Spassky v BCF Junior Squad (1979)

[Michael Bennett]

For anyone who might be interested, I found this newspaper cutting and info online, about this simultaneous at Highbury Grove School in 1979:

http://nezhmet.wordpress.com/2007/11/28 ... n-a-simul/

I remember it made the news twice that day on TV - I assume that it was the bit with London news.

[Alex Holowczak]

Spassky played a simul at Hay-on-Wye a year ago, and a friend of mine was one of 5 players to draw against him. His opponents were mainly promising juniors and celebrities. There was a link to a game played on a board in Antarctica.

[Leonard Barden]

You got on the team because you were British U14 champion, Michael. Stuart Conquest was board 29 of 30 and lost to a nice attack by Spassky against his Grunfeld.We ran six 25-30 board simultaneous displays together that day, the others being by Evgeny Vasyukov and Alexander Kochiev who had been competing in the Hastings Premier, Murray Chandler, Harry Golombek who was celebrating 50 years since he became London Boys Champion, and (I think) Dave Rumens. We really had junior strength in depth then! Two juniors who had to play the second simul against Vasyukov came to me and complained bitterly that they should have been chosen for Spassky. Remembering that Bob Wade used to say that jealousy is the most powerful motivator for juniors, I took careful note of who the pair were. They were Jonathan Levitt and Joe Gallagher, who both became GMs.....

[Greg Breed]

For anyone who might be interested, I found this newspaper cutting and info online, about this simultaneous at Highbury Grove School in 1979:

http://nezhmet.wordpress.com/2007/11/28 ... n-a-simul/

I remember it made the news twice that day on TV - I assume that it was the bit with London news.

You see... coverage like that would catch my attention if I was a youngster and would spur me on to reach the same levels in the hope of also appearing in the paper alongside a legend. If only Chess were taken as seriously now as it was back then by the general public. We all know whose job that is and how abysmal they are at it at the moment...

[Michael Bennett]

Hi Leonard,

It was really nice to meet you again at the London Classic, and thank you very much for taking the time to write a dedication to my son in your book - he really liked that when he saw it!

I found this game from the Spassky simul - the win by Gary Lane:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1077100

All the best,
Michael