IM norm for Graham Morrison at 50

May 5, 2009

Graham Morrison became the oldest Scot to record a first IM norm by scoring 7/11 in the British National League (4NCL) which finished at the Bank Holiday weekend. Graham represents North West Eagles (he now lives in Lytham St. Annes). 4NCL site and links to games.

Graham took up the game as a schoolboy from Easterhouse in 1972 on the back of the Fischer v Spassky boom. Graham made rapid progress and took part in the World Junior Championship in 1977 and 1978 finishing an impressive 8th in the latter. He won the Scottish Championship in 1981 beating Colin McNab in a play-off. He has played in two Olympiads and two European Championships for Scotland.

He gave up chess for a decade to concentrate on his career but returned in 2003. Graham comments that for a full two years he found it very difficult to get back to his previous strength.

 

Here is one of the games which contributed to the norm. 4NCL, White: John Emms (2489), Black: G. Morrison (2328), 1 e4 c5 2 c3 d5 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 d4 e6 5 Nf3 Nf6 6 Na3 Qd8 7 Nc4 Nc6 8 Nce5 cxd4 9 Bb5 Qd5 10 c4 10 ..Qe4+ 11 Kf1 Bd7 12 Nxf7! Rg8 13 N7g5 Qf5 14 Bxc6 Bxc6 15 Nxd4 0–0–0 16 Be3 Rxd4! 17 Qxd4 Be7 18 h3 h6 Graham suggest the computer pick of 18...Rd8 19 Qxa7 Nd7! as a possibly better plan. 19 Nf3 Bxf3 20 gxf3 Qxf3 21 Rg1 21 Rh2 may keep an edge. 21...Qxh3+ 22 Ke2 Qh5+ 23 Kf1 Qh3+ 24 Ke2 Qh5+ 25 Kf1 Qh3+ Draw Agreed.

Graham provides excellent commentary for this game at www.chessvideos.tv search for “morrison”.