Ben Yelverton
Favourite Colour: Blue, any shade will do. Pets: Two cattos that my girlfriend brought with her from the States. Hobbies other than Chess: I like to work out, mainly climbing and some calisthenics, running, and cycling. Video games are the other main time-sink. I go through phases though - during uni I used to play a lot of poker, and I was doing some DnD for a while. |
Favourite Music Band/Singer:
Rammstein take my all-time favourite that has persisted over the years, but I like a variety. Metal, industrial, EDM are my staples usually, but I've got grime, K-pop, indie, prog, and more on my Spotify list. MIA right next to The Mars Volta, Vampire Weekend right next to Mastodon Favourite Film of all time: Not really a film buff, but I have a soft spot for LotR and The Matrix franchise (yes all of them, barring perhaps the most recent reboot). Last book read (excluding Chess): Just got done with the first Hunger Games book - seen all the films, but films always miss things. Now for some Chess Stuff! When did you start playing? I was playing probably around 7 or 8 - I remember having Chessmaster 2000 on an old computer, and an electronic chess board. I was never studying or being tutored though. When did you first join a club? St John's, summer of '21. Most Memorable Chess Moment: Nothing that makes a good story - only the first impressions that are so personal. First time walking into the lion's den that is the Coachmaker's on a Thursday night, one cool summer's eve ... first club match, first county match, first congress. Why did you become interested in chess: Well I had a certain interest when I was younger, but I dabbled and began playing a little more seriously online over the lockdown, and was taken with all the new chess streaming. After my DnD group broke up, I decided to join a club and meet some people. What are your strong points and weak points? I'm not so good at blitz, preferring the rapid time control range - long games make me super tired. My tactics and mid-game are decent, but I'm not particularly specialised with my openings. I have recently mastered the bishop and knight mate, however! Don't think it's ever come up though ... [will Senthil please stand up, Ed.] Do you have a copy of your best ever win? Well this is my favourite, playing as White here, from a Rapid congress. Absolute dumpster-fire of a game on my part, with a surprising twist! 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. d4 Qxd5 5. Be2 Nc6 6. Nc3 Qh5 7. Nb5 O-O-O 8.Be3 a6 9. Nc3 e5 10. d5 Nb4 11. Ng5 Nbxd5 12. Bxg4+ Nxg4 13. Nxf7 Ndxe3 14. Qxd8# 1-0 Your aims for the future: I'd like to do more travelling, get fitter, get stronger, get better at chess. One day I want to own a goat or two, maybe some ducks. |