|
Hall of Fame - Chess Profile ... David Smith
David Smith - winner of the Individual Major Trophy |
Q When did you first pick up the chess pieces and
become interested in the game of Chess ? How old were you.
I was taught the moves by a school friend when I was twelve but soon gave up
as I 'didn't get the point of the game'. I tried again about a year later and
this time it all made a bit more sense; within a few months I was good enough
to be able to play for the school chess team.
Q Which club did you first attend and where was it ?
I joined the Stockton Chess Club when I was fourteen or fifteen. In those
days they met in the 'Lit and Phil Institute' in Dovecot Street.
Q. Who encouraged you to take up the game and play at a
competitive level. Did you have any coaching.
I can't remember any member of staff at Grangefield Grammar who was strongly
involved with chess; we pupils seemed to organise things for ourselves. I
improved by borrowing library books and buying books for myself. I remember
winning a school prize, for Geography, and being allowed to choose a copy of
Nimzovich's 'My System', no doubt to the chagrin of the Geography teacher
whose notes I had memorised so faithfully.
Q Can you remember the very first competitive game you
played? Where was it and who was your opponent ; did you win.
In my scorebooks the first game is a win against T Bowes in an away match
between Stockton and West Hartlepool in October of 1958, but I certainly had
played in school matches during the previous season.
Q What is the highest rating you have had in your chess
career and when was that?
I had a few years around 1980 when I was above 200, the highest being
208. By chance I happen to have a copy of the NCCU gradings for 1985 when the
top ten Cleveland players were Brian Smith (205), David Wise (201), Richard
Hall (200), Norman Stephenson (197), David Smith (192), Robert Shaw (187),
Tom Wise (174), Paul Gregory (173) and then two Juniors, James Akehurst (159)
and Ken Glass (158).
Q How many times have you won the Cleveland Individual
Championship- which years?
Five times, in the years 1982, 1983, 1990, 2006 and 2007; on the last
occasion I shared the title with David Baillie.
Q In chess what do you consider you best achievement
I played for England in schoolboy and student events in the period 1959
to 1963, when the standard of junior chess in this country was not all that
high. My brother Brian, who is five years younger than me, was of a
comparable standard but didn't make international teams because of the
presence of Ray Keene, Bill Hartston, Mike Basman, Andrew Whiteley and
company. In terms of tournament success my best result was to win the NCCU
Championship in 1961-62 with six straight wins. I played in the tournament as
the Durham champion and beat R.H.K.Mann of Cumberland, A.T.Wells of
Northumberland, M.J.Haygarth, playing as the defending champion, J.H.Beaty of
Yorkshire, A.F.Stobo of Cheshire and P.C.Hoad of Lancashire. I shared the
British Senior title with Norman Stephenson in 2004; as good friends ever
since our teenage years it couldn't have worked out better.
Q Whom do you consider the strongest local player you have
played, the one that gave you the most trouble.
I consider Ron Thomas, in his prime, to have been the strongest local
player of my generation. I also have a high regard for Jimmy Simpson, having
achieved only one draw in half a dozen or so games against him.
Q Have you played in the British Championships, years and
what was your best placing.
I played once in the British Championship, in 1962, finishing with 5/11.
My brother Brian also has had one appearance in the British Championship.
Q If you had the time to pursue Chess at a semi
professional level do you believe you could have achieved more.
Possibly, but it would have been at the expense of more important things.
Q Of the world champions which one has been the biggest
influence on your chess over the years.
I have enjoyed the games of practically all the great players without
ever having had any particular role model.
Q Who do you think has been the greatest player of all
time in the world.
I'd say Kasparov, particularly in terms of energy and creativity. I also
admire his decision to retire from chess in order to pursue a political
career.
Q Do you believe Classical chess has seen its best days
and what do you think of chess the way it is played today at the top level.
Has chess moved on from the 20th Century?
The abolition of adjournments and sealed moves has been a major step
forward for everyone (players, organisers and spectators). When watching top
level games on the internet I get a bit fed up with those who follow current
opening theory for an inordinate number of moves but there are some free
spirits around, like Morozevich, who can be relied on to play with
originality.
Q What was/is your main profession.
I taught for three years in Sheffield before teaching for five years in
Ghana and, briefly, in Sierra Leone. When I returned to England I did supply
teaching and also worked for about eighteen months for Cleveland Social
Services under the direction of the Social Worker for the Deaf. I was then
accepted for training as a hearing therapist but turned down the opportunity
as the eventual post on offer was in Manchester. As luck would have it I
almost immediately got a job at Marton Sixth Form College in Middlesbrough
and, after seven years, moved to an even better institution, Bede Sixth Form
College in Billingham. After nineteen years there I retired, in 2004. As a
Maths teacher I've had plenty of offers of work since I retired; currently
I'm doing five hours a week at Middlesbrough College.
Q Do you have any other hobbies/sports
I've been a jazz fan since my student days and currently lead the Jazz
Appreciation group for the Middlesbrough branch of the U3A, an organisation
that offers educational and social activities for retired people. I'm also an
active member of the U3A History group.
02/11/09 - David Smith playing for Middlesbrough A |
From the Evening Gazette in the summer of
1962
|
|