The St John's Chess Club of Norwich
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Brian Cunningham


Picture
Favourite Colour: Green. Like the old emerald isle, and the colour of spring and my jealous rages.
 
Football team: Wherever I happen to live. So currently Norwich City, previously Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons, Tottenham . I'm not tribal: I like Spurs and Arsenal and grew up on the borderlands between the two. When I was a little lad, Wolves, because I wanted to be a wolf.​

​Pets:
Previously, Ben (Border Collie) for 18 years, then Bonnie ( ex-racing Greyhound for 13 years - racing name Four Candles). My god I want another dog so much, but I guess I want my wife more.


Sport:
Does fishing count? Or chess? Nothing that could be counted as exercise. I follow the advice of Churchill (paraphrased): Never run if you can walk, never walk if you can stand still, never stand if you can sit, never sit if you can lie down.

 
Beer:
Lager in the summer, ale in the winter, Guinness when in Ireland or at a wedding. Simple.

 
The First World War:
I am using Crumpton's entry as a template here, and assume I must say something about WW1. OK, I will. Shouldn't have happened. Dammed Austro-Hungarians and Serbians - what were they playing at?

 
Marital status:
Married for 40 odd years. Remarkably happy. The secret? Ahh!

 
Favourite music/band/singer:
Gosh, that's difficult. Probably David Bowie.

 
Favourite film:
1. Paris, Texas 2. Dances with Wolves, 3. Shenandoah,

 
Last book read (excluding chess):
Miracles of Life, Autobiography of J G Ballard.

 
Favourite holiday destination:
Cuba, Havana is my heaven. Russia: before we were at war with them.


When did I start playing chess:
In 1972 as a certain match was being played out in Reykjavik.

 
When did I first join a club:
My first chess club was Wood Green in North London when I was 13 years old and long before they started paying all the grandmasters!

 
Most memorable chess moment:
A win at the Bradford Chess Congress which was subsequently nominated for a brilliancy prize (though actually relied on my opponent making all the right moves): 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 Nbd7 4.e3 h6 5.Bh4 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.Nbd2 c5 8.Bxf6 Nxf6 9.Bb5+ Nd7 10.Ne5 Bc8 11.Qf3 f6 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qxg6#

 
Worst chess moment:
A nine move loss to Bruce Carman: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bd3 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Nf3 0-0 7.h4 c6 8.Bxh7+ Kxh7  9. Ng5+ Resigns.

 
Funniest chess moment:
Playing drunk blitz with Gerry, Crumpton, Richard and Andrew at my house following a Christmas feast and a couple of bottles of brandy!

 
What are your strong and weak points:
Strong: My endgame play is getting stronger with practice and I don't tend to panic under pressure. Weak: I'll take a draw at the drop of a hat!

 
Do I have a copy of my best ever win:
​Yes, It was probably against Christine Li of the UEA who outgraded me by over 50 points.
​

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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Joining
    • Venue
    • Directions
    • Contact
    • Officials
    • Constitution
    • Links
  • News
    • News
    • Fixtures 19/20
  • REPORTS
    • On Tour
    • Crusaders
    • Bishops
    • Templars
    • Knights
    • Knaves
  • COMPS
    • Longplay 19/20
    • Rapidplay 19/20
    • Ladders 19/20
    • Blitz 19/20
    • Online
    • Archive
  • MEMBERS
    • Rankings
    • Profiles
    • Games
    • Analysis
    • Tactics
    • How To ...
  • GALLERY
    • Photos
    • Video
    • Songs
    • Cartoons
    • Quotes
    • 'Poetry'
  • HISTORY
    • St Johns
    • Honours
    • In Memoriam
    • WEBMASTERS
    • AGM Minutes