News archive

2017-12-06

A new institutional member

In the Netherlands the Frisian institution Tresoar has announced the ambition to found a Dutch centre for mind game collections. Recently, Tresoar, that means ‘treasure’, has applied for the institutional membership of the Ken Whyld Association (by the way the association will be formally renamed as Chess History and Literature Society at January 1^st, 2018).

Tresoar, Friesland Historical and Literary Centre, has been based in Leeuwarden, the capital of the Dutch province Friesland (English Frisia, and in the Frisian language Fryslân). Next year Leeuwarden will be the cultural capital of Europe. Tresoar is the result of the merger of the Frisian Provincial Library, the state archives of the province of Friesland and the Frisian Literature Museum and Centre for Documentation. In its meeting of November 24^th in Braunschweig the Board accepted the application of Tresoar as an institutional member, whereupon Tresoar appointed Mrs. Martha Kist as its representative.

Read more … A new institutional member

2017-11-21

Meeting in Brunswick

On Friday 24th November the viewing for the 73rd chess - auction will take place in Braunschweig, Theaterwall 17. After the official viewing in the auction room all chessfriends are invited to have some snacks and refreshments in order to get fit again for the presentation of Mr. Wolfgang Pähtz (Jena/Germany) with his brand new book about Damenschach in Ostdeutschland (see http://paehtz.eu/Veroeffentlichungen) which will start at approx. 17:30 p.m. Afterwards we've a contribution from Mr. Herbert Bastian (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Bastian) about the latest details of his recent "Chapais research".

2017-11-21

Rob Spaans: Reisgids voor Schaakliefhebbers

This book is some sort of travel guide for chess lovers. It describes more than hundred places where cultural chess motives can be found. Mostly in museums, churches and castles in The Netherlands, Germany and France. Think of extraordinary chess pieces, chess boards, chess tables, chess clocks, chess statues, chess paintings, chess tapestries, chess villages, chess mosaics, chess graves, etcetera, etcetera.

The book is in an A5 paperback format, has 328 pages, has many (black & white) pictures and sells for € 19,95.

Hopefully the most critical remark will be that the book is available only in Dutch. The title is Reisgids voor Schaakliefhebbers, which translates as "Travel guide for chess lovers".

For more information contact the author via robspaans64@gmail.com

Rob Spaans

2017-11-13

Albert & Crumiller: Carlsen vs. Karjakin

Jon Crumiller and GM Lev Alburt just have published a most interesting book on the World Championship Match between Magnus Carlsen and Sergei Karjakin last winter in New York City. As Bob van de Velde and I had the opportunity to visit that match during it´s desicive state, but also our friend Jon in Princeton, it is a nice remembrance to that trip.

The book itself offers an intriguing sight on the match and it´s background.

Michael Negele

2017-10-18

Chess players mourn IM Dr. Tamás Erdélyi

On 16 June 2017 the Hungarian grand seigneur of European chess,

IM Dr. Tamás Erdélyi,

passed away after a short, severe illness at the age of 64.

In the 80s and 90s after the fall of the Iron Curtain, he was a feared opponent at the more and more popular Central European Chess-Open. His calling, however, - for which he got a legendary reputation among chess clubs – were two other areas: On the one hand his own chess publishing house “Caissa” - for many decades there have been almost ten releases by famous authors per year – and on the other hand the chess shop linked to the publishing house which was part of almost all big European tournaments, especially in the youth sector. Despite the growing computerization of the chess sector, it was of utmost importance to him to present chess books in printed form which got more and more difficult in the last few years due to economic reasons.

2017-10-17

Meeting of Per Skjoldager, Karl Klittich, Bob van de Velde and Michael Negele in Taulov (Fredericia, Denmark) on Sunday, October 15th, 2017

Michael Negele
Karl Klittich, Bob van de Velde, Per Skjoldager and Michael Negele

Two board members and our Danish database expert met last Sunday to discuss the current state of the ToBiblion project. The meeting was joint by the interim webeditor Michael Negele, who reported on the new logo of the CH&LS and the next steps to launch the new website of the Chess History & Literature Society.

Results of this most successful meeting will be reported in due course through the website, but also at the meeting in Brunswick on 24th November, 2017. The agenda for this meeting at the eve of the 73rd auction at Klittich-Pfankuch auction house will be communicated by the board.

http://www.klittich-pfankuch.de/auktion.htm

2017-10-09

Rob Spaans is now member of the Committee of cash auditors

Rob Spaans and Bob van der Velde, Wijk aan Zee 2016

Dear Members,

I am happy to inform you that no member of the Council and no member of the Board had any objections to the appointment of Rob Spaans as financial auditor and member of the Committee of cash auditors. On the contrary, I got several very positive reactions. By consequence Rob has been appointed beginning from September 13th.

Robert van de Velde
Chairman

2017-10-06

Obituary of Romano Bellucci

Again it´s my sad duty to report about the passing of a good friend, a founding member of the Ken Whyld Association.

In late 2002 or early 2003 I got in contact with the Italian chess editor and publisher

Romano Bellucci

(* 9th July, 1940 in Rome; † 15th September, 2017 in Venice).

His wonderful magazine Scacchi e Scienze Applicate (started in 1981) was well known to me. At that time Romano, who came already during wartimes to Venice, and was a school friend of Antonio Rosino, was most enthusiastic about German chess history.

Read more … Obituary of Romano Bellucci

2017-08-28

New Literature by Jimmy Adams

KWA meeting in Norwich 2012, Jimmy Adams (on the left) and Ray Cannon

I am glad to announce the newest publication of my friend Jimmy Adams. In Norwich 2012 we talked about Gyula Breyer, and he told me, that he was working already more than 20 years on this topic. Now, five years later, I can hold his tremendously well researched The Chess Revolutionary, a book of incredible 876 pages, in my hands. Thank you, dear Jimmy, for all your efforts.

Michael Negele

2017-08-15

Meeting of the Extended board of the Ken Whyld Association

Michael Negele
Claes Lofgren, Karl Klittich, Bob van de Velde

You'll find the full report in the Member Section: Documents (Registration required)

Present:

Michael Clapham, treasurer
Bert Corneth, web editor
Karl Klittich, member of the Board
Claes Løfgren, membership secretary
Michael Negele, honorary member, (from 16:00h onwards)
Per Skjoldager, ToBiblion administrator
Bob van de Velde, chairman

Matters of Practical Importance and General Interest:

The New Name of the Association

After a lengthy discussion the decision is taken to rename the Association, namely

Chess History & Literature Society, founded as Ken Whyld Association
Abbreviation: CHLS.

The chairman will submit the new name to the Council of Representatives for approval. This approval was granted, so the new name will be considered as settled. The chairman will take care of the necessary adaptions of the Statutes of the Association.

Meanwhile this new name was agreed upon by the Council of Representatives. Consequently, the new website of the CHLS will be launched under this new name and with a new logo.

No contributions for the KWA newsletter from members or non-members have been received for many months. The question whether the CHLS should continue the publication of a separate newsletter has no urgency at the moment and will be postponed until the next meeting of the board (in November 2017). At that time the new website will function and will have provided new experiences.

2017-08-04

A Chess-enthused Chemist Writes About a Like-minded Member of the same Profession

Michael Negele
Ralf Binnewirtz, Wijk aan Zee 2015

Recently, our KWA secretary Claes Løfgren has given a short report on Michael Negele’s book presentation in Braunschweig, dealing with the just published biography of Paul Felix Schmidt (PFS).

On this occasion Claes has already provided some information on PFS by way of linked pages and files.

Meanwhile I have prepared a review of that book, destined for publication on our website. Due to Claes’ preliminary contribution, I could do without including another short biography of the eponymous hero and lay more stress on other things instead. The fine English translation of my original German text was done by Eva Regina Magacs, the coauthor of the book.

Ralf J. Binnewirtz

2017-07-28

Eva Regina Magacs, Michael Negele - Paul Felix Schmidt 'A Winning Formula'

After the welcome and introduction by chairman Bob van de Velde, Michael Negele took the rostrum for a presentation of his new book on Paul Felix Schmidt 'A Winning Formula' and its genesis. When the Schmidt project was first presented to us at the KWA meeting in October 2015 in Kiel, it was planned as a cooperation by Michael and Tony Gillam. However, disagreements between them sadly caused this plan to fail, and instead two books have appeared – a games collection with a brief biography by Tony and a thorough biography, with 12 selected games, co-written by Michael and Eva Regina Magacs, daughter of Paul Felix Schmidt.

2017-07-14

Retirement of Bert Corneth

Michael Negele
Calle Erlandsson, Bob van de Velde and Bert Corneth, June 2017

We regret to announce the retirement of Bert Corneth as our web-editor, due to personal reasons. Of course we fully respect his decision, but consider his retirement a great loss for the KWA, as he developed this newly created function since the beginning of this year with the meticulousness he was known for among many of our members. Bert had also built up a close working relationship with our webmaster Wilfried Krebbers which promised bright prospects for the future of the new website.

At the moment we are busy finding solutions for the tasks that must be fulfilled.

We wish Bert all the best for the future.

Bob van de Velde
Chairman

2017-06-28

Serafino Dubois

June 2017: The publisher Messaggerie Scacchistiche has just issued a book about Serafino Dubois, edited by our member Fabrizio Zavatarelli from Milan in Italy.

Memories of Hans Holländer

Professor Hans Holländer passed away in April at the age of 85. Even though he was not a member of the KWA, many of us are at least familiar with his name because of his numerous publications on the culture and history of chess. Andreas Saremba shares with us some highlights of his achievements and personal memories (in German language) accompanied by photographs and voice recordings. Bert Corneth translated the German text into English.

(German orginal version)

Read more … Memories of Hans Holländer

2017-04-24

New Literature by Tony Gilliam

Two more publications by Tony Gillam have appeared. The first is another booklet (number 111 already) in the series Rare and Unpublished Chess Tournaments and Matches. It covers tournaments held during 2016 in Amsterdam, Arnhem, Budapest, Utrecht and Vienna. The second is a collection of games, many with notes, of Paul Felix Schmidt, including a career record and brief biography. Schmidt was one of the world’s strongest players in the early 1940s. Please note that this is not the book originally intended. Another book on Schmidt will be published soon by Michael Negele.

More details on the two books by Tony can be found in the Members’ Publications section under Tony Gillam.

2017-04-14

Obituary of Walter Shipman

Michael Negele
Walter Shipman (r) and Andy Ansel in 2009.

On February 28^th Walter Shipman passed away at the age of 87. The friendly and popular International Master, a lawyer in his professional life, will be sadly missed. Especially our USA members may remember him participating in the KWA meeting in San Francisco in 2009.

Below is the link to a wonderful obituary, written by John Donaldson:

https://new.uschess.org/news/walter-shipman-1929-2017/

2017-03-08

Michael Negele turns 60

On February 22nd our well-known member and former treasurer Michael Negele completed his 60th year. On this occasion the President of the German Chess Association, Herbert Bastian, has dedicated a laudation to him which has been published on www.schachbund.de. It can be found at http://www.schachbund.de/news/ein-schachhistoriker-wird-60.html (in German).

Personally (and I am confident that all founding members will agree) I have witnessed that Michael has been a driving force of the Ken Whyld Association as well ever since its birth, and his achievements and the value of his efforts can hardly be overestimated. So also from my side congratulations, wishing you good health and many pleasant years to come, my dear friend.

Bert Corneth.

2017-02-26

Schach in Literatur und Kunst

Our member Siegfried Schönle from Kassel in Germany, whom many may remember from his contribution to the congress in KWA meeting Kiel, has compiled a work covering his extensive collection on the theme of chess in literature and art. The book is in German language.

Siegfried Schönle
Schach in Literatur + Kunst – vom Barock bis ins Jahr 2016.
Ein Sammlungsverzeichnis aus 25 Jahren.

Title translated: “Chess in Literature and Art – From the Baroque Era until into 2016.
A Catalogue of 25 Years Collecting”.

2017-02-09

CCI meeting in Altenburg

Frank Hoppe
Friedrich II. gegen Napoleon, Eisen um 1810/20, Königliche Eisengießerei Berlin oder/und Gleiwitz

An interesting article by Frank Hoppe (in German language) about the CCI meeting in Altenburg, can be found here: http://www.schachbund.de/news/treffen-der-schachspielesammler-in-altenburg.html

2017-02-09

Obituary of Rolf Glenk

Rolf Güldner
Rudolf Glenk on his 75th birthday

Rolf Glenk

* 12-12-1937 † 3-1-2017

An obituary by Michael Negele:

It´s always a sad duty to fulfil when a long-term chess friend passed away.

Rudolf (Rolf) Glenk (1937-2017) I met for the first time in Brunswick at the Klittich auction house in the beginning of this millenium. Soon after that, in 2002 I could visit his wife Helga and Rolf in their Franconian hometown Forchheim. This was also the year, when Jurgen Stigter had initiated the so-called "Amsterdam group", the nucleus of the Ken Whyld Association. Of course Rolf, who was already a passionate collector of chess books for decades, decided to be a founding member of our Association. Pretty clear, Rolf Glenk was more than just a member: He and his club mate Udo Güldner organized our wonderful annual assembly in 2004 in Forchheim:

General Meeting at Forchheim

Presentations during get-together in Wijk aan Zee

In addition to our earlier announcement of the informal meeting during the Tata Steel tournament at the Raindropchess shop in La Baliza (see below Informal KWA get-together during the Tata Steel chess tournament), we are pleased to let you know that there will be two brief presentations as well: Michael Negele will give an explanation about the new English language edition – in three volumes – of the Lasker book published in 2009, while Jurgen Stigter wil discuss the content of an old letter he found in Emanuel Lasker’s Manual of Chess (London 1932) with comment on Lasker himself.

2017-01-11

Rolf Glenk (*12-12-1937 †3-1-2017)

We sadly have to announce the passing of our foundation member Rudolf (Rolf) Glenk from Forchheim.

A obituary by Michael Negele will follow in due course. For some more detailed information see the announcement of the Forchheim chess Club (Udo Güldner) - in German language, only.

2017-01-09

New Website Team at the start

Michael Negele
Bob van de Velde and Wilfried Krebbers

After nearly 14 years of services as webmaster Ralf Jürgen Binnewirtz had informed the board to retire with end of 2016. As Ralf had celebrated his 65 birthday last May, his most understandable intention was inaminously accepted. In a few days my appreciation of his indispensable efforts for our Association will be filed.

Today I just want to introduce our new website team (and so two new members of the Ken Whyld Association).

2017-01-07

Informal KWA get-together during the Tata Steel chess tournament

Several KWA members have mentioned that they will attend the Tata Steel tournament in Wijk aan Zee, during the second weekend (January 21st and 22nd). They thereby follow a long standing tradition. In the ‘rich’ years of the tournament the organisers provided a dedicated space in the commentator’s tent for the KWA to meet. Unfortunately those years have gone and we had to improvise to come together, with varying success. Thanks to the efforts of our honarary member Jurgen Stigter, Jozias Hillenkamp of the Raindropchess company (www.raindropchessmedia.com) has offered to the KWA the meeting space in their chess shop La Baliza in Wijk aan Zee. This shop is only open during the tournament. There will a bar available for snacks and drinks as well.

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2017

Matters of Practical Importance and General Interest:

The New Name of the Association