Playing on Hallowed Ground

Have you ever been fortunate enough to play in one of those tournaments that has a rich and famous history? It is a wonderful feeling to know that you are playing in a place that has hosted the greats of the game. Some names that easily come to mind are Hastings, Wijk aan Zee, Reykjavik, Biel, Mar del Plata, Dortmund, Moscow etc. In the future, some other places might be lauded as highly such as Dubai, Isle of Man, St Louis or Khanty Mansiysk. For an amateur, it is like playing on hallowed ground, much like amateur sports fan who want to walk on the pitch of the Bernabeu, or the Lords Cricket Ground.

We also have our favourite events through the year that we like to return to. When I lived in England I always enjoyed playing at Hastings. I don't know why, as the tournament is held around the New Year period when the UK weather usually ranges from miserable to horrific. The annual Hastings Christmas tournament is over 100 years old but because of no chess during World War II, we have just had the 98th edition. This doesn't count the great events in 1895, 1919 and 1922 which were summer congresses. Maybe I will try to get to the 100th edition?

Thisyear's main event was won by the relatively unknown teenage Chinese player Haowen Xue who also gained a GM norm. It's amazing how much talent China (and India) have in chess, much like the Soviet Union in the 1950's-1980's. Haowen was the number 6 seed and scored 7/9, finishing half a point clear of a group of 6 players including young English GM Shreyas Royal, and not so young English GM Danny Gormally. My friend, FM Hugo de Melo Lux from Brazil finished a further half point back in equal 8th place. There is a great round by round report of the event on the official website.

My love for the Hastings congress, which I think I played in 5 times, extends to books. I have three books dedicated to chess at Hastings. I have A very old and battered book on the Hastings 1895 congress won by Pillsbury ahead of Lasker, Steinitz etc. I have Alekhine's annotations in the book of the 1922 six masters event, where Alekhine won his brilliant game against Bogolyubow. And I have a more recent book called the Chess Battles of Hastings by German FM Jurgen Brustkern and Norbert Wallet. This last book was published in English in 2022 and is an excellent summary of the history and culture of Hastings chess. If you want to experience some of the drama that has unfolded at Hastings in its 100+ years association with chess, be introduced to some of the great players who have graced the venue, and play through some wonderful games, then this is a great book! And no, I'm not getting a commission for anyone buying this book and saying they heard about it from this blog! I just genuinely enjoyed reading it. It isn't flawless. In fact, in an introductory section about the rise of British chess before Hastings 1895, the authors mention London 1883, and the brilliant attacking game that Zukertort played against Blackburne. They then analyse the other game that Zukertort won against Blackburne, not the Pearl of London, as it was called! I'll post the whole game in case you haven't seen it, or just head straight to move 28 where Zukertort made his immortal queen sacrifice!

By the way, I enjoyed the other Zukertort-Blackburne game that is analysed in the Hastings book, but I think it is this one that they meant!