R.I.P. Gordon Hoskyn

On the 1st of May 2008 Wanganui’s Mr Chess died after a long battle with Cancer at the age of 69. Gordon Hoskyn was a passionate Chess player and Organiser. The sheer volume of tournaments Gordon organised is just too many to count, It can best be explained that Gordon was a huge factor in keeping Wanganui and other region’s chess scene alive and kicking.
Without Gordon I personally would never have had the opportunity I have had to progress as player. I only wish I had come to chess sooner to take full advantage of the superb tournaments Gordon Hoskyn organised.


King,M - Hoskyn,G [B92]Wanganui Club Handicap Tournament, 2007
Time 60/60
This is my last game with Gordon. Over the years he managed to keep a plus score against me winnning 2 and losing one.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 Over his long career Gordon had become well versed in the sicilian Najdorf.
6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 b5 Not the best move in the position. [7...Be7 8.Bg5 Be6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qd3 Nc6 11.0-0-0 Qb6 12.Qxd6 Be7 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.Qxd5 0-0 15.Qd2 Qxf2 16.Bc4 Qh4 17.Qe2 Rac8 18.a3 Bf6 19.Kb1 Nd4 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.g3 Qg5 22.Rhf1 Qe3 23.Rf3 ½-½ Anand,V-Topalov,V/Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2008/]
8.0-0 Bb7 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Qd3 0-0 12.Rad1 Be7 13.Nd5 [13.Bg4!?]
13...Bxd5 14.Qxd5 Nd7 15.c4 bxc4 [15...Nb6! 16.Qb7 Nxc4 17.Bxc4 bxc4 18.Nd2 Rc8 19.Qxa6 d5 It is typical to say that with this central thrust black has equalised, black has strong centre control or if white goes for the e pawn he can create a strong passed pawn. 20.Nf3 d4 21.Nxe5 Qc7 22.f4 c3 23.Rf2 Rfe8 24.bxc3 dxc3 black has a very dangerous passed pawn.]
16.Bxc4 Nb6 17.Qd3 Nxc4 18.Qxc4 Qc8 19.Na5 Qxc4 20.Nxc4 Rfd8 [20...Rac8! 21.b3 white is better (21.Nxd6 Rc2=) ]
21.Ne3 Rac8 22.Nd5 When making this move I thought i was simply winning and it was just a matter of time before black resigns. White's trumps are Good knight versus bad bishop the d6 pawn is a target and a queenside majority. Gordon shows me that things are not so simple. 22...Kf8 23.Rc1?! [23.f3 Rc2 24.b4 Rdc8 25.a4 white has an edge]
23...Bg5 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.b4 Rc2 26.a4 Rb2 27.Ra1 Bd8 28.Rc1 Ke8 Black now has an active rook and king. White is still better but it is not so easy to push the Q-side pawns through.
29.g3 Kd7 30.Kf1 Ra2 [30...f5=]
31.a5 Rb2 32.Rc4 f6 33.Nb6+ Ke6 34.g4 g6 At this point I was under 5 minutes (Gordon had 3 times my time left on his clock) so stopped recording the game. Gordon offered me a draw, I refused thinking I was clearly better. I went on to loose in roughly 20 moves in a rook and pawn ending.
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