Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (64)

6/26/2011 – From around the world there came a very strong entry for the photograph quiz set about a week ago by the Editor of Chess Notes. Now it is time for the answers and the announcement of the five winners. Among the names often put forward by readers were Geller, Ivanchuk, Korchnoi, Smyslov, Stein and Tal, but were they there? What was the actual line-up of the mystery seven?

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Chess Explorations (64)

By Edward Winter


Photograph 1: Anatoly Karpov

The photograph was taken from Anatolii Karpov v fotografiyakh by D. Donskogo (Moscow, 1984).

Another portrait from that richly illustrated book:


Anatoly Karpov (left)


Photograph 2: Boris Spassky

This was one of eight shots on a plates page in the 1969 Petrosian v Spassky match book by I. Boleslavsky and I. Bondarevsky (Moscow, 1970):


Photograph 3: Tigran Petrosian

The photograph appeared on the front cover of Chess Review, March 1966 and January 1969.


Photograph 4: Bobby Fischer

For further details, see the comments regarding photograph 7 below.


Photograph 5: Paul Keres

The photograph section of Mälestusi Paul Keresest by M. Rõtova (Tallinn, 1983) included this two-page spread:


Photograph 6: Garry Kasparov

Our source was the front cover of Garri Kasparov-Jan Timman (Prague, 1998):


Photograph 7: Mark Taimanov

This was the master who caused entrants the most difficulties. The picture appeared on the front cover of the July 1971 Chess Life & Review:

See also C.N. 4707, which showed this photograph on the front cover of a very rare book published in the Philippines, Games of Bobby Fischer.

Another photograph of Fischer with his head buried in his hands was given in C.N. 5094. The face of his opponent, Bob Hope, was also concealed, as he poured out a bag of nuts. See our latest feature article, Chess and Television.

The winners of the inscribed books are:

  • Chess Explorations: Jiri Lisy, Prague, Czech Republic
  • Kings, Commoners and Knaves: Carlos Mas, San Pedro, Mexico
  • A Chess Omnibus: Tony Barnsley, Sheffield, England
  • Chess Facts and Fables: Jan Gantar, Vodice, Slovenia
  • Capablanca: Hossam Hassan, Zagazig, Egypt.

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All ChessBase articles by Edward Winter

Edward Winter is the editor of Chess Notes, which was founded in January 1982 as "a forum for aficionados to discuss all matters relating to the Royal Pastime". Since then, over 7,100 items have been published, and the series has resulted in four books by Winter: Chess Explorations (1996), Kings, Commoners and Knaves (1999), A Chess Omnibus (2003) and Chess Facts and Fables (2006). He is also the author of a monograph on Capablanca (1989). In 2011 a paperback edition was issued.

Chess Notes is well known for its historical research, and anyone browsing in its archives will find a wealth of unknown games, accounts of historical mysteries, quotes and quips, and other material of every kind imaginable. Correspondents from around the world contribute items, and they include not only "ordinary readers" but also some eminent historians – and, indeed, some eminent masters. Chess Notes is located at the Chess History Center. Signed copies of Edward Winter's publications are currently available.