"Those who say they understand chess, understand nothing" -- Robert HUBNER


The London Classic 2013

: Created:23 Sep 2013 , by

Members of Ealing Chess Club have competed in this event in past years. Sadly our guys are unlikely to qualify for the last three players is in the premiership event this December.

It is a sixteen player event at the top level and Malcom Pein has done a superb job in attracting international stars Kramnik, Nakamura, Fabiano, Anand, J Polgar, Gelfand and Svidler.

I give Michael Adams a good chance in the absence of Magnus Carlsen of finishing in first place from the home guard. McShane, Short, Howell and Sadler will compete well but are in danger of finding the opposition too tough even when joined by the final three qualifiers.

Nigel Short is a veteran these days but Britain should recognise that his victory over all-time great Anatoly Karpov in their candidates match is the best achievement of a British player in the Twentieth Century. I put him above Howard Staunton who was considered the world's best player in the 1840's.