Photo of the Year!

No, its not the answers to the Christmas Quiz. You'll have to wait a day or two longer for those. Instead we have a clear winner in the Photo of the Year competition. What? You didn't know there was such a thing? Well, neither did I until a few moments ago, when I dreamed up the idea while desperate for a title for this article.  Never mind, because we have a truly iconic image which is right up there with other great snaps featured here previously. Such as:-

• Roy standing next to Anish Giri
• Me in play - and about to win - against GM Mark Hebden
• Me sitting in a chair that Bobby Fischer had sat in
• A car with a funny number plate in Prague

And here it is!

Jude putting up a mighty fight in a clock simul against legendary GM, Boris Gelfand, at the London Chess Classic, 10/12/21. A man who came agonisingly close to becoming World Champion in 2012, when he lost to Vishy Anand in a rapid play off after a 6-6 draw.

Jude gave it a terrific go, and as late as move 29, my chess engine says that Jude was slightly better - despite ending up in a line where Boris has a score of 6.5/7 against GM opposition! But as the number of participants/survivors reduced, Jude had the near full focus of Boris' genius turned against him, and he eventually went down in a knight v bishop ending after 55 moves. A really great effort against one of the giants of the modern game.

And if you are at a loose end, why not have a look at the documentary on that 2012 World Championship match? Though if I recall correctly, it isn't exactly a barrel of laughs!