English Chess Forum

In the MCCU county match on 15 Feb 2020, Katarzyna played board 1 for Worcestershire. This is I believe the first union or E/BCF county first team match where board 1 was a female player. The other news is that Katarzyna won her game and helped Worcestershire to a 10-6 victory.

I have heard from Susan Lalic that she does not recall having played board 1 when she was playing for Worcestershire. I consulted Leonard Barden and he did not recall results of 1930s matches where Vera Menchik might have played board 1, but he did remember that Harriet Hunt played for Oxfordshire and it is possible she played board 1 in the 1980s.

For the moment Worcestershire CA and Katarzyna are claiming a new chess record.

With apologies, Jovanka was playing on board 1 for Berkshire in the late 90s.

https://www.c4results.org.uk/chess/oldD ... ion30.html

Have a look at the Suffolk team

Brian Valentine wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 1:40 pm

https://www.c4results.org.uk/chess/oldD ... ion30.html

Have a look at the Suffolk team

I've done that....

Ah sorry, the third one!

Susan Lalic played board 1 for Surrey at least once, and Harriet Hunt did play board 1 for Oxon.

There has been one case of an Open match in an Olympiad featuring two female players on top board. Bermuda - Hong Kong, Turin 2006.

"Ah sorry, the third one!"

Toma the Fifth!?

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:17 pm

There has been one case of an Open match in an Olympiad featuring two female players on top board. Bermuda - Hong Kong, Turin 2006.

Next you'll be saying Judith Polgar played top board for Hungary in the Open.

And Dagne Cuiksyte beat me on board one in Suffolk v Essex, Minor County semi-finals 2013/14 (I think). Thus doing half a point better than in Rogers v H Hunt, board one, Essex v Oxford 1996/7.

John McKenna wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:19 pm

Next you'll be saying Judith Polgar played top board for Hungary in the Open.

I don't recall her facing a female opponent in that role, but do remind me.

Well it looks like that was a little early for claiming that record

raycollett wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 1:27 pm

1930s matches where Vera Menchik might have played board 1

I believe she played for Sussex, if that helps

"I believe she played for Sussex, if that helps"

Plausible - she played for Hastings for some years, later living (and dying) in Clapham.

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 5:08 pm

"I believe she played for Sussex, if that helps"

Plausible - she played for Hastings for some years, later living (and dying) in Clapham.

She certainly played for Sussex a number of times, but not sure whether she ever played on top board.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:41 pm

John McKenna wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:19 pm

Next you'll be saying Judith Polgar played top board for Hungary in the Open.

I don't recall her facing a female opponent in that role, but do remind me.

In October and November 2002, Polgár played on second board (with Péter Lékó on first) for Hungary in the 35th Chess Olympiad.

That's what I thought.

I saw her (her sisters played too) playing and losing to Nona Gaprindashvili, in the 1990 Chess Olympiad, held in Novi Sad.

Not in the Open section though, Judith played on 2nd board with her older sister on 1st in all 14 rounds. (Ketevan Arakhamia(-Grant) scored 12/12, for a 2935 performance there, playing as reserve for the Soviet Women's team).

John McKenna wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 6:06 pm

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:41 pm

John McKenna wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:19 pm

Next you'll be saying Judith Polgar played top board for Hungary in the Open.

I don't recall her facing a female opponent in that role, but do remind me.

In October and November 2002, Polgár played on second board (with Péter Lékó on first) for Hungary in the 35th Chess Olympiad.

... and on board 1 in 1994 and 1996.