Profiles
Ian Pheby
UNATS
1. What are your earliest chess memories?
Playing chess at primary school; I think I was about 9 years old at the time. My first serious chess was played when I played in the London Civil Service, Post Office and Municipal Chess League in 1969.
2. How long have you been playing chess?
Ever since (41 years as I write!). My longevity in chess is at least partly attributable to the support of my wife. She was once a strong player in this League many years ago, and won the Ladies Championship when it was held.
3. How active are you in the chess world? (e.g. number of games a year)
I used to play up to 90+ over the board games per year but for the last few years that number is probably nearer 15–20. I do however play international correspondence chess where I am a Senior International Master (I also hold one GM norm). Here I play many tournaments simultaneously (I have played tournaments as high as Category XIII with an average rating of 2551 to 2575), and I regularly play Grandmasters and Senior International Masters. Other than my work for this League as Chairman since 1989 and Senior Recorder since 1982, I also do a lot of work for the British Federation for Correspondence Chess (BFCC) and the International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF).
4. What was your best chess experience?
Several really! I regard being awarded my International Master, Senior International Master, and International Arbiter Titles, obtaining a Grandmaster norm, and in 2009 receiving the ECF President's Award for my services to chess as very high on the list. However, I suppose my best chess experience was playing on board 1 for England (which I regard as the ultimate honour) in the 6th European Team Championship Final. I was rated 2621 (the highest rated active English player at the time, and 48th in the world). I always regard being selected to play for my country as an honour.
5. And what was your worst?
Missing my final GM norm and therefore my GM title by a half point in a strong international tournament. Quite frustrating after over two years' effort!
6. Which historical (i.e. dead) chess player do you most admire and why?
None in particular.
7. Who is your current chess hero / heroine, if any?
None in particular.
8. Which part of the game do you enjoy the most?
The opening / early middlegame. I often find that the result of a game can be determined during that period particularly in correspondence chess where the slightest mistake is often fatal against strong opposition.
9. What piece of advice would you give to a young player who was just starting out?
I would suggest purchasing a good selection of chess books on openings, middlegame techniques and endgames. Study these preferably with the help of a trainer. Finally, play in tournaments where your opponents are in general slightly better than yourself; you do not learn too much by beating weaker opposition all of the time. Most important though is the need to create the correct balance between chess and school/college work, studying and playing chess to enjoy it.
10. You are going to be marooned on a desert island with only a chess set for company. Which chess book would you take with you?
New In Chess Yearbook. This publication has some wonderful articles which allow the reader to develop his knowledge of openings. It also provides ample opportunity to develop your own ideas from the sample games and the theory which is given.