MARK RUBERY CHESS
The Czech Grandmaster Ludek Pachman (1924-2003) led a very active political life in particularly difficult times. His memoir ‘Checkmate in Prague’ documents how he was imprisoned after the Soviet invasion and the subsequent beginning of his uncompromising campaign against the new regime. A simultaeneous display from this grandmaster was always well attended as it was followed by a fiery speech on the injustices inflicted on his country. Pachman visited this country in 1989 where he took part in the South African Closed Championship held in Secunda (won by Charles DeVilliers). On seeing the emerging talent of Watu Kobese, he invited the young Sowetan player to train at his chess school in Germany, an experience that was no doubt invaluable to our many time national champion. Pachman was seven times champion of Czechoslovakia, won six international tournaments and played in six Interzonals. He was a supporter of the reformist Czech Prime-minister Alexander Dubcek and was jailed a number of times after the Soviet occupation of Czecheslovakia in 1968 to reverse the reforms. He was allowed to leave for Germany in 1972. He was a prolific journalist and the writer of over 80 books. Pachman had a +2 -2 =4 record against Bobby Fischer. Pachman,L - Fischer,R [D30] Santiago (6), 1959
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.d4 d5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 0-0 7.a3 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 Ne4 9.Qc2 a5 10.b3 b6 11.Bb2 Ba6 12.Bd3 f5 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.0-0 Rf6 15.Rfd1 Rh6 16.Bf1 g5? (An unusual moment in the the positionally correct Fischer is engaging in a dubious hack) 17.cxd5 g4 18.Bxa6 gxf3 19.gxf3 Qg5+ 20.Kf1 Rxh2 21.fxe4 Rf8 22.e5 f4 23.e4 f3 24.Ke1 Qg1+ 25.Kd2 Qxf2+ 26.Kc3 (An exquisite position, although not for the young American) …Qg3 27.Qd3 exd5 28.Rg1 Rg2 29.Rxg2 Qxg2 30.Qf1 dxe4 31.Qxg2+ fxg2 32.Rg1 Rf2 33.Bc4+ Kf8 34.Bd5 Rf3+ 35.Kc4 b5+ 36.Kc5 Ne7 37.Rxg2 Nxd5 38.Kxd5 Rxb3 39.Kxe4 b4 40.axb4 axb4 1-0 WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN SEE DIAGRAM
‘Continuous tournaments, and rapid games of one minute per move, have been lately in great favour in America. They have not yet caught on much in Europe, and we hope the latter kind never will do so, for though they may be very amusing, and may promote a quick sight of the board, they are more of the nature of skittles than of solid and thoughtful chess, and we should think would be a very poor preparation for contests of any real importance.’ (British Chess Magazine, 1898)