LIVING CHESS IN DURBAN Report and photos by Keith Rust It has long been one of my wishes to see a game of living chess, where humans are dressed up in costume to represent the chess pieces. So I was delighted when SABC's Top Billing decided to produce a game of living chess at Greyville racecourse in Durban, and the organisers approached Durban Chess Club for technical assistance. The idea was to promote the premier event on the horseracing calendar, the Vodacom Durban July, where fashion is an important part of the day!

The first game is about to start, as choreographer David Gouldie meets TV presenter Dhiveja Sundrum in the middle of the board

There is an incredible amount of work to do before the first move can be made – hats off to main organiser Dave MacLeod for all his work behind the scenes! My role was in selecting the games and providing chess advice, with assistance from fellow chess players Desmond Rooplal, Peter Dankelmann and Shaun Savy. I had a long chat to the choreographer and camera man before the game started, pointing out where most of the action would take place. As a result, they decided to start with the white pieces nearest the race track, so that the track formed the backdrop in many of the action shots. After everything was in place, the chess team then retreated to the grandstands to provide advice to the players over 2-way radios.

The first game was between last year's winning jockeys, Bernard Fay'd'Herbe and Kevin Shea, who dead heated in the race. Actually they played each other twice, same game, same result! Why? Well, the TV producer thought it would be a good idea for Dhiveja and Tatum to act as the Queens, with them facing each other on move 10. Game 1: Bernard vs Kevin

1.d4 d5 2.¥f4 c5 3.¥xb8 ¦xb8 4.dxc5 e6 5.£d4 £c7 6.b4 b6 7.cxb6 ¦xb6 8.c3 ¦xb4 9.cxb4 £c1+ 10.£d1

The two beauty Queens confront one another, with Tatum Keshwar (Miss South Africa 2008) winning this encounter

10...¥xb4+

11.¤d2 ¥xd2 checkmate

This was based on the game Regan vs Reginald Michell, London, 1905.

After the first game, there was time for a quick photo shoot with the pawns and Miss South Africa, Tatum Keshwar, wearing a stunning blue dress.

(Above) The Pawns and Miss South Africa practise their smiles for the newspaper photographer! (Below left) The white Rook holds the DUT flag standing next to the black Rook - note the castle theme.(Below right) The white Queen in her beautiful dress.

The white pieces get ready for the next game between Dhiveja and Tatum. You can tell which piece is which from the headgear!

The second game was between TV presenter Dhiveja Sundrum, playing White, and Miss South Africa, Tatum Keshwar. There was a lot of fun when the pawn promoted on move 8, with Tatum leading the black Queen back onto the board. There was also a great touch at the end, when all the black pieces fell over, as the white Knight delivered the checkmate. Game 2: Dhiveja vs Tatum

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.¤f3 g5 4.¤c3 g4 5.¤e5 £h4+ 6.g3 fxg3 7.£xg4 g2+ 8.£xh4 Desmond Rooplal and myself, providing advice to the players

The black Pawn is about to take the Rook in the corner. When it reaches the back rank it is promoted to a piece chosen by the player. In this case Tatum chose to return the black Queen to the board. The white Queen is not amused!

8...gxh1=£

9.£h5 ¥e7 11.¤d6+ ¢d8

10.¤xf7 ¤f6 12.£e8+ ¦xe8

13.¤f7 checkmate

The black King is being attacked by the white Knight and it cannot escape the attack as its own pieces block all the escape squares. Checkmate! This is what we call a smothered mate.

Based on the game between Henry Bird playing White vs an Amateur, London, 1886.

The games will be broadcast on SABC3 on 2 July 2009.

Historical Footnote: I believe that these were the first games of living chess played in Durban. Leonard Reitstein's book "A History of Chess in South Africa" records only 3 such displays in South Africa prior to the Second World War. Two of these were held in Cape Town in 1887 and 1890. Then there was an exhibition at the Wanderers in 1928, where future Durban champion Huxley St.John-Brooks was the black King and his stepdaughter the black Queen. I know that Reginald Borders, the chess columnist for the "Natal Mercury" from 1903 to 1930, played at least one such game in 1911 – but this game was played at his father's residence in London. One of his descendants very kindly sent me a copy of this newspaper cutting: