Vasiukov in Scotland - 1966

Evgeny Vasiukov, like other Grandmasters who had played at Hastings, came to Glasgow for a simultaneous exhibition. This was held on February 2nd at the Whitehall Restaurant, 51 West Regent Street. Interestingly, this location, when it was called the Regent Tea Rooms, had been used by both the Glasgow Ladies' and Central Chess Clubs as their meeting place.

Whitehall Restaurant, 59─61 Renfield Street
Picture: Virtual Mitchell

In 1936 the Whitehall Restaurant, which also had an entrance in West Regent Lane (visible), expanded to include 51 West Regent Street. This had previously been the Regent Tea Rooms, the home at some point for the Central and Glasgow Ladies' CC.

The GM took on 24 opponents, scoring 11 wins, 10 draws and 3 losses to Ken Stewart, J. Lumsden and H.D. Holmes. It was reported that Vasiukov expected to play for 6-7 hours, hence the number of draws that had to be agreed at closing time.

The seating layout.

John Glendinning has pointed out that his game is wrongly shown as a draw. He states: "After 3½ hours play Vasiukov now adjudicated the position as a win for himself."

Vasiukov,E - Ken Stewart [B99] Simultaneous Exhibition, Glasgow.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0–0–0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.a3 Rb8 14.f5 Ne5 15.Qg3 b4 16.axb4 Rxb4 17.fxe6 Bxe6 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bh3 Qa5 20.Bxe6 Qa1+ 21.Kd2 Qxb2 22.Rhf1 Bxg5+ 23.Ke1 Bh4 24.Qxh4 Qxc3+ 25.Kf2 Rf8+ 26.Kg2 Qxc2+ 0–1

Sources: Scottish Chess Association Bulletin No. 19, January - May 1966; Caricature by 'Mac' from Chess 1966, p 161; Ken Stewart (game score and seating layout).

Alan McGowan
Historian, Chess Scotland

Updated 24/02/2023