I've tried playing with and against the Closed Sicilian. Coach Tom always plays it against my Sici. At first it frustrated me because I did not know how to play it, but eventually I got used to the technicality of the opening. Boris Spassky, my favorite World Chess Champion, inspired me to try it myself. With neither White nor Black have I had very good results. :( Maybe I need more practice, or maybe I need to study it more.
Interesting article/game, sir.
In 1975 I played in the US Booster championship in Los Angeles. My first round was a young kid named Dane Wittenberg with a 1900 rating. I got impatient, played passive, lost control of my 2nd rank, allowed him to attack my king, then I had a chance and missed perhaps a perpetual check with a Bishop sacrifice. In the endgame, he had the better position and a protected king while my pawns and king were vulnerable to his attack. I tried a Sicilian Closed variation, but didn't get much from it.