1981: Early knockout

Steve Owen writes:

I joined Exeter Chess Club at the age of thirteen and remained a member until 1990, when I became a district councillor and found that I had not sufficient time for other interests. I can remember at 14 watching Denis Gray demolish a strong opponent in a dozen moves or so during a National Club Match played by telephone, when I acted as ‘runner’. My own best years were from 1973, when I returned from university , until about 1985. During that time, I used to play board six (bottom board) for the Bremridge team and top board for the Mamhead.

I had quite good results for the Bremridge, as my opponents were often older players, perhaps past their best.

Top board in the Mamhead competition was often more difficult, as I faced young whizz-kids playing twenty or thirty points above their grading. Typically contrasting games were played in the Exeter-Plymouth matches of 1981...

Game Owen,SM - Bruce,R, Exeter-Plymouth (Bremridge), 1981

Early knockout

I especially enjoyed playing Rowena Bruce, who had actually been World Girls' Champion in the 'twenties, and British Ladies' Champion several times thereafter. So I can claim to have beaten a world champion! She was much stronger than I positionally, but sometimes crumbled against aggression. — SMO