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Botvinnik in Scotland - 1967
From the Scottish Chess Association Bulletin No. 22 for January - May 1967, page 3.
For two days in January, Scotland was honoured with the presence of one of the greatest chessplayers, former World Champion Dr. M.M. Botvinnik. In an exhibition of superb skill and fitness, Botvinnik faced fifty Scottish opponents in two simultaneous displays.
The first display, held on Friday 13th January in the McLellan Galleries in Glasgow, was organised on a large scale by Gerald Bonner, Peter Watson and Hugh Holmes. Advance publicity in the Glasgow Herald and Evening Citizen, together with the appearance of Botvinnik with Gerald Bonner on Scottish Television's "Here and Now" just before the display, produced over 300 spectators, one of the largest audiences of his tour. Botvinnik's score was 19 wins, 4 draws with J.A. Johnstone, B.B. Partridge, E.I. Stevenson and L.J. Stirling and 2 losses to C.H. Brisebois and M.J. Brodie - 84%. Reports - with photographs - were published in the Daily Mail" and Glasgow Herald.
This photograph was taken from the balcony at the MacLellan Galleries in Sauchiehall Street
on 13th January 1967, and shows Botvinnik about to begin the simultaneous display.
He is talking to Gerald Bonner, whose brother Edward stands to his left. Ted Fitzjames is seated behind Gerald, Michael Freeman is behind Botvinnik, with Miss Hogarth standing to his left.Photo courtesy of Michael Freeman
There follows a detailed list of opponents, and an image of a programme signed by Botvinnik.
These were kindly supplied by one of the players, D.B.A. (Bryan) Hunter.
Glasgow Simultaneous Display
Friday, 13 January 1967B.W. Allan Griffin D.S. Beaton Cathcart M.J. Brodie Jewish Institute C. Chisholm Shawlands Academy C.H. Brisebois Glasgow D.H. Dempster Ayr Academy E. Fitzjames Howden M.J. Freeman Cathcart Miss L.M. Hogarth Ladies' D.B.A. Hunter Cathcart D.M. Jenkins Polytechnic J.A. Johnstone Griffin G.W.G. Livie Police J. Lumsden Ayr Academy K.B. McAlpine Glasgow University A.K. Miller Jewish Institute R. Mongredien Glasgow M. O'Neill Bellarmine Sec. B.B. Partridge Cathcart Miss K. Patterson Bellarmine Sec. I. Russell Cathcart E.I. Stevenson Ayr Academy L.J. Stirling Clackmannan Co. J. Sutcliffe Police D. Watt Glasgow University
Botvinnik's opponent in the photo has not been identified (James Lumsden?)
The two players visible across the room are (l-r) L.J. Stirling (board 23) and James Sutcliffe (24).
Photo by J.B.W. Robertson.
Two photographs provided by Kathleen Patterson (later Hindle), playing on board 20.
Beside her is Bernard Partridge, editor of the High School of Glasgow Bulletin.
In the top photo, those watching her game are thought to be I. Russell (Cathcart CC) and
E.I. Stevenson (Ayr Academy) on boards 21 and 22.
Stan Beaton, nearest camera, of (Cathcart CC) on board 2
Photo provided courtesy of Mrs Eileen Beaton, wife of the late Stan Beaton
Bellshill Chess Club
The second display was organised by the Bellshill Chess Club in Bellshill's Community Centre. Despite the exertions of the Glasgow display the previous evening, Botvinnik scored 94% - 22 wins and 3 draws - Mrs S.M. Steedman, J. Crossan and J. Mooney - in about three hours play. The display was watched by 120 spectators - a tribute to to the organisation of the relatively small club.
A welcome innovation for a simultaneous display was the setting up of a bookstall by Mr B.H. Wood, Editor of CHESS, who, accompanied by his wife, was touring with Dr. Botvinnik.
One of Botvinnik's unfulfilled wishes was to visit the birthplace of Robert Burns which, in the time available, could not be arranged but he was given a book of Burns's poetry at each display as a memento of his visit.
Time was found, however, for Botvinnik to visit Scotland's biggest strip mill and to visit the birthplace of Keir Hardie when he was accompanied by two local M.P.'s who also attended the opening ceremony at Bellshill.
Born in August 1911 in Leningrad, Botvinnik was an International Master at the age of 16 and a Grandmaster at 24! In 1948, he won a quadruple round tournament for the World Championship, a title he was to keep until his loss to Petrosian in 1963, except for 1957 and 1960 when he lost the title to Smyslov and Tal respectively only to regain it the following year.
Those who saw the genial genius will not forget.
Additional note: Chess, March 1967, page 152, reported that the spectators in Glasgow each paid 2s 6d to watch, and each of Botvinnik's opponents paid £2 to play.
The following game was sent by Mel Burt of Bearsden CC. He was given the score by Alan Mongredien, son of Ronald Mongredien, now deceased. (See also Dr Euwe.)
Botvinnik - Ronald Mongredien - Glasgow (Simultaneous display), 13.01.1967 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bf4 Bb4 7.e3 a6 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.0-0 h6 10.Rc1 0-0 11.a3 Be7 12.Bb1 Ne8 13.Ne5 Bg5 14.Bxg5 Qxg5 15.f4 Qe7 16.Qd3 Nf6 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.e4 g6 19.e5 Nh7 20.Na4 Rb8 21.b4 Qe8 22.Nc5 Ra8 23.Nb3 a5 24.Nxa5 Ba6 25.Qh3 Bxf1 26.Rxf1 Kg7 27.g4 Rg8 28.Qc3 Qd7 29.Kh1 Rgc8 30.Bd3 c5 31.dxc5 Qc7 32.Rc1 Ra7 33.a4 Rca8 34.Bb5 Nf8 35.Nc6 Rxa4 36.Bxa4 Rxa4 37.Nd4 Nd7 38.Ra1 Rxa1+ 39.Qxa1 Nxc5 40.bxc5 Qxc5 41.Qb2 Qc7 42.Kg2 Qd7 43.f5 gxf5 44.gxf5 exf5 45.Qf2 Kf8 46.Qxf5 Qe7 47.Qc8+ Qe8 48.Qxe8+ Kxe8 adjudicated a win for White. 1-0
Ken Stewart has kindly provided his game from the Bellshill display.
M.M. Botvinnik - Ken Stewart [B52] Simultaneous Display, Bellshill, 14.01.1967
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.a4 Qc7 5.0–0 Nf6 6.Re1 Nc6 7.Nc3 e6 8.d3 Be7 9.Bg5 0–0 10.h3 a6 11.Bxc6 Bxc6 12.Bf4 Nd7 13.Qd2 b5 14.b3 Bf6 15.Rab1 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 bxa4 17.bxa4 e5 18.Bg3 Bxa4 19.Nd2 Bb5 20.Qa3 Rfe8 21.Rb2 Ra7 22.Ra1 Rb8 23.f4 f6 24.fxe5 fxe5 25.Nf1 Bc6 26.Rxb8+ Qxb8 27.Ne3 Nf8 28.Qa2+ Kh8 29.Rb1 Qd8 30.Nf5 a5 31.Bh4 g5 32.Be1 Be8 33.Bc3 Bf7 34.Qa1 Ng6 35.Rb5 Be6 36.Rxa5 Rxa5 37.Bxa5 Qf8 38.Ne3 Nf4 39.Qd1 Qh6 40.Qf3 Kg8 41.Bc7 Qf8 42.Nf5 Bxf5 43.exf5 Qe7 44.Qa8+ Kg7 45.Qb8 Ne2+ 46.Kh2 Qf6 47.Bxd6 Qxf5 48.Bxe5+ Kf7 49.Qc7+ Ke8 50.Qxc5 1–0
Compiled by Alan McGowanupdated 11/1/2024
