DECEMBER 1997
THE ACF
BULLETIN # 270
Marion arrived at Heathrow during a driving rainstorm, in the he early afternoon May 10th: met by a contingent of the London Draughts officials, including John O'Connor, Tom Westlake, and Wally Hicks, along with several local fans.
Escorted to his hotel for a late lunch, and after unpacking, he said he reclined for a "brief nap", instead of staying up to help beat the time zone change and jet lag, and didn't awaken till almost midnight!, but managed to get back on track the following day.
The long awaited match commenced at 2 PM on May 12th, delayed by press ad interviews. It was played in a small smoke-grimed room in the he bleak St. Bridges Institute in midtown London near Ludgate Circus. The building suffered extensive damage in WW 2 bombing and was still undergoing repairs in the upstairs rooms: stoically endured by both players.
On May 24th, I received an air-letter from Marion, dated May 17th from London. He said in part, "We have now completed 20 games of the London half, and will depart tomorrow for the long trek north to Paisley, Scotland. No doubt John Scott has kept you posted (I was playing John at he time in the 3rd U.S.-G.B match. Rlf) but here are a few comments: I had black in the first game, 9-14, 22-17, 5-9, in which he used the 30-21 jump, as in Hellman-Grover with play proceeding along pp lines until the late mid-game, when he surprised me with his king (along with s slight grimace) instead of the usual 31-26. As I was piece up, I mistakenly thought he was conceding the draw after the exchange, and the return 2x1. So, I played 5-9!??, completely overlooking the fact it left him not the 2x1, but a 3x1!, and immediate resignation-my worst blunder in 8 years! (Paxton ty Rlf) Derek later mentioned 18-22* which I didn't even consider! (We later found Frazier-Farley-WCP G. 1159. Rlf)
With white he used his favorite 11-16 at 5th, then 25-22 and 7-11,. Here I aware of 2 good attacks in either 29-25 or 22-17, but in view of the 1st game I decide to allow a std draw with 24-20, 3-7, 29-25, and 1-16 etc. We next had 11-16, 22-17, 7-11, and after 17-14x, he drew with the Clayton defense after a long ending. With white, he varied with 25-22 at 4th and a std. Pioneer draw, which completed the first days play, after which I retired early discouraged with my amateurish oversight in G-1.
In G-5, I had the weak side of the Octopus. He took the 24-19 exchange attack, and Walters 26-22, as in MEC aware of the improvement by Crawford at the next move with 13-9 instead of the easy 19-15 draw. In fact, I had won with this against Chamblee in a practice game prior to the Paxton ty when he visited me at Columbus. Instead of 11-16, Black can break through 1-6!, 14-9, 6-10, 9-6, 11-15, 6-2, and 24-27! Etc. (Black also has an earlier draw with 16-20 at 12th, instead of 2-7, which I drew v. L Taylor, 1958 Nat ty-Rlf) After 13-9, then 20-24*, (Maurice lost to me after 7-11?, 32-27, 4-8, 9-5, 1-6, then 19-15* x and 5-1 etc WW) 19-15, and the 2x2. A somewhat delicate ending, although I am sure it is sound. However, after some 2 dozen moves, I made a 22-26 move, instead of bringing my king out with 30-26. Oldbury later missed a deceptive win and I struggled through to draw an endurance contest that didn't end until after 9 PM!-about 7 ½ hours. Even though we were both tired, we started G.6 shortly afterwards, in which I played my pet 30-26, (which I has sent you) with Derek meeting it weakly and lost after just 36 moves! So I went to bed that night, feeling a little better, even though I was not satisfied with my play in G.5.
To get back on Schedule, we started earlier the next morning, where I had the W. Side of 10-14, 22-18, 11-16. I am out of room, so will send more later."
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