Karpov2010 fund-raiser at Simpson's in London

by ChessBase
7/13/2010 – Remember the Karpov fund-raiser in New York? A similar extravaganza will take place in London, in the famous Simpson's-in-the-Strand, where 19th century intellectuals, sitting on comfortable divans, discussed politics and played chess. Steinitz, Morphy, Lasker and Zukertort were regulars. On Sept. 8th you can join forces with Kasparov, Adams, Short and McShane in exhibition games. Invitation.

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Text:

Darwin Strategic
Simpson’s in the Strand, London on 8th September 2010

English Chess Federation President, CJ de Mooi, cordially invites you to an evening of fundraising for the Karpov 2010 campaign as the FIDE President and also to raise awareness and funds for British Chess.

Guests of Honour will be former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, former World Chess Challenger Michael Adams, former World Chess Challenger Nigel Short and a host of other world class chess Grandmasters.

Your evening will include

5pm – Reception and Chess portraits art show by Barry Martin –
The Official Artist of the 1993 and 2000 World Chess Championships

6pm – Seat to watch Grandmaster consultation chess games

8.30pm – Simpson’s Classics Dinner with a Grandmaster at every table

11.00pm – Thanks and Carriages

The dress code will be Black and White.
I do hope you will be able to attend and please RSVP by 31st July 2010

The "Grandmaster at every table" will include, we are told, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Nigel Short, Michael Adams, Luke McShane, David Howell, Stephen Gordon, Daniel King, John Emms and Raymond Keene. Garry v Nigel and Michael v Luke will be where people can bid to accompany the players in consultation one hour games, where each person makes alternate moves (similar to the NYC format). There will also be impromptu blitz simuls by Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short.

To accompany the grand evening on the 8th of September Barry Martin will be showing images from the Seventh Staunton Memorial Chess Tournament that was held at Simpson's-in-the-Strand in August 2009. It will be the first time they have ever been exhibited. A large drawing (above) from the Kasparov-Short 1993 World Championship, created in the Savoy Theatre where the match was held, will also make a return.

For more information and tickets please contact CJ de Mooi, the President of the English Chess Federation. The email address is president@englishchess.org.uk.


Simpson’s-in-the-Strand

The Grand Cigar Divan –
The Home of Chess

In 1828, Samuel Reiss, opened the Grand Cigar Divan on the site of the Fountain Tavern which had been the home of the famous literary association, the Kit Kat Club.

The establishment soon developed as a coffee house, where gentlemen smoked cigars with their coffee, browsed over the daily journals and newspapers, indulged in lengthy conversations about the politics of the day and played chess, sitting on comfortable divans or sofas. Many of these divans were arranged to form boxes and these can still be seen today. Regular visitors would pay one guinea a year for the use of the facilities and cups of coffee. The daily entrance fee for others was 6d (2½ p) or 1/6d (9p) with coffee and a cigar.


Simpson's-in-the-Strand in London today


The entrance to the Grand Divan (originally the "Grand Cigar Divan")


Historical pictures on the walls of the staircases


Two more recent players whom you might recognise in the paintings on the walls

Simpson's-in-the-Strand, 100 Strand, London, WC2R 0EW
Telephone: 020-7836 9112 – Fax: 020-7836 1381
Email – Website

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