Gap between games by two players

[John Moore]

Can you beat this. Max Euwe played Boris Kostic three times in 1920 and 1921 at the very beginning of Euwe's career. They did not play again in a tournament until 1952 so 31 years later.

[John Moore]

I know of one other case where this record is beaten. Two well known players. There may of course be others - clearly where players had long careers.

[JustinHorton]

I can find games between Smyslov and Reshevsky in 1939 and 1991.

[Roger de Coverly]

There may of course be others - clearly where players had long careers.

I would have thought there would be many examples in the UK of players meeting in junior or university tournaments in the 1960s facing one another more recently in senior or other events, not having played one another in the meantime.

For example I played Harry Russell, now of Louth, at the BUCA (British Universities Chess Association) team tournament in March or April 1969 and then again at the Doncaster Congress of February 2016.

[John Moore]

Yes, Justin. But they played many times in between. The point is that Euwe and Kostic, for example, did not play between 1921 and 1952.

[JustinHorton]

Ah OK, apologies, got you now.

[Ian Thompson]

Can you beat this. Max Euwe played Boris Kostic three times in 1920 and 1921 at the very beginning of Euwe's career. They did not play again in a tournament until 1952 so 31 years later.

I can beat that easily, with half a dozen different opponents. My record is probably me v GM Brown, with a gap from 4 Sept 1981 to 7 April 2019 - 37.5 years.

I'd be surprised if the record gap was less than 60 years though.

[John Moore]

Ian and Roger - fair enough. I can also beat 31 years . Parhaps I should have specified GMs or clearly of GM strength. My other example is also of 2 GMs or who were clearly of GM strength

[Simon Brown]

I played Mickey Adams in the recent ECF blitz event, previous meeting was in January 1980.

[John Moore]

Simon - I didn't realise that everyone would suggest themselves! Mickey is certainly a GM - you, I am afraid, are not

[Geoff Chandler]

Recently I mistakenly reported on one with a 50 year gap. Leonard Barden corrected me. It is 52 years.

Oliver Penrose played John Littlewood at the 1950 Cambridge Open (I thought it was 1952)

The next time they met each other was at the 2002 Edinburgh congress. (Olver won both games.)

[John Moore]

Good one, Geoff. Now all you have to do is find 2 GMs or two players clearly of GM strength.

[Rewan Demontay]

Good one, Geoff. Now all you have to do is find 2 GMs or two players clearly of GM strength.

If you want strictly GM is GMish players, the 20 year gap between the 1972 and 1992 games of Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky is an obvious starter candidate.

[Simon Brown]

John, I wrote mine after seeing Ian’s offering, as I think he was there in 1980! Didn’t see yours until later, but thanks for reminding me that I’m not a GM. Probably never will be.

[Ian Thompson]

John, I wrote mine after seeing Ian’s offering, as I think he was there in 1980!

If it was the Plymouth Junior Rapidplay (16-17 Feb 1980) then I must have been there because we played!