A TRAGEDY AVERTED

By Stewart Reuben

17 year old Erkin Gurbanzade of Azerbaijan entered the Masters rather late. He was to be accompanied by his father and he was issued with a visa by the British Embassy with that notation. Later his father decided not to come due to pressure of business. Erkin now arrived at Gatwick airport, only to be told that his visa was invalid. It stated that he was a minor, accompanied by his father, whereas in fact he was travelling alone. The Immigration Department contacted me at home and were unfailingly polite, but would not budge, Erkin would be returned home after being interviewed. “Why bother,” I asked, “since you have made up your minds?” “That’s the procedure,” was the reply. “What if that causes him to miss the next flight?” “Well, then an exception would be made.” “Where will the boy be held if he cannot travel today?” “In a remand centre”. I became rather concerned about this, although they assured me it is not at all like a prison.

That was 26 December. You note, I did not write Boxing Day, this is unknown outside the Commonwealth. On the 27^th I travelled to Hastings. I met up with the two Azerbaijani grandmasters at the White Rock Hotel. Now they promptly told me that Erkin was there. But it was not alls well that ends well. It turned out that he had been let into England because there was no flight home until the 29^th. Erkin now told me that his father was willing to travel on the 28^th and to stay in Hastings during the tournament, provided it could be guaranteed he would be allowed to stay. It was time again to contact the Immigration Department at Gatwick. This was remarkably easy to do, with no pressing buttons until you gave up. I managed to speak to the Chief Immigration Officer and explained the situation. I pointed out that Erkin could travel to Gatwick and meet up with his father. “Well, you are making a very good case and it is very likely he will be allowed to stay. But I cannot guarantee it.” Obviously the father could not be asked to travel under such circumstances. There the matter had to rest, but there still remained one possibility.

28^th December we had the Opening Ceremony of the Congress and Michael Foster, the local MP attended as usual. I explained the situation to him. He was on the telephone immediately to Immigration at Gatwick and was able to persuade them that, provided the father arrived in Gatwick, then Erkin would be allowed to stay. What is more, he would not have to travel to Gatwick to meet his father. Erkin began to smile. I drank a little champagne to toast the success of the whole enterprise.

By now it was 3pm and the round had started at 2.15pm. I asked the lad, “Do you want to play the first round?” How is that possible?” “I am a very experienced arbiter”. It was off to the tournament hall to consult Alex McFarlane and Lara Barnes the two arbiters for the Masters. There was an even number and nobody standing by. There was only one solution, I would have to play as a filler and duly did so. He played very well, but it was a bit hard to take the game fully seriously and I went down rather quickly.

Let us hope he gets his first IM norm here.     

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