~Image Selections~
GM Walter Browne vs. IM John Grefe
Louis D. Statham
Master Chess Tournament
Result: 1-0, Round #7, Board #3
Saturday, March 13th, 1976
These scoresheets "SOLD" at eBay auction.
Note: This scoresheet scan is in black & white...
****************************************************************************
"The Big Game"
GM Walter Browne vs. IM John Grefe
Louis D. Statham
Master Chess Tournament
Lone Pine, CA
Round #7, Board #3
Time Control: 45 // 2 & 1/2
March 13, 1976
***********************
***********************
**********************************************
**********************************************
I'll quote from the chess book: "The Best of LONE PINE"
by IM John Grefe and NM Dennis Waterman (forward by
GM Florin Gheorghiu):
The chapter: "Good Grefe, Walter Browne!"
"...Now only Grefe could equal Petrosian's score by beating
Browne. A win would give Grefe a $6,500 share of the top
prize money, whereas a draw would be worth $1,500 and a
loss would 'earn' a miserable sixty-seven dollars and change.
The game opened with Grefe defending the black side of
one of the sharpest openings in chess--the Najdorf Sicilian.
Browne, in the middlegame sacrificed a pawn to create a
dangerous passed pawn supported by his Queen, and as
the time control approached it looked as if he had the win
in hand. But, Grefe refused to fold. With both players in
desperate time trouble and crushed by spectators, Browne
made a couple of inaccurate Queen moves. Suddenly the
perpetual check that Grefe needed to salvage the game
was there: a Bishop sacrifice to force the White King
into the open. Instead, Grefe grabbed his Queen and
gave a check which allowed Browne to sequester his
King, and after a few more rapid fire moves -- Grefe
was forced to tip his King in resignation. The crowd
responded to the players' heroic efforts with tumul-
tuous applause."
Wow -- I was right there on the scene and can tell you
that's exactly the way it went down... Instead if Walter
had played 38. Qg7! it would have made things really
tough for JG. Then just a moment later Walter again
played the second best move with 39. Na4? Instead
39. Qe5! Qg1+ 40. Ka2 Bc2 41. a4! and the "f pawn"
is unstoppable. The last chance occurred when John
missed 39...Bc2+ ! which would have led to a draw.
The old story of my two good friends playing and I
was indeed happy for Walter and very sad for John...
Both original scoresheets are in very good shape (they
remained boxed & fully protected for over twenty-seven
years). One scoresheet is signed by Browne (signed on
John's scoresheet), and both scores are signed by Grefe.
Suitable for framing... :-)
