BRITBASE - British Chess Game Archive
Event: GB-Netherlands Match • Venue: Vlissingen NED • Date: 31 October - 1 November 1970 • 20 games
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Sunday November 16, 2025 12:24 PM
1970 Netherlands vs GB Match, Vlissingen, 31 October - 1 November
| Bd | Netherlands | Round 1 | Round 2 | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1w | Jan Hein Donner | 1-0 | 1-0 | Robert G Wade |
| 2b | Eddie C Scholl | 0-1 | ½-½ | Raymond D Keene |
| 3w | Frans Kuijpers | 0-1 | 0-1 | William R Hartston |
| 4b | Hans Ree | ½-½ | 1-0 | Peter H Clarke |
| 5w | Hans Bouwmeester | 1-0 | ½-½ | Andrew J Whiteley |
| 6b | Jan Timman | ½-½ | 1-0 | George S Botterill |
| 7w | Theo van Scheltinga | ½-½ | 0-1 | Martyn J Corden |
| 8b | Robert G Hartoch | 1-0 | Simon Webb | |
| ½-½ | Harry Golombek | |||
| Jun | Max Viergever | 0-1 | 1-0 | Richard G Eales |
| Fem | Corry Vreeken | ½-½ | 1-0 | Jana Hartston [Bellin] |
| Match score | 5-5 | 6½-3½ | Vlissingen NED | |
| Overall Score | 11½-8½ | 31 Oct - 1 Nov 1970 | ||
BCM, December 1970, ppn 346-347
The Anglo-Dutch Match
By P. H. CLARKE
In the Clare Benedict Tournament at Paignton England finished well ahead of the Netherlands, but in the Siegen Olympiad (though the two countries did not actually meet) the position was reversed. This third enterprise of the year by the teams of the Royal Netherlands Chess Federation and the B.C.F., held at Vlissingen on October 31st and November 1st, could therefore be seen as a decider. After a hard fight it went in favour of the home side by 11½-8½.
Round 1
The first four games to finish did not exceed 25 moves. These were the draws on Boards 4 and 7, Bouwmeester's heavy defeat of Whiteley and the comfortable win by Eales on the junior board. All the others went beyond the 40th move, and only that on Board 1 was completed by the end of the session. The British Champion gave up a pawn in the opening in order to simplify to a position where Black's initiative is considered adequate, but he missed the best line at the critical moment and allowed Donner to consolidate his material advantage. Thus the Netherlanders went to dinner with a lead of a point.
However, the unfinished games promised a recovery of the deficit—and so it turned out. Timman and Botterill, who had reached a drawn Queen ending after a wild time-scramble in which the English player, seeking a win, had put a Rook en prise, called it a day without resumption. Then quick wins by Hartston and Keene put England in front. Hartston's game, which will appear in the Games Department, had been adjourned in a problem-like situation, where, although Black seemed to be on the point of victory, our analysis revealed nothing conclusive against White's best defence. Fortunately, Kuijpers had appreciated neither how good nor how bad a state he was in, and his sealed move lost at once. Keene, a clear exchange ahead, had expected technical difficulties (three King-side pawns each in an endgame), but they did not arise.
Our lead was short lived, since Webb was hopelessly placed and could have resigned much sooner. He had shown his inexperience by declining a draw in the middlegame when he was already beginning to suffer from the stomach disorder that confined him to bed the next day. The last game saw a stubborn resistance by Mrs. Hartston in an ending that might easily have gone against her. It was valuable resistance too; for now, under the new regulations for the match, the women are full, scoring members of the teams.
Round 2
There were too many disappointments in this round. It began reasonably: Whiteley took a short draw against the Netherlands captain, and our skipper [Harry Golombek], stepping into the gap left by Webb, had no trouble holding his own with the black pieces. After that England's prospects rapidly deteriorated, making a very big defeat indeed look possible. The five of us who lost were fairly outplayed at some stage: Botterill in the opening; Mrs. Hartston, Eales and the writer of these lines (acting as deputy captain) in the middlegame; Wade by grandmaster technique in the endgame. Even our successes were close calls: Corden just got through with a mating attack; Hartston did not gain the upper hand until almost the last moments of the game, and then he won on time; finally, Keene saved himself by one of the most heroic defensive efforts I have ever witnessed.
That the stronger side won there can be no doubt. England felt the absence of Penrose, and several other internationals were either not available or not selected. In the latter category come the experienced masters John Littlewood and Franklin and the pugnacious Knox. All three were in the side which drew the previous match in London and must be aggrieved at not being chosen this time.
The England party, which included G[eorge]. H. Simmons in the role of manager, enjoyed the usual excellent hospitality offered by the de Schelde Shipping Company. This firm has now sponsored the event seven times and knows exactly how to please both the public and the players. May it continue to flourish!
CHESS, November 1970, Vol.36/615-6, ppn 66-67
The Anglo-Dutch match, 1970
by A. J. Whiteley
This year’s match, held in Flushing October 31–November 1, was again sponsored by the Scheldte Shipping Company.
To bring it in line with general international practice, each team this year comprised of eight seniors, one junior and one lady and all games counted.
The English team, lacking Penrose — in temporary retirement —, was probably our youngest yet; at 23 I was the third oldest.
The Dutch temporarily mislaid Timman, but he eventually turned up a few hours before the start and completed a powerful team from which only Langeweg was missing.
Holland went two up when Bouwmeester tied me up in a classic good knight versus bad bishop game and Donner refuted Wade’s prepared opening innovation.England struck back as Eales’ opponent collapsed and Keene conjured up the win of the exchange out of near-symmetry. Corden let slip a slight advantage. Botterill held the initiative most of the way but was lucky not to lose a rook in the time scramble. The gods were less kind to Webb who went downhill after declining a draw.
At the adjournment the Keene v Scholl and Webb v Hartoch games were unfinished but with instantly certain outcome, so the round depended on the Hartston duo. Jana was under pressure but Bill had the better of a complex position. It arose from an old Benoni and perhaps Kuijpers was handicapped by not having written a book on the subject. On resumption it was discovered that he had sealed a blunder. Jana defended patiently so the round ended 5-5.
Overnight Webb fell ill. Our gallant captain filled the breach. Bouwmeester and I soon reached a lifeless ending. Things then began to go very badly for England. Keene, Botterill, Eales and Mrs. Hartston all had lost positions and we had no compensating advantages elsewhere. Botterill duly lost and was joined by Clarke who slipped in time trouble.
England fought back. Corden produced a mating attack from nowhere. Hartston set Kuijpers enough problems to induce him to lose on time. The score was equal with three to go. But all three went. Eales left his comeback too late. Mrs. Hartston in an inferior position attempted a gigantic bluff which failed. Donner completed the Dutch victory with grand masterly endgame technique.
File Updated
| Date | Notes |
|---|---|
| 19 July 1998 | First uploaded to BritBase with 20 games, zipped PGN |
| 16 November 2025 | Added viewer, table of results, reports, etc. |