IM title at the age of 58

Chess with Leonard Barden
Leonard Barden
Saturday February 16, 2008
The Guardian

Gibtelecom, now in its sixth year, is en route to becoming the strongest and best open event in the western world. Hikaru Nakamura, the youngest US champion since Bobby Fischer, defeated Bu Xiangzhi in last month’s final to spoil what was otherwise an impressive result for China’s grandmasters.

Two results were significant for UK chess. Keti Arakhamia-Grant, Britain’s leading female player, tied for the women’s award. Then Robert Bellin, who won his British title back in 1979, achieved his first GM result at age 55.

Following Guardian reader Jeff Horner’s IM title at 58 and IM Andrew Whiteley’s victory in the inaugural English senior (60-plus) championship, Bellin’s success demonstrates that England can soon become a serious medal contender in European and world senior chess. Oldies can succeed where our national and junior teams now have little chance.

This game against a strong Chinese opponent was Bellin’s fastest win, and shows the power of adjacent diagonal bishops in a king’s side attack which here ends in checkmate.

Here is the full story and game.