Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

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John Moore
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Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

Post by John Moore » Sat Oct 20, 2018 11:02 am

The Harlem Masters starts today and is obviously overshadowed (like all other events this week) by the Isle of Man event. However, how nice to see Michael Basman playing in the Masters event and I will certainly be following his progress with interest.

John Moore
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Re: Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

Post by John Moore » Sat Oct 20, 2018 11:04 am

Before anyone corrects me, it is the Haarlem Masters!

NickFaulks
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Re: Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

Post by NickFaulks » Sat Oct 20, 2018 11:07 am

John Moore wrote:
Sat Oct 20, 2018 11:04 am
Before anyone corrects me, it is the Haarlem Masters!
Just in time!
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John Moore
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Re: Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

Post by John Moore » Sat Oct 20, 2018 12:11 pm

Basman's first round game in this all play all event began 1 g4 d5 2 h3. Just like being back in the late 70s.

John Moore
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Re: Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

Post by John Moore » Sat Oct 20, 2018 3:02 pm

Unfortunately, dead lost after 20 moves with White - not a very auspicious start.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Sat Oct 20, 2018 4:04 pm

He had a few disasters with the Grob even in his prime tbf.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

John Moore
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Re: Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

Post by John Moore » Sat Oct 20, 2018 5:10 pm

Certainly true. It's hardly the most stable of systems.

Ian Thompson
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Re: Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

Post by Ian Thompson » Sat Oct 20, 2018 6:51 pm

John Moore wrote:
Sat Oct 20, 2018 5:10 pm
Certainly true. It's hardly the most stable of systems.
Chess 24's computer analysis gives Black an advantage of almost a pawn before he's even played a move. It says White's position has deteriorated by 1.17 pawns after playing 1. g4. :lol:

It goes on to say Black is winning after 9 moves, with a two pawns advantage.

David Robertson

Re: Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

Post by David Robertson » Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:00 pm

Basman's opening move:

Rd 1 - 1. g4 0-1 (badly crushed)
Rd 2 - 1. b4 0-1 (not pretty)
Rd 3 - 1...g5 0-1 (flummoxed opponent)

Joshua Gibbs

Re: Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

Post by Joshua Gibbs » Tue Oct 23, 2018 12:56 am

You can click through the games here https://www.haarlemse-meesters.nl/en/20 ... ers/games/

Heres a bit about Basman the writer says his position was bad but he still won

https://www.haarlemse-meesters.nl/en/20 ... asmanpunt/

Chris Rice
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Re: Harlem Masters - a blast from the past

Post by Chris Rice » Thu Nov 01, 2018 8:49 am

When I was learning the game Basman was a legend and when you see the games from Haarlem its easy to forget that once he used to be an incredibly strong player. My favourite game of his was the following game at Hastings where as Black he beat Ulf Andersson one of the top players in the world in 1975. However, it wasn't just that he won its the way he did it. In a jaw dropping sequence he gave Andersson 12 free moves which completely rattled Ulf and then similar to the Ali v Foreman fight from Rumble in the Jungle suddenly went on the counterattack. The game is described by Icelandic player, Ingvar Johannesson AKA Zibbit.