and then mocking when, out of kindness, I pretend I haven’t seen the danger it’s in. Or that he’s just moved his castle diagonally or that, for the past two hours, he’s been one move away from checkmate. "


and

http://www.topgear.com/au/jeremy-clarks ... 2004-12-01
quoting "I learned, at the age of 13, that I was no good at any ball game. My limbs were already so long that by the time the neural signals arrived at my hands and feet, the other team was already in the shower. Often I’d find myself on the football pitch, lashing out at a ball that had been bowled in a game of cricket four months earlier.

I’m not much cop at cerebral games either. The other day, I was beaten at chess by an opponent who kept asking which way the bishops go. It was humiliating frankly."

Clarkson update :

I have made contact with his PA and communications are established. I will report back any good / bad news.

But, seriously, do we want someone as ECF president who owns up to stealing his son's queen, when he's not looking? I think: not.

Mike Gunn wrote:But, seriously, do we want someone as ECF president who owns up to stealing his son's queen, when he's not looking? I think: not.

It would certainly raise the profile of chess, but as a lot of people think he's a loud-mouthed, egocentric and badly tailored nob, it could prove rather divisive.

Although the decription given seems perfectly typecast.

I also aim to discuss getting Chess on TV. If you all feel I am wasting my time then maybe I am.

I adopt the motto of the SAS.

J.

I don't see the harm. I think he's very popular with the youth of the country. In a time where some young people laugh at the idea of playing chess, I think having Jeremy Clarkson in that sort of position would be a great benefit to perhaps win over some people who previously would go around bullying young chess players. I think age and Jeremy Clarkson's popularity are inversely proportional.

Mark Steel managed to work a chess joke into his column about Michael Jackson in The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/co ... 26054.html:

It seemed every bit of every paper had to be dedicated to him, so the chess puzzle would go "Today, in honour of Michael, the pawns are allowed to move one square backwards as long as they make it look like they're going forwards. And both players can be on the same side, as the black pieces are allowed to pretend they're white."

Any idea if he's a player?

Alex Holowczak wrote:I don't see the harm. I think he's very popular with the youth of the country. In a time where some young people laugh at the idea of playing chess, I think having Jeremy Clarkson in that sort of position would be a great benefit to perhaps win over some people who previously would go around bullying young chess players. I think age and Jeremy Clarkson's popularity are inversely proportional.

I thought he appealed to middle aged men having a mid life crisis driving an open top Masarati (or dreaming of such) wearing a Polo shirt and a Hacket baseball cap. Golf clubs in boot optional.

Not sure if Mark Steel is a chess fan or just trying to be clever.

A quick google reveals that Michael Jackson had a marble chess set and board. No idea whether he played, though.

Jeremy Clarkson? No thanks!

Richard James wrote:A quick google reveals that Michael Jackson had a marble chess set and board. No idea whether he played, though.

There's a picture here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 68969.html

Alex Holowczak wrote:I don't see the harm. I think he's very popular with the youth of the country.

Perhaps the more crass and witless segment, maybe.