Rubinstein Memorial in Polanica Zdrój

by ChessBase
8/21/2015 – The International Chess Festival in Polanica Zdrój wants to keep the memory of Akiba Rubinstein alive. It once was one of the most popular tournaments in the world and players like Smysłow, Karpov, and Gelfand took part. Then the tournament fell into crisis. But it is still an attractive and strong tournament. The 51. edition begins today.
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The International Chess Festival in Polanica Zdrój

by Tomasz Mincewicz

A look back

The Rubinstein Memorial was basically a brainchild of Max Euwe. The former World Champion supported the idea of a Rubinstein Memorial in Poland where Rubinstein was born. “Every chess player, no matter what title he has, will be proud to receive an invitation to a tournament dedicated to the memory of Akiba Rubinstein!” said Euwe 1963 during a meeting with officials from the Polish Chess Federation in 1963.

A few months later the First Rubinstein International Chess Festival began. It was won by IM Nikolay Padevski from Bulgaria.

Nikolay Padevsky

In the years to come the tournament became stronger and stronger. In 1966 former World Champion Vassily Smyslov came to Polanica Zdrój and outclassed all opponents.

Every time Smysłow played in Polanica Zdrój he won in convincing style. (Photo: deluxchess.com)

In the 1990s the Akiba Rubinstein International Chess Festival reached its peak and had established itself as one of the strongest tournaments in the chess calendar.

One of the greatest Rubinstein admirers is Boris Gelfand. The former World Champion challenger again and again stresses how much he learned from the games of Rubinstein and how much Rubinstein influenced his play. Thus Gelfand will be pleased to have won two of the strongest editions of the Rubinstein Memorial (in 1998 and 2000). The 1998 tournament had an average rating of 2654 (category 17) which at that time was really impressive. It was a tournament full of tense and exciting games but the duel between Gelfand and Shirov was a real highlight.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.Rb1 0-0 9.Be2 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qxa2 12.0-0 Bg4 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 a5 14...Rd8 15.d5 g5 16.Bg3 b6?! 17.Re1 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nd7 19.e5± Anand,V-Illescas Cordoba,M,Madrid,1998 14...g5! 15.Bg3 Nc6 16.d5 Rad8 17.Rxb7 e6 17...f5! Chernin,A 18.Qe1 18.Bc7 fxe4! 18...Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Nd4 20.exf5 Nxf3+ 21.gxf3 Qxd5 22.Rxa7 Rxf5= 18.Bc7± 1-0 Chernin,A-Horvath,Jzsef/Magyarorszag (ch) 56/547 1992 (36) 15.Rxb7 g5 16.Bg3 a4 17.h4 a3 18.hxg5 hxg5 Both of the players definitely new Lautier, J-Sokolov,I game they were following.But they had different opinion about it. I believed that it is extremely dangerous for Black to rely only on a-pawn,and Alexey thought that this is a strong trump and it would help Black to hold the position. 19.Rc7!N No,this is not an elaborated home preparation,as many people suggested later,but an over the board decision.This is multi-functioned move:White want to win a pawn by Rc2 and Ng5 or put their Bishop on important c4 square.I spent more than 1 hour trying to make this idea work. 19.Rb5 also looked very tempting,but Black managed to survive. Nc6 20.Rxg5 Bxf3 21.gxf3 Qb2 22.Bc4 Rfd8 23.f4 Rxd4 24.Bxf7+ Kxf7 25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.e5 Qb3 27.Qg6 Qf7 28.Qxc6 Rad8 29.Qa6 Rd3 30.f5 Rf3 31.Ra1 Rxf5 32.Rxf5 Qxf5 33.Qxa3 e6 34.Qe7 Rf8 35.Qd6 Qg6 36.Rd1 Rf5 37.Qb8+ Kh7 38.Rd4 Rxe5 39.Rh4+ Rh5 40.Rxh5+ A-A Lautier,Joel-Sokolov,Ivan/Sigeman & Co Malmoe (4) 1998 19...Na6? Black are going for the most forced line,which however doesn't solve their problems. I was more concerned about other options: 19...Nd7 20.e5! Cutting both g7 and Ad7 out of game by just 1 move 20.Bc4 Qb2 21.Rxd7 Bxd7 22.Nxg5 is too aggressive Qb6! 23.e5 23.Qh5 Qh6 24.Bxf7+ Kh8 23...Qg6 20.Rc2?! It is too straightforward Qb3 21.Nxg5 Bxe2 21...a2 22.Rxe2 22.Qxe2?! a2 22...Bxd4 23.e5 Qxg3 24.Qh5 Qd3 25.Rd2 Qg6 23.Rb2 Qa3 24.Ra1 Bxd4 25.Rbxa2 Qxg3 26.Rxa8 Qxg5-+ 22...Qxd1 23.Rxd1 Ra4 23...a2 24.Ra1 Bxd4 24...Ra5 25.e5 Rfa8 26.Rb2± 25.Raxa2 24.Nf3 Nb6 with full compensation 20.Re1 Qb2 21.Rc2 Qb6 20...Qb2 20...Rfc8 21.Bc4 Qxc4 21...Qb2 22.Bxf7+ Kh8 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8 24.Qd3± 22.Rxc4 Rxc4 23.Qb3 Raa4 24.Nxg5± 21.Rc2 Qb3 21...Qb6 22.Nxg5 Bf5 23.Ra2± 22.Nxg5 a2 22...Bxe2 23.Qxe2 a2 24.Ra1 Qb1+ 25.Rc1 ∆Rfb8 26.e6 Qxc1+ 27.Rxc1 Rb1 28.exf7+ Kf8 29.Ne6+ Kxf7 30.Ng5++- 23.Rxa2 23.Rc1 Qxd1 24.Bxd1 Bxd1 24...a1Q 25.Rxa1 Rxa1 26.Bxg4 Rxf1+ 27.Kxf1 Nb6 25.Rcxd1 25.Rfxd1 Bh6 26.Bf4 Ra4 27.Be3 Rfa8 28.Ra1 Nb6 25...Nb6 23...Qxd1 24.Rxd1 Rxa2 25.Bxg4 Nb6 19...Qb2 20.Rc2 20.Bc4 also deserves attention,but I prefer 20. Ac2 a2 20...e6 21.Bd6 Rd8!? 21...a2 22.Qa1 Qb6 23.Bxf8 Qxc7 24.Bxg7 Qxc4 25.Ne5 22.e5 Nd7 21.Qa1 Qxa1 22.Rxa1 Bxf3 23.gxf3 Na6 23...Bxd4 24.Rxa2 Rxa2 25.Bxa2 e5 26.Bc4 24.Rxe7 Nb4 25.Rd7 20...Qb3 20...Qb6 21.Nxg5 Qxd4 21...Bxe2 22.Qxe2 Nd7 23.e5 Ra4 24.e6± 21...a2 22.Rxa2 Rxa2 23.Bxg4 Bxd4 23...Qxd4 -21...Od4 24.Be6! fxe6 25.Qh5 Rfxf2 26.Qg6+ 22.Qxd4 Bxd4 23.Bxg4 a2 24.Rxa2 Rxa2 25.Ne6 Nc6 26.Nxf8 Kxf8 maybe this was one of the best possibilities,as it is very difficult for White to win this ending(but Black would suffer for around 100 moves)! 21.Nxg5 a2 22.Rxa2 Qxd1 23.Rxd1 Rxa2 24.Bxg4 EAe6.During the game I thought that this position is critical,and I still believe it! Similiar position could also happen from 19...Ad7 line.White are definitely better.They have to plans:to create passed d-pawn or try to bother Black's King.Black ,in my opinion should try to exchange rooks ,what would minimize White's advantage. 19...Bxf3 20.Bxf3 doesn't give extra opportunities for Black 20.Rxe7 20.Bxa6?! is senseless Rxa6 20...Bxf3 21.Qd3 Bxf3 20.Bc4 Qb2 21.Rxe7 would force matters,but I dont see a way Black could avoid this position anyway. 20...Qb2 20...Bf6 21.Rb7 21.Bc4 Qb4 21...Bf6 Black are following main line,otherwise they were going to get mated. 22.Rxf7 Rxf7 23.e5! 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.Nxg5+ Bxg5 25.Qxg4+- 23...Be7 23...Qb7 24.exf6 Bxf3 25.Qd2 Be4 26.Re1 24.Bxf7+ Kxf7 25.Nxg5+ 21...a2 22.Rxf7 Rxf7 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 23...Kh8 24.Qa1 24.Bd5 24.Nxg5++- 22.Bxf7+ 22.Rxf7?! Qxc4 23.Rxg7+ Kxg7 24.Qd2 Bxf3 25.Qxg5+ Kh7 26.gxf3 Qf7 and white could hardly hope even for a draw. 22...Kh8 it looks like White's Rook is traped and their attack was incorrect. 22...Rxf7 23.Rxf7 Bxd4 24.Be5 Bxe5 25.Qd5+- 23.Rd7‼ This is main move of the game,and I am proud that I foreseen it from quite far.Shirov ,in his turn, called 23.Rd7 a 'prosaic 'move (and I have to agree with him!) and was afraid of even more imaginative idea: it looks like White Rook is traped and their attack was incorrect.But I prepared a suprise for my opponent. 23.Be6! Bxf3 23...Qxe7 24.Bxg4 a-pawn is still far and White already have a material advantage 24.Rxg7 Bxd1 25.Be5‼ the point of Alexey's idea.Now mate in 2 is a threat Qb5 the only defence 26.d5! 26.Bd5 Bishop is trying to protect his more important colleage,but Rf5‼ Now White have few possibilities,but it looks like they dont have an advantage 26...Qxd5 27.exd5 Ba4 27...Be2 28.Ra1+- 28.Ra1 Rf5 29.Rxg5+ Rxe5 30.dxe5 27.exf5 27.Rb7+ Rxe5 28.Rxb5 Be2 28...Rxd5 29.Rxd5∞ 29.dxe5 Bxb5= 27...Qxd5 28.Rd7+ 28.Rxg5+ Kh7 29.Rxd1 a2 30.Kh2 30.Rd3 a1Q+ 31.Kh2 Qxe5+ 32.dxe5 Qxe5+ 30...Qe4 31.Kg3 Qb1 32.Rh5+ Kg8 33.Rdh1 Kf7∞ 28...Qxe5 29.dxe5 I was really amazed,when my opponent showed me this line in post-mortem.During the game Alexey was not sure about Black's chances here,but as analysis show,draw is most likely result here. Bc2 29...Bg4 30.Rd4 Bxf5 31.Ra4 Nc7 32.Rxa8+ Nxa8 33.Ra1 Nc7 34.Rxa3 Ne6 30.g4 Nc5 31.Rc7 a2 32.Kg2 a1Q 33.Rxa1 Rxa1 34.Rxc5 Be4+= 35.f3 Ra2+ 36.Kg1 Bxf3 26...Qb2! finally getting the Bishop 27.Rg8+ Kh7 28.Bxb2 Rxg8 28...axb2 29.Rxf8 b1Q 29...Rxf8 30.Rxd1 30.Rxa8 29.Bxa3! Bc2 30.Bf5+ No,we are not going to exchange our nice Bishop for a passive Rook Kh6 31.Rc1 Ba4 32.e5± And White are better,but it is difficult to claim something more being a Rook down! 23...Bxd7 After making a difficult route a1-b1-b7-c7-e7-d7,Rook has no plce to go, but 24. d6 is a threat,soBlack has no choice,but to take. 23...Bf6 24.Bd5 24.Bd6 Qb5 24.Be6! 24...Bxd7 25.Nxg5 23...Qb5 24.Rd5 23...a2 24.Bxa2 24.Bd6 24...Rxf3 24...Bxd7 25.Nxg5 25.gxf3 Bxd7 26.Kg2 Bxd4 27.Rh1+ Kg7 28.Be5+ 24.Nxg5 Qb6 25.Be6! This is a point.Black has to give up Queen to revent a decisive check from h-line Qxe6 25...Be8 26.Qg4 Bxd4 26...Rf6 27.Be5 ∆Rxe6 28.Nf7+ 27.Qh4+ Kg7 28.Qh7+ Kf6 29.e5+ Kxg5 29...Bxe5 30.Qf5+ Ke7 31.Qxe5+- 30.Qg7+ Bg6 31.Bh4+ Kf4 32.Qxg6+- 26.Nxe6 Bxe6 27.Be5!? 27.Bd6 a2 27...Rfd8 28.Be5 Bc4 28...Ra7 29.Qc1 29.Qh5+ Kg8 30.Ra1 a2 31.d5 28...Rd7 29.Qh5+ Kg8 30.Qg6 Bb3 31.Bxg7 Rxg7 32.Qb6+- 29.Qh5+ Kg8 30.Qg6 Ra7 31.Ra1 a2 32.Qc6 Bf7 33.Bxg7 Kxg7 34.d5 Nc7± 28.Bxf8 Rxf8 28...Bxf8 29.d5 Bg7 30.Qh5+ Kg8 31.dxe6+- 29.Qh5+ 29.Qa4 Nc7 30.d5 30.Qc6 Bxd4 31.Qxc7 a1Q 31...Ra8 32.Qd6 32.Rxa1 Bxa1 30...Ra8 31.Qc6 29...Kg8 30.Qa5 Bc4 31.Qa4 Rc8 32.Rc1 27...Rf7 27...Bc4 28.Qc1 28.Qh5+ Kg8 29.Qg6 Ra7 30.Ra1 a2 31.Qc6 Bf7 32.Bxg7 Kxg7 33.d5 Nc7± 34.Rxa2 Rxa2 35.Qxc7 We believe that this type of position ,which could arise from a lot of lines is in a long run won for White 28...Bxe5 29.Qxc4 Bg7 30.Ra1 30.Rc1 a2 31.Ra1 Rfc8 32.Qd3 Nb4! 32...Nc5 33.Qh3+ Kg8 34.Rxa2 Bxd4 35.e5! 33.Qh3+ Kg8 34.Qb3+ Kh7 35.Qxb4 Rcb8 30...Rfc8 31.Qd3 Nc5 31...Bf8 32.e5 32.Qh3+ Kg8 33.e5 28.Qh5+ 28.d5 Bd7 29.Qd4 Nc7 30.Ra1 Nb5 31.Bxg7+ Rxg7 32.Qe3 28...Kg8 29.Qg6 Bd7 29...Bc4 30.Qc6 29...Bb3 30.Bxg7 Rxg7 31.Qb6 30.Bxg7 30.Qg3 this difficult to find move,proposed by fritz5 was more practical(but maybe not stronger).Very often You see diffirent picture-computer's proposal is sometimes stronger,but much less practical. a2 30...Nb4 31.Bxg7 Rxg7 32.Qb3+ Kh8 33.Qxb4 Bh3 34.Ra1 31.Ra1 30...Rxg7 31.Qd6 Kh7 Alexei misses an exelent practical chance,which is strange,as he is, in my opinion,maybe the best defender in chess world. 31...Rf8 32.Qxa3 32.Qxa6 Bh3 31...Nc7‼ was the best try. 32.Qxc7 Bh3 would put me under a tough choice,taking in consideration,that I had less than 10 minutes left. 32...Bb5 33.Qc5 Bxf1 34.Qd5+ Kh7 35.Qxa8 Bxg2 36.Qxa3 Bxe4+ 37.Kf1 looks winning,as Black's pieces are very poorly coordinated. 33.Qc6 33.Qxg7+ Kxg7 34.gxh3 Ra4‼ Exellent move 34...a2 35.Ra1 Ra4 36.f3 3 extra pawns should be enough 35.Ra1 Rxd4 36.Rxa3 Rxe4 Theory considers such a position drawish,but as far I know,a lot of strong grandmasters question this assessment. 33.Qc4+ Kh7 34.Qd5 Ra6 33...Ra5 34.Rc1! The most precise decision,but I admit that I am not sure that I'll find it being very short of time.As the following lines showes,White are winning. Rxg2+ 34...Bxg2 35.Qc8+ Kh7 36.Rc7 Rag5 37.Rxg7+ Rxg7 37...Kxg7 38.Qc7++- 38.Kh2 34...a2 35.Kh2 Bxg2 35...Bd7 36.Qc4+ Kh8 37.Qc3 Rag5 38.g3 Rh5+ 39.Kg2 Rgh7 40.d5+ Kg8 41.Kf3 36.d5! Kh7 37.Qf6 Ra8 38.d6!?+- 35.Kh1 a2 36.Qe8+ Kh7 37.Qe7+ Kh6 38.Rc6+ 38.Qh4+ Rh5 39.Qf6+ Rg6 38...Rg6 39.Qf8+ Kg5 40.Qd8+ Kf4 41.Qxa5 Rxc6 42.Qxa2+- 32.Qxa3 Nc7 33.Qe3 Ne6 34.d5 Ng5 35.f4 Nh3+ 35...Nf7 36.f5 36.Kh1 Ra2 36...Rag8 37.gxh3 Rg3 38.Rf3 37.f5! Avoiding last trap 37.gxh3? Rgg2!= 37...Ng5 38.f6 Rg6 39.f7 40.f8N is White's threat,so Black Resign.I was very happy po play this game in memorial of one of my favorite players A. Rubinstein.I don't think it was done in his style,but I believe it worth his memory! 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Gelfand,B2675Shirov,A27201–01998D85Rubinstein Memorial 35th4

The Rubinstein Memorial 2000 even reached an average rating of 2674. Unfortunately, after that the tournament declined slowly due to a number of unfortunate events and no longer was a top event.

Historical photos

Closing ceremony of the 25. edition (Photo: dolny-slask.org.pl)

Members of the Polish Chess Federation in 1979 ( Photo: Andrzej Filipowicz)

A picture of 1991: Do you recognize familiar faces?

1996: FM Jerzy Konikowski comments (Photo http://www.blog.konikowski.net)

1987 (Photo: dolny-slask.org.pl)

1963

The arbiters in the service of Rubinstein

The playing hall

Before the start of the blitz tournament

Even though the Rubinstein Memorial is not as strong as it once was the organisers do their best to make the tournament attractive for amateurs and grandmasters. This year GM Mikhail Brodsky from Ukraine is the top seed in the GM tournament.

GM Michail Brodsky

GM Rafał Antoniewski (2531) is the top seed in the B-tournament (Photo: Olga Zajkowska)

GM Vadim Shishkin won in 2014

Polanica Zdrój

The entrance to the playing venue (Photo from the official site of the city)

Chess in the park

The park at night

The river Bystrzyca-Dusznicka flows right through the city.

Summer sledge track ( Photo from the official site of the city)

A different kind of Rubinstein Memorial

Tournament site of the 51. Rubinstein Memorial

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