Budapest Spring Festival
By Diana Mihajlova
The Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Well into April, and the bare branches in front of the Hungarian Academy of
Sciences seem unaware. However, despite appearances to the contrary, Spring
is well and truly upon us, celebrated in Budapest with its traditional Spring
Festival of Arts with outstanding theatre, music, dance, and art exhibitions.
Chess in Budapest has its own Spring Festival, organised by Laszlo Nagy, the
famed organiser of the First Saturday tournaments. It is a yearly event and
this year it ran from March 19 to 28. That the youngsters are filling the chess
playing halls is no longer a surprise, but this year’s Budapest Spring Festival
was especially marked by a large number of boys and girls. Could it they have
been inspired by their compatriot, 14-year-old Richard Rapport – the newest
and youngest Hungarian GM?
Youngsters rule the chess world. A few of the junior players with organiser
Laszlo Nagy seen behind. Almost one third of the participants were under 14.
Warming up before a round – Csaba Tesik (2159), Melinda Varga (1840), Boglarka
Bea (2012) and Zsuzsana Kabai (2086). And on the opposite end of the spectrum,
let’s not forget the tireless seniors such as:
Lajos Borda (2076), a very active player in the Hungarian chess circuit
Dr Lajos Kelemen, 84, sets the example for his younger counterparts,
while regularly playing in national tournaments as well as the First Saturdays.
WIM Lili Toth (HUN 2198) found some time to fit a chess tournament in her busy schedule while she studies and trains to become a lawyer. Her result of 5.0/9 was not bad, considering the little time she has to dedicate to chess training.
Although the Spring Festival is mainly a ‘local affair’, it also attracts quite a number of players from abroad.
An Irishman and an Englishman in Budapest: Antony Breen (IRL, 1719) and
Tristan Cox (ENG, 2106).
Glen Charleshouse (ENG, 2203), with his 6.0/9 should take back fond memories
of the Spring Festival.
Janjaadorj Munkhbayar, international arbiter from Mongolia
Janjaadorj Munkhbayar is an international arbiter from Mongolia, but had somehow
eluded a FIDE rating. He arrived at the tournament as an unrated player, but
his 4.5/9 means he will return home with a handsome 2252 rating points.
Michael Yip (CAN, 2017) temporarily residing in Budapest; scored 5.0/9 and
a 2240 performance, which is good for a further +30 rating points. His smile
says it all.
Halis Altin, Cem Altin and Halit Dogan, in the photo with organizer, Laszlo
Nagy, came from Istanbul, Turkey. They sampled Budapest for the first time on
the occasion of the Spring Festival and hope to return for some of the First
Saturday tournaments as well.
FM Louis Sanchez (FRA, 2234) and IM Ismael Karim (MOR, 2368) are friends travel
to many tournaments as well as share a flat in Malaga, Spain. Louis won third
place with 7.0/9 and Ismael trailed just a few places behind with 6.0/9. Ismael
is currently involved in the final stages of the organisation of a big international
tournament in Marrakech, Morocco – 26 June – 1 July 2010. In one of the most
picturesque locations, with a 4000 Euro first prize and a number of invited
titled players, it promises to be a tournament worth considering in your chess
calendar.
IM Nhat Minh To (2422) is Vietnamese but plays under Hungarian flag. With 2422
he was the highest seed, but this time had to be content with fifth place.
The winners: 1st place IM Emil Szalanczy (HUN 2280) (on the right), 7.5/9 and
2nd place IM Dr Evarth Kahn (HUN 2231), 7.0/9.
WFM Thi Mai Hung Nguyen (VIE, 2224), came in seventh and won the women’s prize with 6/9. She plays regularly in the First Saturday tournaments where she is making great progress. Last month she made her first WIM norm.
Balasz Csonka (HUN, 2163) with his prize money for sixth place; 6.0/9 and
a 2290 performance.
The Spring Festival ended just a couple of days before the start of the regular First Saturday tournament of April. Among the new chess arrivals in Budapest were IM Iweta Rajlich and her husband IM Vasik Rajlich, the creator of Rybka. They are expecting their first baby and Iweta thought that the First Saturday would be a good chance for a last tournament before a chess break. They marked their visit to Budapest, where they lived for several years before returning to Iweta’s native Poland, by throwing a generous party for participants and friends.
From left, sitting: Nick Adams (USA), FM Takashi Iwamoto (USA), FM Erik Kislik
(USA), FM Mark Lyell (ENG); standing: Thomas Heyl (GER), IM Endre Vegh (HUN),
Agnes Hollo (HUN), IO Laszlo Nagy (HUN), FM Juergen Brustkern (GER), IM Iweta
Rajlich (POL) and IM Vasik Rajlich (USA).
The hosts, and future parents, IMs Iweta and Vasik Rajlich
To the obvious question by guests: ‘When is Rybka 4 arriving?’, Vasik would
only give a mysterious: ‘Soon’. Hoping to get more, I asked: ‘Before or after
the baby?’. ‘Oh, much before the baby.’
Well then, since the baby is due in July...
