A David versus Goliath moment in my life in 1976 aged 15 the Czechoslovakian Grandmaster [V Hort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlastimil_Hort) kindly visited Leeds University and demonstrated a simultaneous exhibition against 44 adults and juniors. Hort was known as one of the top 5-10 in the world at classical chess, held the world record for simuls once playing hundreds of people at once and was known as the 'gentleman of chess'. He was warm and charming with no sense of arrogance 

Anyway, I played along with innocent abandon expecting to lose in no time but to my astonishment my game outlived the majority of players and so now I was getting nervous. The opening was the Trompowsky which I had absolutely no idea about!  Maybe I might be even or have winning chances. Would I wither on the vine, or wilt under the heat or hold my nerve. I saw an opportunity to attack - beats being passive against a super-GM any day. 

Finally I found he was facing a smothered mate which he avoided by resigning as I made the last move. Congratulations followed and I was on cloud nine for a few days.  The next morning a friend of mine who was Horts host picked him up to take him to the airport and said he was still a bit upset about my game - he could not believe he had lost it.  

Obviously I was incredibly lucky he missed a trick in the middle game and made a blunder near the end when losing anyway. Fond memories!

- written by Belper Chess Club member [Sohrab Panday](https://belperchess.club/member/3).

A game from the past during a simul. against Vlastimil Hort in 1976

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[Featured Game] Vlastimil Hort GM vs. Sohrab Panday

Belper C Team took on Rolls Royce C team this evening at home.

Toward the end of the evening the clock got fairly low for David, and the tension was high. The knight and pawn end game on the board eventually ended in a draw.

Photos by Ben Lester.

[Fixture link](https://belperchess.club/fixture/2).

Featured photos from Belper C Team vs. Rolls Royce C Team.

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Belper C Team vs. Rolls Royce C Team - Home

Belper A Team played Belper B Team this evening - marking the beginning of the 22/23 league.

Belper A & B Team played their first game kicking off the 22/23 league season.

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A group gathers around two people playing chess

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The 22/23 league begins!

Welcome to the new Belper Chess Club website - going ahead you will find related news, fixtures and games from our members.

If you have any recommendations as to other things you would like to see on this website please contact the webmaster [here](https://benjaminlester.co.uk/contact).

Enjoy the completely AI generated pictures of cats playing chess below!

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