Ian Wells. A Lost game.

Good morning everyone!

My article on the late Ian Wells has resulted in a couple of new things coming to light, including a wonderful game, that hopefully you will enjoy.

Mr Barden tells me that part of the reason that kotov agreed to play the short match with Wells was that he, Barden, had made a comparison between Wells and the late Gordon Crown. Another chess.com historian is intending to write an article on Crown, which is something to  look forward to. 

In my article I forgot to name the full England team that went to the Viborg U-16 Olympiad - carelessness on my part! The full team was Short, Hodgson, Wells, King and Pitcher. 

John Pitcher contributed the following ( I have had no reply to my request for full permission to use it, but hopefully he has no objections!)

'I knew Ian in the 1970s as we both played in the north west congresses. I remember him as modest, thoughtful and friendly - a really lovely lad. We both played in the BCF at Chester in 1979; he in the Championship and I in the Major Open. We then both went to the Under 16 tournament in Viborg in the October with Nigel, Julian and Danny (me as the reserve to make up the numbers!!). Good memories! There is no doubt in my mind that Ian would have gone on to become a strong grandmaster.

I stopped playing chess in 1980 but remember hearing of his death with shock and sadness. RIP Ian.

I reproduce the one game we played. This was round 4 of the Manchester Open and played on 15 July 1978. We were both doing well but Ian found some nice tactics to beat me convincingly. No doubt the computer would find lots of improvements for both sides but those things weren't invented then (!).'

The game, especially given the age of the players - chess players did not develop so quickly back then! ,is a fantastic battle, and shows just how good these young guys were. I have added a few notes of my own - as always, corrections welcomed!