Private Eye

Discuss anything you like about chess related matters in this forum.
Post Reply
James Pratt
Posts: 741
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:10 pm

Private Eye

Post by James Pratt » Thu Oct 22, 2026 1:48 pm

No. 1682 of the Eye contains a quick article on Raymond Keene.

It is about AVICENNA DOCTORATE AWARDS not that I got you understand. The award ceremony was last June so don't get your hopes up. The actual gong is named after, I should have got you to guess, a 10th Century Muslim physician, household name in the more refined end of the Churchill Room perhaps, which is where these things get handed out, it says here.
Private Eye asked how much it was to come and watch but was ignored. RDK's company is quoted as Ambitions Fulfilled ...
James

User avatar
JustinHorton
Posts: 10585
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:06 am
Location: Somewhere you're not

Re: Private Eye

Post by JustinHorton » Thu Oct 22, 2026 5:37 pm

This was briefly alluded to here: that issue came out a couple of months ago. The matter referred to in the Eye is discussed earlier on that thread.
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

User avatar
Gerard Killoran
Posts: 1323
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:51 am
Contact:

Re: Private Eye

Post by Gerard Killoran » Sat Oct 24, 2026 5:01 pm

A blast from the past

Private Eye Magazine 646, 1986-09-19.png
Private Eye Magazine 646, 1986-09-19.png (664.16 KiB) Viewed 487 times
A 'miserable worm' - Nigel Short

User avatar
Matt Mackenzie
Posts: 6413
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:51 pm
Location: Millom, Cumbria

Re: Private Eye

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Sat Oct 24, 2026 5:11 pm

ISTR that Mr Thurlow of this parish had a RDK related letter published in the Eye around that time.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

User avatar
Gerard Killoran
Posts: 1323
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:51 am
Contact:

Re: Private Eye

Post by Gerard Killoran » Sat Oct 24, 2026 5:12 pm

And counterblast


Private Eye Magazine 648, 1986-10-17.png
Private Eye Magazine 648, 1986-10-17.png (606.86 KiB) Viewed 476 times
A 'miserable worm' - Nigel Short

John Townsend
Posts: 1452
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2010 8:26 pm

Re: Private Eye

Post by John Townsend » Sat Oct 24, 2026 6:25 pm

There is a list of Raymond Keene's appearances in "Private Eye" at https://keenipedia.com/press

User avatar
Matt Mackenzie
Posts: 6413
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:51 pm
Location: Millom, Cumbria

Re: Private Eye

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Sat Oct 24, 2026 7:12 pm

In fairness Spanier's best known book* (Total Chess) is a pretty decent read - even if 40 years later it hasn't all aged amazingly well.

(*to us anyway, whilst not terrifically strong at chess he was a very proficient poker player)
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Post Reply