Pagel, Roger (1600) v Phillips, Martin (1887) Action Tourney May 14, 1992
The date May 14, 1992. I had finally broken the 1600 mark and the Club was in full swing. There were a slew of "A" players at this time. Marty Phillips, the heart and soul of the club, and a fierce competitor and someone I seemingly could never get the upper hand in any of the games we played. But, finally, I made a break through or so it seemed at the time in the game to follow. Marty renewed the Club's competitive ladder and along with Clarence Townsend would call each member of the Club each week to schedule a "rated ladder" game. On many Fridays there would be 10-15 games going on in the ladder while still a handful of others 6-8 would be playing "leisure" games.
But, I should mention some of the other powerhouses. Mark Trevor Smith, pushing expert rating and a college English professor at SMSU--now Missouri State and always seemingly eating something healthy, as he and his wife at the time owned a health food store, "Au Naturel". The Club still has a large box of their promotional pens...the ink in them apparently dried up! And, Jim Baumlin, rated 2112 on this date. He seemed invincible to me. He would either tactically crush you or positionally make your pieces ineffective. He, too, taught at SMSU, a transplant from Georgetown of all places. He seemed to me to always be in teaching mode. He reminded me time and again how I did not control the center and or how my openings were too passive. Other notables, Walt Ressmeyer, who I'd played in high school, and with his long hair, he seemed to know every variation in the openings he played. He is the most encouraging of people. Afzal Chowdhury, from India, and now working for Walmart, I believe, (and now 2016 back in the Club reviving the once dead Ladder) kept getting better and better and always finding the right defense. And finally, I recall Fred Sadoogi, a strong 2000+ player, who seemed to me to be very private and guarded. I never saw him lose except remarkably to Clarence Townsend a "C" class player who Fred played on his first visit to the club. But, then, Clarence, was often called the giant killer and with that, I felt I'd killed a giant in this game with Marty Phillips in the Action Tourney of 1992.
1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 d6 5. d4 c6 6. Nc3 0-0 7. 0-0 Nbd7 8. e4 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Be3 Qc7 11. c5 Re8 12. Qd6 Qxd6 13. cxd6 b6 14. Rfd1 h6 15. Rd2 Bf8 16. Rad1 Nb8 17. h3 Bd7 18. Nh2 Re6 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. hxg4 a5 21. Bxb6 Ra6 22. Bc7 Re8 23. Na4 Ra7 24. Bf3 Na6 25. Be2 c5 26. Nb6 Nb8 27. Nxd7 Nxd7 28. Bb5 Bxd6 29. Bxd6 Re7 30. Bxd7 Rexd7 31. Bxe5 Rxd2 32. Rxd2 g5 33. Rd8 Kh7 34. Rh8 Kg6 35. Rg8 Kh7 36. Rg7 Kh8 37. Rxf7 1-0
Chess viewer link Copy and paste game score into viewer to play through the game
As the game shows, major mistakes were made on both sides, but with 30 minutes to play the entire game simple things are overlooked at this level. I feel Marty gave me a gift that day.
But, I should mention some of the other powerhouses. Mark Trevor Smith, pushing expert rating and a college English professor at SMSU--now Missouri State and always seemingly eating something healthy, as he and his wife at the time owned a health food store, "Au Naturel". The Club still has a large box of their promotional pens...the ink in them apparently dried up! And, Jim Baumlin, rated 2112 on this date. He seemed invincible to me. He would either tactically crush you or positionally make your pieces ineffective. He, too, taught at SMSU, a transplant from Georgetown of all places. He seemed to me to always be in teaching mode. He reminded me time and again how I did not control the center and or how my openings were too passive. Other notables, Walt Ressmeyer, who I'd played in high school, and with his long hair, he seemed to know every variation in the openings he played. He is the most encouraging of people. Afzal Chowdhury, from India, and now working for Walmart, I believe, (and now 2016 back in the Club reviving the once dead Ladder) kept getting better and better and always finding the right defense. And finally, I recall Fred Sadoogi, a strong 2000+ player, who seemed to me to be very private and guarded. I never saw him lose except remarkably to Clarence Townsend a "C" class player who Fred played on his first visit to the club. But, then, Clarence, was often called the giant killer and with that, I felt I'd killed a giant in this game with Marty Phillips in the Action Tourney of 1992.
1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 d6 5. d4 c6 6. Nc3 0-0 7. 0-0 Nbd7 8. e4 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Be3 Qc7 11. c5 Re8 12. Qd6 Qxd6 13. cxd6 b6 14. Rfd1 h6 15. Rd2 Bf8 16. Rad1 Nb8 17. h3 Bd7 18. Nh2 Re6 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. hxg4 a5 21. Bxb6 Ra6 22. Bc7 Re8 23. Na4 Ra7 24. Bf3 Na6 25. Be2 c5 26. Nb6 Nb8 27. Nxd7 Nxd7 28. Bb5 Bxd6 29. Bxd6 Re7 30. Bxd7 Rexd7 31. Bxe5 Rxd2 32. Rxd2 g5 33. Rd8 Kh7 34. Rh8 Kg6 35. Rg8 Kh7 36. Rg7 Kh8 37. Rxf7 1-0
Chess viewer link Copy and paste game score into viewer to play through the game
As the game shows, major mistakes were made on both sides, but with 30 minutes to play the entire game simple things are overlooked at this level. I feel Marty gave me a gift that day.