Looking back to 1983
We are now in George Orwell's 1984 and I would like to look back to 1983 in the chess world.
The highlight of the year undoubtedly was the World Championship semi-finals in London. Player of the year was Gary Kasparov, only 20, whose victory below in his ninth game with Korchnoi virtually clinched his place in the year's Challenger's Final, against 62-year-old Vassily Smyslov. Smyslov's comeback compares only to Emanuel Lasker in 1924.
In Ireland, 1983 was dominated by American Paul Whitehead, winner of at least seven tournaments. Best Irish players was David Dunne (Rathmines), 1983 Irish Champion at Castlebar, and, along with Paul Delaney, a FIDE master. "Well-dunne," David!
The most improving young players in Ulster at various levels last year were Damien Artt, Thomas Brown and Roger Beckett. CIYMS was the best club, while Civil Service was the newest club. Patrick Lambe suffered the most puns in the column.
1984 should be an exciting year for chess with the World Championship, with the Irish Championship coming north to Newcastle in July, and with "Rookie" reliably reporting relevant results, with a little repartee thrown in.
