In this article we cover five games from the recent Dorset Centenary Chess Congress.
Three of the winners of these games (and indeed joint winners of their sections) are pictured below in photos taken by Brendan O’Gorman. You can see more of Brendan’s splendid photos of the event on his Smugmug page.
Richard Webb
John Belinger
Michal Orszulak
Bruce Baer vs Richard Webb
Richard Webb was the joint winner of the Open section with 4.5/5. In this game he takes over from a level position in only a few moves and quickly wraps up proceedings by winning one pawn and then another.
Thomas Trach vs Paul Kelly
Here, the players entered a fiercely complicated line which is better for Black both in theory and in practice. Nonetheless, it is easy to go wrong. On this occasion Paul Kelly, who came third in the Major, was playing Black and he did emerge victorious, ending the game with a very pretty mate.
John Belinger vs David Agostinelli
John Belinger (New Milton) came joint first in the Intermediate section. Here he gets the better of his opponent in a Sicilian Dragon.
Dinah Norman vs Chris Carpenter
Dinah Norman was British Women’s Champion in three consecutive years in the 1960s. Here, playing in the Intermediate section, she shows that she still has a sharp eye!
Michal Orszulak vs David Purle
Michal Orszulak (Southbourne and Purbeck) was joint first in the minor section. Here he showed excellent judgment in a very tricky endgame to claim the full point.
Martin Simons and Peter Anderson, 3rd May 2024
