Friday 11 April 2008

Peter Murphy

Sad news from the Canberra chess scene, with the passing of long time player and organiser, Peter Murphy. Peter had been a member of the Belconnen Chess Club since moving to Canberra in the 1980's and in the past year had run the club and organised it's tournaments. Peter attended last months Doeberl Cup as a spectator player in the Minor, and looked his usual self, so his death (on the 4th April 2008) has come as a shock to those that knew him.
Here is a game from the 1993 ACT Chess Championship where Peter defeated future Women's International Master Laura Moylan.

Moylan,L - Murphy,P [B21]
ACT-ch Canberra, 1993

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Bc4 e6 6.Nf3 Bc5 7.0-0 Nge7 8.Qe2 0-0 9.Rd1 Qc7 10.Be3 Bb4 11.Rac1 a6 12.a3 Bd6 13.Rd3 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.h3 Qxc4 16.Nd5 Qxc1+ 17.Bxc1 exd5 18.exd5 d6 19.f4 Bf6 20.g4 Ng6 21.g5 Bd8 22.Qh2 Bd7 23.h4 Re8 24.Be3 Rc8 25.h5 Nf8 26.h6 Bf5 27.Rb3 Rc2 28.Qg3 Re2 29.Qf3 Rc2 30.Rxb7 Be4 31.Qh3 Bxd5 32.Ra7 Bb6 0-1

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Peter wasn't just a spectator, he played in the minor.

Anonymous said...

I spoke to Peter quite a few times at Doeberl and apart from being a bit annoyed with himself over the draws, he seemed pretty much his usual self. It really is a huge shock.

Jenni

TrueFiendish said...

It is indeed a shock. I played him numerous times stretching back well over a decade. Old chess players never die, they just run out of time.

Alana Chibnall said...

This has come as quite a shock. He was an excellent organiser of the Belconnen Chess Club, as well as a good, keen chess player. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Anonymous said...

i met him a few times in canberra events. he was a friendly chap. he'll be missed.