Isenegger Memorial Study Tourney (2)

ARVES Isenegger Memorial Tourney

Yochanan Afek , Bern WCCF congress 2014

This tourney commemorates the well-known endgame study composer Samuel Isenegger (2.11.1899 – 15.11.1964), who was born in Bern the Swiss capital and passed away fifty years ago. A repeating motif in his studies – pawns fighting pieces – was selected as the theme of this event. A Jenever tourney record of 33 entries by 20 composers from 11 countries. The general standard proved exceptionally high, especially for such a short deadline.

Composition GM Davit Gurgenidze, endgame experts John Roycroft, Harold van der Heijden

Pawns fighting pieces, in the spirit of David vs. Goliath encounters, have always been popular. However this event has shown that with and without the help of modern technology it is still possible to delve even deeper and enrich this sub-genre with new findings. Since the power of the pawns is at the focus of attention, play following promotion or underpromotion was not considered thematic. Quite a few composers have shown interesting realizations of the Festina Lente theme (choosing the shorter first move of a pawn). Thus this award might offer considerable contribution to the research of this theme.

In the first part of this report we brought you the compositions that won the first to fourth prizes. Today, in this second part, you can enjoy the studies that got a special prize and honorary mentions. Best study results are 2nd in study section of WCCI 2010-2012, 1st in study section of 2nd FIDE World Cup 2011, 1st in study section of 3rd FIDE World Cup 2013.

Special prize: Richard Becker, USA

Richard Becker, born 29.04.59, living in Oregon City, Oregon, USA,
is a technician in the aerospace industry.

The special prize is by no means a kind of "consolation", but rather aimed at emphasizing its unique contribution to the relatively small treasure of the chameleon-echo theme. Along each of the three thematic variations three echo positions are displayed – a remarkable record indeed! Normally I would not hesitate to rank this special achievement much higher. However, in order to do justice to the rest of the field I could not turn a blind eye to the fact that it somehow lacks the main requirement of the particular theme, namely there is no real subtle pawn fight here, as all white pawn moves are pretty much expected and forced.

1st Hon. Mention: Yuri Bazlov, Russia

Yuri Bazlov, 67, is a journalist living in Naberezhnye Chelny (Tatarstan, Russia).
He is an International Master for Chess compositions.

Sacrificial pawn play based on blows and counter-blows in the good old romantic style, successfully meets an overwhelming material superiority to secure a decisive promotion.

2nd Hon. Mention: Pavel Arestov, Russia Pavel Arestov, 48, is a manager living in Krasnogorsk (Russia). His submission is another instructive Festina Lente combined with a reciprocal zugzwang logical try, this time combined with the old shouldering manoeuvre.

3rd Hon. Mention: Siegfried Hornecker, Germany Siegfried Hornecker is 28 and an “independent gentleman” (by his definition). He lives in Heidenheim an der Brenz, Germany. In the composition he submitted, with the paradoxical 2.Kb7!! the white monarch blocks his own pawn but stops the black king from approaching c6.

4th Hon. Mention: Anatoly Skripnik, Russia

Anatoly Skripnik, 56, is a Chief Officer living in Rostov on Don (Russia)

The fight against a white squared bishop ends up in a battle against an opposite coloured one. An amusing idea.

5th Hon. Mention: Vladislav Tarasiuk, Ukraine

Vladislav Tarasiuk, 46, is a medical immunologist living in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine

A light and well presented version of the Festina Lente theme. An instructive example suitable for introducing the theme to a public of heterogeneous strength!

Yochanan Afek (above left, with Davit Gurgenidze) is an Israeli chess player, composer, trainer and arbiter, the only person to possess international titles at four different facets of chess, being an International Master, International Master of chess compositions, International Arbiter and International Arbiter of the chess compositions.

– The final set of award winning studies from the Isenegger Memorial Tourney will follow soon –

The Alexander Rueb Vereniging voor SchaakEindspelStudie (ARVES), founded in October 1988 in Amsterdam, is a Dutch-Flemish Association for chess players who are specially interested in endgame studies. The World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC) works on disseminating and encouraging chess composition throughout the world.