Chess history trivia

[MJMcCready]

Which, you could say avant-garde, British band released a single in the very early 80s where the video depicts numerous shots of someone sitting at a chess board before a game commences which remains central to the whole video.

Clue: it's definitely not their best song, -not by a long shot- nor is it the song they are most famous for but it got into the top 5 in the charts nonetheless.

Can you name the band and the song?

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Which, you could say avant-garde, British band released a single in the very early 80s where the video depicts numerous shots of someone sitting at a chess board before a game commences which remains central to the whole video.

That sounds like Maid of Orleans by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmwMhjbThKg

[MJMcCready]

Indeed it is, very good.

[MJMcCready]

Which somewhat satirical, and at times a bit silly, British 80s band who sometimes made it into the charts, once released a song about their experience of playing chess online?

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Which somewhat satirical, and at times a bit silly, British 80s band who sometimes made it into the charts, once released a song about their experience of playing chess online?

Half Man Half Biscuit - Bad Losers on Yahoo Chess
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8w3eW1huCM

I saw them live not so long ago (just checked - it was 2017) and they were great.

Just in case you're stuck for a birthday present for a Half Man Half Biscuit fan:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Division-Oven- ... B07SC9DNTG

[MJMcCready]

Hmm, well if I may say so, I never thought of them as the best band from Merseyside.

[MJMcCready]

According to IM Lawence Trent in the discontinued podcast The Full English Breakfast (The F.E.B), which former world champion was once banned from eating croissants by his wife?

[John Upham]

According to IM Lawence Trent in the discontinued podcast The Full English Breakfast (The F.E.B), which former world champion was once banned from eating croissants by his wife?

Did you mean "by" or "alongside" ?

[MJMcCready]

According to as it was reported at the time 'by'

[MJMcCready]

Which former world champion agreed to play in a tournament held in the country at war with his own, which then had to be abandoned. In the British press it was reported that they were assaulted by soldiers who used the butt of their rifles on him and other participants?

[MJMcCready]

The establishment of the famed Westminster club in London came about by whose efforts in 1831?

[John Townsend]

George Walker, but not as early as 1831. See, for example, The Age, 12 October 1834, page 1:

"Westminster Chess Club, 20, Bedford street, Covent-garden—This Club has now been established about two years ..."

[Gerard Killoran]

George Walker, but not as early as 1831. See, for example, The Age, 12 October 1834, page 1:

"Westminster Chess Club, 20, Bedford street, Covent-garden—This Club has now been established about two years ..."

From The Morning Post - Saturday 04 May 1833 page 3

Morning Post - Saturday 04 May 1833 p.3.png (76.55 KiB) Viewed 496 times

[John Townsend]

Yes, I noticed that earlier, Gerard. The question is what they mean by "just". It makes 1831 look even less likely.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

The Westminster Chess Club Papers of 1st December, 1876, has the following:

Westminster_Chess_Club_Papers_1_Dec_1876.png (11.81 KiB) Viewed 427 times