I *love* Chess. I've always thought that one of the strong points about it is the lack of happy ending (or, as you say, arguably ending at all) so wouldn't have been keen on their framing device.

Dunno where you where in the Albert Hall -- we were up in the gallery, and the words were incredibly indistinct. Didn't matter to marnameow & myself who know it anyway but not sure how much uon got!