BRITBASE - British Chess Game Archive
Event: Netherlands-Great Britain Match • 6 games plus 16 stubs • last edited:
Monday September 29, 2025 7:02 PM
Venue: Vlissingen • Date: 19-20 September 1964 • Download PGN
1964 Netherlands vs Great Britain Match, Vlissingen, 19-20 September
| Bd | Netherlands | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1b | Frans Antonius Kuijpers | 1-0 | ½-½ | Cenek Kottnauer |
| 2w | Nicolaas Cortlever | ½-½ | Peter H Clarke | |
| 2b | Hans Bouwmeester | ½-½ | ||
| 3b | Carel B van den Berg | 0-1 | ½-½ | Norman Littlewood |
| 4w | Theo van Scheltinga |
½-½ | ½-½ | Owen M Hindle |
| 5b | Lodewijk Prins | ½-½ | ½-½ | Harry Golombek |
| 6w | Johan Teunis Barendregt | ½-½ | 0-1 | John E Littlewood |
| 7b | Hans Ree | 0-1 | 1-0 | Michael J Franklin |
| 8w | Hendrik Jan (Henk) Bredewout | 0-1 | 1-0 | Adrian Swayne Hollis |
| 9b | Leo J M Kerkoff | 0-1 | 0-1 | Peter Campbell Gibbs |
| 10w | Frits Ernst Roessel | 1-0 | 0-1 | David Edward Rumens |
| 19-20 September 1964 | 4-6 | 4½-5½ | Round scores | |
| Vlissingen | 8½-11½ | Match score | ||
| Corry Vreeken | ½-½ | 1-0 | (Patricia) Anne Sunnucks | |
Presentation of the 'Seven Provinces' trophy to Vic Soanes, president of the British Chess Federation, 20 September 1964
(BCM, November 1964, p318, colourised by John Saunders)
BCM, November 1964, ppn 317-319
The Anglo-Dutch Match
By P. H. CLARKE
AS mentioned in the "Late News" last month, England won the annual match against Holland (held at Flushing [Vlissingen] from September 19th to 21st) by 11½-7½, with one game for adjudication [adjudicated Ree 1-0 Franklin]. After that depressing defeat at Birmingham in the previous meeting this result is excellent and provides an encouraging omen on the eve of the Olympiad.
The B.C.F. team, captained by V. J. Soanes, began the match as underdogs but, despite the absence of both Penrose and Haygarth, soon showed the Netherlanders that their fine trophy, "De Zeven Provincien," was by no means safely anchored. Thanks to steady draws with the black pieces by myself and Hindle plus characteristic wins from Norman Littlewood and Franklin (see below) we built up a strong position which was to form the foundation of victory. However, the first round was closer than either this start of the final score would suggest. At the adjournment, in fact, points were level. Golombek and John Littlewood had been involved in eventful struggles, with the former getting as near to winning as the latter to losing; but Rumens had been quite outplayed by Roessel (who, though out of practice, seemed on too low a board) and Kottnauer had slipped up and lost material against the young Dutch Champion. Fortunately, the remaining games were in our favour. Hollis, whose opponent had blundered away a Rook yet still retained chances of perpetual check, managed to escape with his King and restore our lead, but Miss Sunnucks faltered in what should have been an easy Knight and pawn ending—this could have been costly, if the men's match had been drawn.
At midnight the last game was still in progress. Peter Gibbs was determined to make the most of his first appearance for the national side and he kept on probing in a tricky Rook and pawn ending. After breaking off to snatch four or five hours sleep, the players resumed early Sunday morning only to adjourn once again before the commencement of the second round. By that time Gibbs had a clear win, and this was duly recorded later in the day and after 105 moves had been played! Although Kerkhoff was the weakest member of the opposition, Gibbs' achievement in beating him twice and the effort he put into it was one of the features of the match.
When the side ahead maintains its grip, the second round tends to fizzle out. On this occasion the tension lasted for about four hours, but then some sound draws on the upper boards coupled with good wins by John Littlewood and Rumens swung events decisively our way. The draws by Kottnauer, who in other circumstances would have gone on in an attempt to win, and Norman Littlewood finally clinched victory. Hollis and Miss Sunnucks had gone down in the meantime after hard fights, and this left Franklin and Ree contending for personal honours. Like Prins and Golombek and Barendregt and Littlewood, they were meeting each other for the second year running. The scores were level, and Ree, a pawn up was trying to re-establish his advantage. His win could have been described as a matter of technique, but he gave the British master all sorts of counter-chances and was eventually reduced to an ending with Queen and Rook's pawn against Queen. This marathon could have exceeded that by Gibbs and Kerkhoff, but at about 1 a.m. on the Monday (there had been a short adjournment for dinner!) it was decided to call it off and send the game for adjudication The result should be known before this issue appears, so I can state that it looks lost for Black without offending the principle of sub judice.
Before proceeding to the detailed results, I must mention the magnificent way in which our team (and also A. F. Stammwitz, taking a well-earned break from his heavy duties as B.C.F. Secretary) was entertained. The Royal Dutch Chess Federation and "De Schelde" saw that the event lived up to the high standards one expects in Holland, while the Dutch captain, H. J. van Donk, and H. J. J. Slavekoorde, who controlled the match, added the personal touch. All this and the fact that we regained the trophy helped to make it a memorable weekend for the retiring B.C.F. President—and well he deserves it.
File Updated
| Date | Notes |
|---|---|
| 29 September 2025 | First upload. Six games plus 16 stubs, scores, photo, report. |