Volume 40, Number 1 Colorado Chess Informant
January 2013
This game is from the 2011 Colorado Closed Championship.
Brian Wall( 2203) Damian Nash( 2049)
1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nxe4 Bf5 4. Ng3 Bg6 5. h4 h6 6. d4 e6 7. Bc4 Nf6 8. N1e2 c6 9. Nf4 Bh7 10. O-O Nd5 11. Re1 Be7 12. Ngh5 Rg8 13. Rxe6 fxe6 14. Nxe6 Qc8 15. Nhxg7 + Kf7 16. Bxh6 Bf6 17. Qf3 Rxg7 18. Nxg7 Qd8 19. Re1 b5 20. Bb3 a5 21. Ne6 Qd7 22. Nf4 Ra7 23. Qh5 + Kg8 24. Re8 + Qxe8 25. Qxe8 # 1-0 outdoor area with several tables that have inlaid chess boards. With all the hustle and bustle of this busy area all around, large groups of chess players congregate. Many have never played in a chess tournament but are surprisingly strong players that play their own brand of " street chess " that often involves slamming pieces and trash talking. It ' s a diverse crowd of all ages and nationalities that attracts foreign visitors that sometimes speak little English. Social class is not a factor here where busy professionals, retired folks, college students and homeless people all compete as equals. Brian is a master performer of this type of chess and has earned total respect and awe from this group. The beauty of chess cuts across all the socio-economic barriers in this unique setting. You can often find large crowds gathered around Brian playing blitz games, usually giving large time odds. Even people that know little about chess are somehow aware watching Brian play in this element is an extraordinary event. Those poor misguided souls that try to match Brian ' s speed and wit are dispatched of quickly and often with the crowd ' s amazement and laughter.
Brian has completed several chess training videos that are available on YouTube, and a chess book with co-author Anthea Carson and illustrator Lynn Trochim called“ How To Play Chess Like An Animal.”
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I asked Brian if he had any regrets about devoting his life to the science, art and sport of chess. He smiled and answered,“ There are no regrets with chess. Any fault that is challenged will go back to the player not the game.”
Colorado Chess began recording champions over 60 years ago. When Brian was a kid he beat those old champions and as a wily veteran he has beaten many of our top juniors destined to be champions in their own due time. Put it all together and by the time he is done, Brian will have met and defeated Colorado ' s top chess players for more than a 100 year span.
Colorado has had many great chess players. Some have moved on like GM Alex Fishbein. Many others play infrequently or have completely dropped out of the Colorado scene. Like Emanuel Lasker long ago, Brian plays on. No longer the young prodigy, now the well-known leader of all Colorado players winning the yearlong 2012 Colorado Chess Tour.
A one of a kind, a special talent, a man that loves chess for chess itself and the people that play it, Brian is an unforgettable part of Colorado chess history and a treasure we all share.
We could write an awesome book and fill it with the countless wonderful games Brian has played through the years. For now, here are two old favorites that feature Brian ' s brilliant creativity.
www. colorado-chess. com
Long ago these two up and coming experts played a match in Denver. Later both earned Life Master Titles and surpassed a 2300 rating. Brian shares this memorable game as one of his alltime favorites. This game was played on June 24, 1977.
Robert O ' Donnell( 2000) Brian Wall( 2000)
1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Nf6 5. f3 c6 6. Be3 a6 7. a4 a5 8. Qd2 Na6 9. Bd3 Nb4 10. Bb1 e5 11. Nge2 0-0 12.0-0 Qe7 13. Ra3 exd4 14. Bxd4 d5 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Qe3 Re8 17. Bc5 Qc7 18. Nb5 Qc6 19. Rc1 dxe4 20. Bxb4 exf3 21. Rxc6 axb4 22. Rxc8 Raxc8 23. Qxf3 bxa3 24. Nd6 Rxe2 25. Nxc8 Rxb2 26. Qxa3 Rxb1 + 27. Kf2 Ne4 + 28. Ke3 Re1 + 29. Kd3 Nf2 + 30. Kd2 Bc3 + 31. Kxc3 Re3 + 32. Kb4 Rxa3 33. Kxa3 Kf8 34. Nd6 Ke7 35. Nxb7 Kd7 36. Kb4 Kc7 37. Nc5 Ng4 38. h3 Ne3 39. g3 Nf1 40. g4 Ne3 41. Kb5 f5 42. g5 Nd5 43. a5 f4 44. Ne4 f3 45. Kc4 Nf4 46. Nf2 Ne6 47. h4 Ng7 48. Kd5 Nf5 49. Ke5 Nxh4 50. Kf4 Kb7 51. Ne4 Nf5 52. Kxf3 Ka6 53. Kf4 ½-½ k