John Saunders
@johnchess.bsky.social
Chess archivist http://BritBase.info & freelance chess photo-journalist. Associate Editor, CHESS Magazine, press officer GibChess and IoMchess tournaments.
Mary Rudge won first prize at the first women's international chess tournament in London in 1897. Her prize was £60... which is the equivalent of £6,756 in 2025. More about the tournament here: www.saund.org.uk/britbase/pgn...
July 16, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Mary Rudge won first prize at the first women's international chess tournament in London in 1897. Her prize was £60... which is the equivalent of £6,756 in 2025. More about the tournament here: www.saund.org.uk/britbase/pgn...
New at BritBase: a collection of 1,209 games played by Sir George Thomas - even allowing for the inclusion of 164 stubs, that makes it the largest collection of his games available to date. saund.org.uk/britbase/pgn...
July 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
New at BritBase: a collection of 1,209 games played by Sir George Thomas - even allowing for the inclusion of 164 stubs, that makes it the largest collection of his games available to date. saund.org.uk/britbase/pgn...
The Varsity chess match dates back to 1873 and this shot from the 2025 match captures some of the Victorian elegance of a century and a half ago. The Polish player (right) would be my nomination for the best dressed player, closely followed by his French adversary.
March 11, 2025 at 10:51 AM
The Varsity chess match dates back to 1873 and this shot from the 2025 match captures some of the Victorian elegance of a century and a half ago. The Polish player (right) would be my nomination for the best dressed player, closely followed by his French adversary.
Now that's what I call Freestyle Chess.
January 31, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Now that's what I call Freestyle Chess.
Billed at the time as the strongest young player's (under-22) chess tournament of all time, the line-up for the 1992 Oakham Young Masters International still looks very impressive: not just lots of famous GMs but even a Nobel prize-winner. www.saund.org.uk/bri.../pgn/1...
January 21, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Billed at the time as the strongest young player's (under-22) chess tournament of all time, the line-up for the 1992 Oakham Young Masters International still looks very impressive: not just lots of famous GMs but even a Nobel prize-winner. www.saund.org.uk/bri.../pgn/1...
The 1991/92 Hastings Challengers was a triumph for the late IM Colin Crouch who surpassed the GM norm by a clear point. Also recording a GM result was Matthew Sadler. Games and details at BritBase: www.saund.org.uk/britbase/pgn...
January 20, 2025 at 12:08 PM
The 1991/92 Hastings Challengers was a triumph for the late IM Colin Crouch who surpassed the GM norm by a clear point. Also recording a GM result was Matthew Sadler. Games and details at BritBase: www.saund.org.uk/britbase/pgn...
The Mayor of Cambridge makes the first move for Bertram Goulding Brown (1881-1965), watched by club president Horace Bernard Coulson (1907-1979), in a telephone match on 6 April 1954 between the Cambridge City and Oxford City clubs, won by Cambridge 5-3. Photo Cambridge Daily News, 7 April 1954
December 18, 2024 at 12:14 PM
The Mayor of Cambridge makes the first move for Bertram Goulding Brown (1881-1965), watched by club president Horace Bernard Coulson (1907-1979), in a telephone match on 6 April 1954 between the Cambridge City and Oxford City clubs, won by Cambridge 5-3. Photo Cambridge Daily News, 7 April 1954
The Guardian's 95-year-old chess columnist Leonard Barden today drew attention to Firouzja's opening error which he himself had refuted in a British Championship game in 1950.
December 11, 2024 at 6:05 PM
The Guardian's 95-year-old chess columnist Leonard Barden today drew attention to Firouzja's opening error which he himself had refuted in a British Championship game in 1950.
XTX Markets London Chess Classic winner Gawain Jones played the spectacular 1 Bxg7 in this position. How did Table 17, including Supratit Banerjee and Bodhana Sivanandan, reply?
December 10, 2024 at 6:01 PM
XTX Markets London Chess Classic winner Gawain Jones played the spectacular 1 Bxg7 in this position. How did Table 17, including Supratit Banerjee and Bodhana Sivanandan, reply?
World number one Magnus Carlsen was guest of honour at the XTX Markets London Chess Classic prizegiving dinner last night.
December 10, 2024 at 12:22 PM
World number one Magnus Carlsen was guest of honour at the XTX Markets London Chess Classic prizegiving dinner last night.
Two of the more unusual photos I've taken at a chess tournament: Arsenal FC's Emirates Stadium after dark #arsenalfc #londonchessclassic #xtxmarkets
November 30, 2024 at 12:59 PM
Two of the more unusual photos I've taken at a chess tournament: Arsenal FC's Emirates Stadium after dark #arsenalfc #londonchessclassic #xtxmarkets
A cold but sunny morning in Richmond Park: snapped these three birds of prey: Tawny Owl, Kestrel and Little Owl.
November 22, 2024 at 1:51 PM
A cold but sunny morning in Richmond Park: snapped these three birds of prey: Tawny Owl, Kestrel and Little Owl.
In my happy place: birdwatching in Richmond Park #Richmondpark
November 14, 2024 at 11:34 PM
In my happy place: birdwatching in Richmond Park #Richmondpark
November 14, 2024 at 1:00 PM