Remembering FM Max Fuller (28-i-1945 27-viii-2013)

[John Upham]

FM Max Fuller was a leading light in English chess from late 1968 to around 1980 and a member of Lewisham Chess Club.

Here is an article about him :

https://britishchessnews.com/2020/08/27 ... viii-2013/

It was particularly sensitive of Ray Keene, in his Spectator obituary of Max, to provide a game in which Ray beat Max : a nice touch.

[NickFaulks]

It was particularly sensitive of Ray Keene, in his Spectator obituary of Max, to provide a game in which Ray beat Max : a nice touch.

And, in fact, nothing else. The "obituary" can be summarised as

"Max Fuller is dead. That's a shame. Here's how I once used my superior skills to give him a sound thrashing."

The Spectator is the only magazine to which I subscribe, but I am happy to say that I never did so while Keene was in residence.

[Simon Brown]

I remember playing darts with Max after a match at Catford Cricket Club. His technique resembled throwing a javelin, without a run-up, and he was useless.

Nice guy though.

[John Clarke]

I met Max a time or two at Bob Pentecost's "HQ" where he was staying for a time in the 70s. As Simon remarks, a nice guy, not above having a look through one of my mildly dreadful Civil Service League games with me.

Mention of Mr Keene reminds me: his chessgames.com profile could do with an update or two.

[Nick Ivell]

Let me redress the balance by showing Max's win against me. Guernsey chess festival, 4/10/76. Max was Black:

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. e5 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Bd3 cd 7. cd Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Bb5 9. 0-0 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 Ne7 12. Bg5 Nec6 13. Rac1 0-0 14. Qe3 Nd7 15. Rc3 Rae8 16. Bf6 Ne7 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. Rb3 Qd8 19. Rxb7 Nxe5 20. Rxe7 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Qxe7 22. Qc3 Rb8 23. Rc1 g6 24. b3 Qb4 25. Qxb4 Rxb4 26. Rc7 Rxd4 27. Kf1 a5 28. Ra7 Rd2 29. Rxa5 Rb2 30. Ra4 Kg7 31. g3 Kf6 32. Kg2 e5 33. Kf3 e4+ 34. Ke3 Ke5 35. h4 f5 36. f4+ Kd6 37. b4 Kc6 38. a3 Rb3+ 39. Kd4 Rd3+ 40. Ke5 e3 41. Ra6+ Kb5 42. Re6 e2 43. Kd6 Rd2 44. Ra5 Kc4 45. Kc6 d4 46. b5 d3 47. b6 Rb2 48. Rc5+ Kd4 0-1

Max was not at his best in this game, but his technique in the ending was instructive.

[Mick Norris]

Took me a couple of attempts, but think this is correct as I assume 44 is Re5 not Ra5

Ivell- Fuller, 0-1

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. e5 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Bb5 9. 0-0 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 Ne7 12. Bg5 Nec6 13. Rac1 0-0 14. Qe3 Nd7 15. Rc3 Rae8 16. Bf6 Ne7 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. Rb3 Qd8 19. Rxb7 Nxe5 20. Rxe7 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Qxe7 22. Qc3 Rb8 23. Rc1 g6 24. b3 Qb4 25. Qxb4 Rxb4 26. Rc7 Rxd4 27. Kf1 a5 28. Ra7 Rd2 29. Rxa5 Rb2 30. Ra4 Kg7 31. g3 Kf6 32. Kg2 e5 33. Kf3 e4+ 34. Ke3 Ke5 35. h4 f5 36. f4+ Kd6 37. b4 Kc6 38. a3 Rb3+ 39. Kd4 Rd3+ 40. Ke5 e3 41. Ra6+ Kb5 42. Re6 e2 43. Kd6 Rd2 44. Re5 Kc4 45. Kc6 d4 46. b5 d3 47. b6 Rb2 48. Rc5+ Kd4

[Nick Ivell]

Sorry, I meant 44. Re5. Thanks for presenting, Mick.

Max was kind enough to act as unofficial mentor to the English juniors at Guernsey.

[Mick Norris]

That's ok Nick, I thought it was an interesting game, so worth getting right