Worcester Player in Spassky Simul

By Ray Collett

"Can you provide 20 chess sets and boards?" asked the Hay-on-Wye Festival of Literature organiser when Ray Collett, prominent Worcester City player, answered the phone.

Two former world chess champions, Gary Kasparov and Boris Spassky had accepted invitations to speak at Hay-on-Wye and Spassky was also booked for a 20 game simultaneous exhibition - a 'simul' in chess-speak. Ray readily agreed to provide 20 sets and boards especially as he would have a chance to play Boris Spassky alongside two Worcestershire Juniors and Andy Moore, coach at Worcestershire Junior Chess Academy. Although the exhibition started late afternoon, Ray was told arrive before lunch-time.

The sky was leaden on the day and there was a steady drizzle as Ray set off for Hay. As he travelled west the rain poured down. Ray reduced speed to avoid aquaplaning on standing water in unfamiliar roads. As the deluge increased Ray pulled off the road to re-asses his location and reply to a phone call. The call was from Ray's 'minder' at Hay who was anxious about Ray's current 'no show'. After confirming location and giving a revised time for arrival the journey resumed and the rain got heavier. After a U-turn in Hay's narrow streets, Ray arrived near the festival site entrance and made contact with the minder. With minder on board with the 'event number' Ray was waved through the entrance and directed to a car park. The ground was sodden and Ray just made it to the trackway without sinking into the mud: he had forgotten the first rule of festival-going "bring wellies!". The Fire Brigade were in attendance pumping out the site, just about keeping pace with the rain.

Ray was ushered into the VIP loungewith the minder, hobnobbed with literary greats, managed to avoid drinking too much wine and sampled the complimentary lunch before exploring the free events on site. Then to business late afternoon. First was a meeting with a member of the Sky production team. The exhibition would be televised and there was a special Internet connection for a player based in Antarctica. It soon became apparent the the prodcution staff had not seen a simultaneous chess exhibition and were not aware of how these events are normally conducted. Ray was enlisted as their adviser on chess for event 188.

The minder navigated Ray to Booth's Bookshop for the simul. She promised to keep traffic wardens at bay while the equipment was unloaded. As soon as the job was done, the car was moved from its risky double-yellow-line position to the main village car park and Ray successfully found his way back through the narrow streets to Booth's. At the bookshop, Ray toured the shop and helped the production team set up.

The first problem was the floor area available. Booth's is cavernous, but it's packed with immovable bookshelves groaning with books. A conventional layout for a simul uses a hollow square of tables so that the chess master is inside and moves round in a constant direction from board to board to make the moves. This layout minimises the walking distance for the master and allows moves to be played as quickly as the master wishes. Unfortunatel there was no large square playing area. Instead it was decided to use the two widest corridors between bookshelves. The tables were arranged in an L-shape. Spassky would have to walk from one end back to the other so that all his opponents would have a similar time to decide their moves. Then it was realised that no one had a complete list of names or knowledge of playing strengths of the invited players. Ray explained to the production team that it was usual to arrange players in order of strength so that the master knows which opponents need to be treated more seriously. Ray was concerned: chess masters can be easily upset if playing conventions are not followed and Spassky, age 71, is no spring chicken and could tire with the extra walking.

Ray should not have been worried. Spassky is charming, a man who takes everything in his stride, and is in fine physical shape having been a serious tennis player in his prime. One of the production team successfully established the Internet link with Antarctica and Ray recommended James Friar, a Kidderminster player, to transfer Spassky's moves to Antarctica and Spassky's opponent's moves to the board at Booth's. The team had made things ready just before Spassky's arrival.

Ray explained the unusual arrangements to Spassky through Marina his wife acting as translator. Spassky was not at all put out. He was proving to be as fair minded a person as his biographers claim. Finally the production team were satisfied with the camera positions. Then, Ray was called downstairs. A person claiming to be 'Andy Moore' was asking to be let in! Andy had been held up by the bad weather and he made it just in time not to lose his place to play Spassky.

Jim Friar (Kidderminster Club) takes time out from transmitting moves to Antartica

Boris and Marina Spassky at Hay-on-Wye

Ray Collett (left-most) contemplates a poor position against Spassky.

With Andy at the board spectators were admitted. Games commenced. Ray's game began badly. He claims he was distracted by answering questions and the toing and froing that continued after play had started. Ray answered e5 to Spassky's e4 forgetting he was playing the world's greatest authority on the King's Gambit! In desperation, Ray tried Fisher's Defence: outrageous provocation! Trouble was Ray didn't know it and went immediately astray. Soon Ray was wondering if he would have to be the first to concede.

Ray was saved from this indignity when on board one there was what could have been a 'chess incident'. Spassky's opponent, an eight-year-old, had not realised he had been mated and made a further move. Spassky took the black king whereupon the crest-fallen youngster looked up asking: "Do you want another game?" Spassky was only temporarily fazed by this gaffe: simultaneous players get only one game to beat the master. Jointly the players re-set the pieces on their starting positions and started again, much to the bemusement of experienced players.

An hour into the exhibition, Spassky had already won several games and was well-placed in others. Only five opponents offered serious threats including the player from Antarctica. The strong county player sitting next to Ray at one stage appeared to have Spassky on the ropes, but the master found a saving resource. At the end, Spassky had lost to no one. He conceded four draws only and won 16 games. Notable among the players who drew was Chris Smith from King Edward VI School, Fiveways. Players and the production team were satisfied with the evening and short snippets were broadcast on Sky TV.

Links opening in new windows Score and Chris Smith's notes on his game Score and commentary on Ray Collett's losing game

Ray and remaining helpers packed up and said goodbye to Boris and Marina. After the Spassky's had left, Ray congratulated the festival organisers for bringing them to Hay-on-Wye. "Spassky is a fine ambassador for the game of chess" said Ray. Of the two great players of the 70s, Spassky and Fischer, Spassky is very much enjoying life whereas Fisher died a distrustful recluse. The difference between these two giants of the game can be summed up in their own words: Spassky, "Chess is like life"; Fisher,"Chess is life."