International Master Gavin Wall has been Richmond’s top board for many years. For Covid-related reasons it’s been some time since he last gave a simultaneous display so it was great to welcome him back.

The evening was very successful. Gavin took on 16 opponents, alternating colours. He won 12 games, drew 2, to Andrew Hebron and Simon Illsley, and lost two, to TVA player of the season Maks Gajowniczek and teenage star Paul Bennett.

It was good to welcome Simon back: he had been a contemporary of Gavin at Richmond Junior Club back in 1977 and we hope he’ll be playing for us next season.

Here’s Maks’s win:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Qa4 d6 7. e5 dxe5 8. Nxe5 Bd7 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bc4 Bg7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf4 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Bb5 Bxb5 15. Qxb5 e6 16. c3 Qb6 17. a4 Rfc8 18. Rfd1 Rc4 19. Be3 Qc7 20. Qa6 Be5 21. g3 h5 22. Rd3 Rc6 0-1

Here’s Gavin as the display is about to begin. You’ll find more photographs in the Gallery.

If you enjoyed this event, you might be interested in a similar event hosted by our neighbours at West London Chess Club next month:

On Wednesday 6th July West London Chess Club will host a simultaneous exhibition by grandmaster Alexander Cherniaev (rated 2445). Alexander will take on all comers at the Chiswick Town Hall (upstairs Committee Room) from 7:30 p.m.  Alexander became an international master in 1993 and a grandmaster in 2004. He has lived in the UK since 1999 and is the author of books on The Old Indian and Samisch Kings Indian openings as well as biographies of chess masters David Janowski and Harry Pillsbury.  The fee for players will be £15. It is not every day that you get to play a grandmaster, so if you want to secure a place then please contact me and I reserve you a place. First come, first served.  Andy Hayler Secretary West London Chess Club email: andy@andyhayler.com