TED MASON MEMORIAL
Edward ‘Ted’ Mason was one of Lewisham Chess Club’s greatest servants. An honorary life president, he was a member prior to the 2nd World War and part of the Lewisham team that won the London League in 1937. He was heavily involved in the resumption activities in 1945 and served as club secretary for 25 years, before retiring to Yorkshire in 1975.
Ted was also an accomplished player – a regular on the top boards for the Kent County, he won the Kent Individual Championship 5 times – his final triumph coming at the age of 67. He was a part of 14 of Lewisham’s County Cup victories (a record he continues to hold), and was victorious in our Club Championship on 4 occasions.
Ted, pictured below, at the Gambit Chess Rooms, 1946
Known for his adventurous play, his usual weapon was the Philador. His ‘Immortal’ appeared in print in Chess Review 1953.
'This is another piece of light relief. It is a finish from a London League match played in 1948, the player of the Black pieces being one Edward Mason (who was apparently a BCF organiser and was still active many years later – Ray Keene recalled playing him in the 1960s). The position was preserved for posterity by Heinrich Fraenkel (aka “Assiac”) in the excellent column he wrote for many years in the New Statesman. Even Edward Winter’s ingenuity has not yet succeeded in identifying either the player of the White pieces or the moves which led to this position. Black is to play and produce something really special. See if you can find the first move without looking at the solution…
1... Bb5!! "Even in the exalted company of the pick of the world's combinative genius", wrote Fraenkel, "the cliché 'last but by no means least' can surely and most deservedly be applied to this (relatively little known) gem. Ten moves later it will be apparent how necessary this move was". 2. ab5 Nhg3 3. Ng3 Ng3 4. hg3 hg3 5. Kg1 Rh1! Once you see the idea, everything fits together beautifully, but seeing it in the first place is the thing. 6. Kh1 Rh8 7. Kg1 Bc5 8. Nc5 Rh1 9. Kh1 Qh8 10. Kg1 Qh2# Ten inexorably logical moves. It is difficult to argue with Fraenkel's comment that "Even the loser must have derived some aesthetic pleasure from his King meeting so spectacular an end, with all but one of his pieces still available as helplessly over-awed onlookers".
In 1989 the club established a memorial tournament, which takes place annually.
