Blayney Chess Club    2007 NSW Country Reserve Team Champions   

GM Ian Rogers' visit to Blayney

Sunday’s visit by Grandmaster Ian Rogers was definitely a bright spot for the 20 enthusiasts that showed up to take in the day’s activities. After an entertaining lecture where GM Rogers gave all present valuable insights into the games of the current World Cup, he also enthralled them with many personal accounts that gave a rare insight into the characters of these super grandmasters that the normal chess follower isn’t privy to. It was actually hard to decide which the audience enjoyed more, the actual games or the insights into the characters and happenings of chess at the elite level.

Then Australia’s Nr 1 Grandmaster enthralled those present in a display that all present found truly amazing. While blindfolded and unable to see any of boards, GM Rogers played three opponents at the same time. Only being told the moves that were occurring on each board in order, GM Rogers proceeded to play Kurt Fearnley, Evan Stroeve, and Alicia Bourke, in tandem with her twin sister Cynthia.  For those needing an introduction, Kurt Fearnley is the Para Olympian and dual New York Marathon winner, along with many other numerous events, and was our special guest for the day, Alicia and Cynthia Bourke were the minor celebrities, they qualified after having done some exhibition work as part of Heath Harris' Girls, Girls, Girls, equestrian trick riding team. Evan Stroeve bravely volunteered to be the third celebrity when we were shorthanded. Alicia Bourke set the mood with her witty question of, "What is this piece called?", but in the end everyone was asking "How did he do that!" It was a strange event, as even the opponents were simply overwhelmed by the sheer brilliance being shown by GM Rogers in accounting for them one by one. The pictorial proof of this is in the photos of the event, I doubt you will ever see anyone so happy to be staring at an unavoidable mate in two loss as Evan Stroeve was! The audience were spellbound as they contemplated the incredible nature of what they were witnessing. Mere chess mortals are happy if they can even remember the first six moves of a known opening, and if they played two games at once would be in danger of transposing moves from one board to the other even though they were looking at them, yet here was one player playing three games not even having a glimpse of one of them. It is a feat that is inconceivable to the mind of an ordinary player and makes everyone appreciative of just how much work and effort that chess Grandmasters put in to the game to reach these illustrious heights of achievement. Being left as the last man standing, marathon ace, Kurt Fearnley, threatened that he was able to sit there all night to outstay him, but this didn’t faze the Grandmaster. It was Grandmaster Rogers 3, Celebs 0. Every one in attendance was in simple awe of this feat and many remarked that to see it was worth the price of the day’s admission alone. Kurt Fearnley was generous in his praise of the effort he just witnessed, as we often are when we read and see Kurt's accomplishments being relayed in the media, and it was nice to see two gentlemen who excel in their chosen pursuit appreciative of each other's exceptional talent.

Then GM Rogers proceeded to account for 18 opponents in a more standard simultaneous exhibition. Though all the players were trying their damnedest to beat him, one by one the tally grew to where at the end of the day the score stood at 18 - zip in favour of the Grandmaster. Once again, most were simply appreciative of having witnessed such chess skill up close and personal. Everyone went home satisfied that they had made the effort to participate on the day and looking forward to any similar events conducted by Blayney Chess Club.

The President of Katoomba Chess Club, Glynn Curran, was very glad to have made the trip. He was awarded the book prize by Grandmaster Rogers as the best game of the day and went home very satisfied at having established some new friends and renewed acquaintances with some old ones. Eleven of the games are available for your viewing pleasure.

A mark of the magnetic drawing power of GM Ian Rogers is best illustrated by the presence of two players, one from nearby Bathurst who hadn't played for over 20 years, and is unknown to any of the current membership of the Bathurst Chess Club who had read about the event and made the trip up especially for it, and a real blast from the past, was the presence of Ian Lincoln, a man who stands in local chess lore as one of the best organiser's the area has ever known and was thought by many to be still living in Adelaide was drawn back to the game of chess by this opportunity of re-meeting Ian Rogers and in a real bonus, Ian is looking to get back into chess in a limited capacity and it can only be a bonus to have a man of his talents back in the fold.

This is the 2nd of these events that Blayney Chess Club has conducted and they definitely will not be the last! They are simply a great day, fun for all involved, with some learning thrown in as an added bonus. We are indeed blessed to have 2 of the 4 GM's in Australia located in NSW and near enough to our locale to make these days feasible. Both GM Antic and GM Rogers are fantastic in their instruction and interaction with those participating. It is hard to speak highly enough of both gentlemen's great ability as chess players, their delightful manner, their professionalism in making these days simple and easy for an organiser, and our thanks go fully to them for the lasting memories that they have helped Blayney Chess Club create for all those that took the opportunity of attending either day.

(photo taken by Denis Jessop)

Send mail to philwillb@bigpond.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 15-08-08