MARK RUBERY CHESS

Saviely Tartakower (1887-1956) was at his peak one of the top ten players in the world but it is because of his witty style of writing, and perhaps some brilliant defeats, that he is best remembered. Born of Austrian and Polish parents in Russia, he studied in Geneva and settle in Vienna At the age of 19 he gained the German master title and few years later a doctorate in law yet, like Alekhine, the lure of chess proved stronger than the prospect of a legal career. Having defeated both Spielmann and Reti in matches his chess career was put on hold as he fought for the Austro-Hungarian army in WW1 and on returning to the game he achieved many good results including Vienna 1922 where he finished behind Alekhine but ahead of Rubinstein. In 1924 Tartakower moved to Paris although he was to represent Poland in a number of Olympiads although he neither lived there nor spoke the language. He was one of the few top players to participate in both wars and in WW2 he served with the French Free Forces under an assumed name. Tartakower preferred to play openings that were considered dubious although the Tartakower Variation of the Queens Gambit Declined can be considered a very sound line and is still popular today.

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN

Asya Kovalov was Giri’s coach in St. Petersburg and shared the following information on his talented pupil:

‘In the initial stages classes are held in groups, and of course you immediately pay attention to a kid if he raises his hand and is ready to answer your questions. After a couple of months it became clear the kid was talented, and in something like half a year I realised he wasn’t simply talented. He also had an extremely high intelligence. At one tournament Anish was given Karpov’s book “My Best Games: 100 Wins in 30 Years”, and a couple of days later he’d read the whole of it, although after all it wasn’t a work of fiction but an analysis of games. It was as if he’d photographed them and knew them by heart. An intellect of the very highest level.’