1976 London Central YMCA, 27 August - 5 September

1976 London Central YMCA Tournament		Nat'y	Elo	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Total
1	Fuller,Maxwell L	AUS	2320	&;	½	0	½	1	½	1	1	1	1	1	7½
2	Law,Andrew P	ENG		½	&;	1	0	½	1	½	1	1	½	1	7
3	Povah,Nigel Edward	ENG	2300	1	0	&;	1	½	0	1	½	1	1	1	7
4	Rumens,David E	ENG	2330	½	1	0	&;	½	1	0	½	1	½	1	6
5	Yedlin,Isidoro	ARG		0	½	½	½	&;	½	1	1	0	1	½	5½
6	Adams,James Bernard	ENG		½	0	1	0	½	&;	½	½	½	½	½	4½
7	Macdonald-Ross,Michael	ENG	2280	0	½	0	1	0	½	&;	1	0	½	½	4
8	James,Geoffrey H	ENG		0	0	½	½	0	½	0	&;	1	1	½	4
9	Franklin,Michael J	ENG	2325	0	0	0	0	1	½	1	0	&;	½	1	4
10	Ludgate,Alan Templeton	IRL	2255	0	½	0	½	0	½	½	0	½	&;	½	3
11	Kerr,Duncan	ENG		0	0	0	0	½	½	½	½	0	½	&;	2½

Approximate estimated Elo ratings from this tournament: A Law 2420; I Yedlin 2315; J Adams 2250; G H James 2220.

BCM, November 1976, p471 (by Jimmy Adams): "This event was held on YMCA territory over the period 27 August - 5 September 1976. It was designed to get new players on the Elo rating list whilst helping players already with Elo ratings to improve their gradings. In both these respects the tournament achieved the desired results. Law, Yedlin, James and Adams all did enough to qualify for entry on the next Elo list — only 18-year-old Duncan Kerr failed to get the required 4 points or more necessary for this.

"Mike Wills, YMCA secretary and one of the top organisers in British chess, ensured that the tournament was run smoothly and successfully. The whole thing cost about £350 to run, the money being necessary not only for prizes but also for expenses both for the organisation and the players. The Friends of Chess, London Chess Club and London Chess Congress all gave cash towards the event and every non-Elo-rated player paid an entrance fee to boost the capital.

"It is to be hoped that the YMCA’s example can be followed and other clubs stage this kind of event. A big bulletin containing all the games, half of which were annotated, was published by the YMCA and here are two exciting encounters with my notes from that publication." [Ludgate-Rumens, Fuller-Franklin]

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CHESS, October 1976, Vol.42, no.s 755-56, p16 (also by Jimmy Adams): "Though there are now more than 40 English players in the Elo rating list and about half a dozen each from Scotland, Ireland and Wales, Elo tournaments in this country are still relatively rare.

"The London YMCA event, held mainly over the weekends of 27-30 August (bank holiday) and 3-5 September, was only the fourth such rated tournament held in England this year, the others being Hastings, Birmingham and the Robert Silk.

"The contest was held in a small but secluded room in the YMCA building. Conditions were perfectly satisfactory and the silence was punctuated only by an occasional roar from the busy London West End traffic outside.

"In addition to the YMCA thanks must also be given to the Friends of Chess, London Chess Club and London Chess Congress, all of whom contributed cash towards the event. This, in conjunction with the entry fees from all the non-Elo players, helped to build up a prize fund and pay for the players’ expenses. All in all the tournament cost about £350 to run and it is doubtful whether it could have been done much more cheaply.

"The chief controller was YMCA secretary Mike Wills, who has already established himself as a major organiser and promoter of London chess. And not to forget Richard James of Richmond Chess Club who did a small amount of controlling but, more important, encouraged three of his best players to compete in the tournament. Richard is as dedicated to Richmond as Mike Wills is to the YMCA and Richmond’s three representatives, Franklin, James and Law clearly enhanced the value of the contest.

"Though the tournament had been blueprinted several months before, the final line-up was not announced until a little while before the event started. Most of the players had given their definite say-so during the British Championship at Portsmouth but a late withdrawal by one of the Elo players did cause some headaches until a replacement was found at the last minute.

"As the tournament table shows, Max Fuller emerged as tournament winnei closely followed by Nigel Povah and Andrew Law. Also as a result of their performances here, Law, Yedlin, Adams and James win qualify for an Elo rating when the next list comes out in January 1977.

"The tournament went by smoothly and pleasantly. This was due to Mike Wills’s great experience of chess organisation and the fact that the players got along well together.

"Before coming to some interesting games from the tournament, here are a few quote from the players.

Max Fuller “No – on principle”. In reply to a request to play off his winning adjourned game with Michael Franklin —after a drinking session.

Andrew Law “I was watching your face—it didn’t move—it stayed on the queen’s side.” Explaining to Adams why he got mated on the other half of the board.

Nigel Povah “I can’t count.” After accidently repeating a favourable position three times against Geoff James.

Dave Rumens “There are too many bloody variations.” While trying to analyse his game against Franklin in time trouble.

Isidoro Yedlin “He gave me the white bishop, I got into the white squares . . . and I mated him.” Cutting a long story short in describing his game against Ludgate.

Jimmy Adams “I’m the favourite ... to come last.” On nervously looking at the list of competitors before the first round.

Michael Macdonald-Ross “If you’re going to hold an Elo tournament then run it like an Elo tournament.” After discovering to his horror that the tournament had run out of scoresheets.

Geoff James “I get mated.” On being asked by Adams why he didn’t accept Max Fuller’s knight sacrifice.

Michael Franklin “So far you haven’t played one move I’ve expected.” Whilst in the heat of a mind-boggling, head-spinning, Rumens attack.

Alan Ludgate “I'm usually happy to draw with black.” Having drawn every game with black in the tournament—a very happy man indeed?

Duncan Kerr “Don’t publicize this tournament—I want to get into the Hastings Challengers.” On being asked by Adams to annotate a game for the tournament bulletin.

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File Updated

Date	Notes
1 May 2008	First uploaded to BritBase with 55 games, zipped file. Thanks to Ray Cannon for keying in the games and sending me the file.
29 September 2021	Added crosstable and info.