Last Saturday, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in London organized a simultaneous exhibition as part of their centenary celebrations. Ten top English players (GMs Michael Adams, Luke McShane, David Howell, Gawain Jones, Stephen Gordon, Jon Speelman, Julian Hodgson, Nick Pert, Simon Willams and IM/WGM Jovanka Houska) played against 100 players arranged into 10-player teams.
By John SaundersRoyal Automobile Club Centenary Celebration 100 Board Simultaneous Chess Exhibition
This year the Royal Automobile Club celebrated the centenary of its Pall Mall Clubhouse and the 1911 founding of its Chess Circle with a 100 board simultaneous display held on Saturday 16 April 2011 at the Clubhouse in Pall Mall.In a truly unique format, ten of Britain’s highest-rated grandmasters took part: Mickey Adams, Luke McShane, David Howell, Julian Hodgson, Gawain Jones, Nick Pert, Stephen Gordon, Jon Speelman, Simon Williams and Jovanka Houska.
Standing, L-R: Jon Speelman, Luke McShane, Gawain Jones, David Howell, Simon Williams; sitting, L-R: Stephen Gordon, Julian Hodgson, Jovanka Houska, Michael Adams and Nick Pert
The grandmasters took on ten teams of ten players drawn from the members of the Royal Automobile Club Chess Circle, the leading players from the other London Club teams that compete for the Hamilton Russell Trophy, ex-Varsity players and two teams of juniors – one from the English Chess Federation and one drawn from Chess in Schools and Communities (a charity with a mission to promote chess in state schools and communities).Three rounds were played (of one hour per game), with the grandmasters being repaired with teams after each round. Where games were still unfinished after one hour, Grandmaster Ray Keene officiated as adjudicator.
The start of the simul
The grandmasters’ scores were as follows: Stephen Gordon 29 (out of 30), Mickey Adams, David Howell, Nick Pert 27½, Gawain Jones, Luke McShane, Jon Speelman 27, Simon Williams 26, Julian Hodgson 25½, Jovanka Houska 23, making a total of 267 points.The organisers were Stephen Meyler, Sheldon Marshall (both of the RAC Club) and Malcolm Pein, director of the London Chess Classic.The arbiter was David Sedgwick. Commenting on the day’s play, David said: “To my mind, Matthew Wadsworth was the star of the day. He played three members of the England Olympiad team (Gawain Jones, David Howell and Mickey Adams) and got a win and two draws. Mention should also be made of Grandmaster Stephen Gordon for his magnificent 29/30.”The Royal Automobile Club Chess Circle has a very distinguished playing record of its own. Since 1924, it has competed with other London clubs for the Hamilton-Russell Challenge Trophy which it has won more times than any other club. It also has regular fixtures with teams both in the USA, France and Gibraltar.
The Royal Automobile Club' first team
Some of the games
Game viewer by ChessTempoOne of the murals at the Royal Automobile Club
Nick Pert and Stephen Gordon pondering over some next moves
Stephen Gordon, Jovanka Houska, David Howell, Terry Chapman and Simon Williams
A junior chess squad taking part
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Last Saturday, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in London organized a simultaneous exhibition as part of their centenary celebrations. Ten top English players (GMs Michael Adams, Luke McShane, David Howell, Gawain Jones, Stephen Gordon, Jon Speelman, Julian Hodgson, Nick Pert, Simon Willams and IM/WGM Jovanka Houska) played against 100 players arranged into 10-player teams.By John SaundersRoyal Automobile Club Centenary Celebration 100 Board Simultaneous Chess Exhibition
This year the Royal Automobile Club celebrated the centenary of its Pall Mall Clubhouse and the 1911 founding of its Chess Circle with a 100 board simultaneous display held on Saturday 16 April 2011 at the Clubhouse in Pall Mall.In a truly unique format, ten of Britain’s highest-rated grandmasters took part: Mickey Adams, Luke McShane, David Howell, Julian Hodgson, Gawain Jones, Nick Pert, Stephen Gordon, Jon Speelman, Simon Williams and Jovanka Houska.
