Born in England in 1939, he moved to Canberra in the late 1970's, working with the CSIRO as a researcher in mathematics and statistics. He joined the Belconnen Chess Club in the early 1990's and played there for around a decade. Suffering from poor eyesight since birth, he eventually had to retire from active chess, not due to a decline in ability, but due to difficulty in getting to and from the chess club at night. Nonetheless he still maintained an active interest in the game, often chatting to me about what was happening in the world of chess when our paths crossed.
Away from the chess board he had a successful career as a mathematician, rising to the level of Senior Researcher at the CSIRO. He was also played Bridge in his spare time, and had a great love for music. He is survived by his wife and 4 children.
Morton,Richard - Rout,Ian Clive [B20]
Premier Belconnen Premier (4), 1997
1. e4 c5 2. b3 Nc6 3. Bb2 e5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 d6 6. h3 g6 7. Bc4 Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. d3 a6 10. Nd5 Nh5 11. a4 Rb8 12. Nc3 Nf4 13. Ne2 Ne6 14. Qd2 b5 15. axb5 axb5 16. Bxe6 Bxe6 17. Ra6 Rb6 18. Rfa1 Rxa6 19. Rxa6 Qc8 20. Ra1 f5 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Ng3 f4 23. Ne4 Bxh3 24. gxh3 Qxh3 25. Neg5 Qg4+ 26. Kf1 h6 27. Ke2 hxg5 28. Rg1 Qd7 29. Nxg5 Nd4+ 30. Bxd4 exd4 31. Qd1 Qf5 32. Kf1 Re8 33. Qh5 Re5 34. Qh1 d5 35. Nf3 Re6 36. Rg5 Qf8 37. Rxd5 Qa8 38. Qh5 Rh6 39. Qf5 Rf6 40. Qe4 Qc8 41. Rh5 Rh6 42. Rxh6 Bxh6 43. Qg6+ Bg7 44. Ng5 c4 45. Qe6+ Qxe6 46. Nxe6 Be5 47. dxc4 bxc4 48. bxc4 Kf7 49. Ng5+ Ke7 50. Ke2 Bf6 51. Ne4 Be5 52. f3 Kd7 53. Kd3 Kc6 54. Nd2 Kc5 55. Nb3+ Kc6 56. Nxd4+ Kd7 57. Ke4 Bc7 58. Ne2 Kc6 59. Nxf4 1-0
1 comment:
Richard was a wonderful guy. Always quiet, pleasant and polite he was willing to engage in intelligent conversation.
As Shaun noted he was also a really strong player and was an important player at Belco in the 1990's.
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