Keene's claim to have won "22 national championship titles."

[David Robertson]

He'd have liked that

[JustinHorton]

There was also a sighting of the Penguin at Bunratty where he was introduced at the prizegiving as SIR Raymond Keene OBE.

Absolutely fantastic.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Yeah, he wishes

[JustinHorton]

Maybe we could start a petition?

[O.G. Urcan]

On Twitter yesterday, Steve Giddins called the article at http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.c ... smell.html an "outrageous attack on the Varsity Match."

[JustinHorton]

That's OK, I'm sure Steve will sign my petition for Ray's knighthood.

"For publicising the work of other chess writers above and beyond the call of duty."

[Brian Towers]

On Twitter yesterday, Steve Giddins called the article at http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.c ... smell.html an "outrageous attack on the Varsity Match."

He does have a point. It does smack somewhat of the stalking of a jilted lover. Keene MA (Cantab) is an old boy and probably their first ever grandmaster. It would appear completely appropriate for him to attend the Varsity match.

[JustinHorton]

Only if "completely appropriate to attend" means "completely appropriate to front the event despite having professional standards that would get you expelled from either university a dozen times over".

[David Robertson]

Oo, a ruck developing. Jolly good

[Clive Blackburn]

That's OK, I'm sure Steve will sign my petition for Ray's knighthood.

"For publicising the work of other chess writers above and beyond the call of duty."

Publishing the work of other chess writers yes, but definitely not publicising them!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I think some of this might stem from a misunderstanding?

The tweet from John Saunders:

https://twitter.com/johnchess/status/57 ... 36/photo/1

"Varsity Chess Match: both teams and organisers before the match".

Is Ray Keene really one of the organisers? I'm not actually entirely clear who organises the event. I thought it was the RAC Club that hosts the event, and the two university clubs that jointly organise it. Then you have various alumni and non-alumni spectators and press people attending (some every year without fail), but that doesn't mean they are 'organisers'.

This is the tweet by Steve Giddins:

https://twitter.com/GiddinsSteve/status ... 5870032896

"John Saunders removes Bedlam Brigade blog from his links page [...] Coincidence?"

And Colin Crouch insults Justin Horton in a reply there.

Back on the S&B blog:

http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.c ... smell.html

An anonymous comment points out a mistake.

Brian Towers (above) throws unnecessary insults around. David Robertson chortling from the sidelines.

Back on the blog, someone identified Peter A N Webster. I wonder who the others in the photo are? (The ones holding the trophy)? You'd think people would focus on the actual players, the ones playing the chess, wouldn't you?

I'm glad I didn't go, as I might have ended up in the photo by accident...

EDIT: I believe the sponsor has been (and still is?) Henry Mutkin, who would be in the photo? From the comments here:

http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.c ... olour.html

EDIT 2: some bits removed from original post.

[David Sedgwick]

I wonder who the others in the photo are? (The ones holding the trophy)?

On the right, in the blue jacket, is Henry Mutkin.

On the left, in the brown jacket, is Stephem Meyler, Chairman of the RAC Chess Circle, which now sponsors the match jointly with Henry.

I'm not going to get involved in the mud-slinging.

[Carl Hibbard]

I wonder who the others in the photo are? (The ones holding the trophy)?

On the right, in the blue jacket, is Henry Mutkin.

On the left, in the brown jacket, is Stephem Meyler, Chairman of the RAC Chess Circle, which now sponsors the match jointly with Henry.

I'm not going to get involved in the mud-slinging.

I will.

[Andrew Zigmond]

I'm not being funny but don't those who have an obsession with everything Mr Keene does have a blog complete with comments for them to discuss it to their hearts content?

[Niall Doran]

Yes they do, Andrew.

But this is also a forum for discussing English chess, so the subject is relevant. In a way, it's even better to discuss this type of thing here, as it's neutral ground, whereas anyone trying to defend Mr Keene on the Streatham Blog might feel they're playing on away turf.