tag: Birthday - Page 2

Happy Birthday: 15 years of playchess.com!

9/20/2016 – Today the ChessBase playchess.com server celebrates its 15th birthday. On 20th September 2001 the server went public and only minutes later the first chess fans wanted to play. Today, thousands of chess fans from all over the world play and train on the server, watch the many audio- and video-files, and follow top tournaments live. ChessBase and playchess made online chess incredibly comfortable! To celebrate, ChessBase has presents for its readers, customers and friends.

Karpov Diem: Happy 65th birthday, Tolya!

5/23/2016 – When Anatoly Karpov was 11 years old, he was invited to Botvinnik’s chess school. But the “Patriarch” passed a harsh verdict: “The boy has no clue about chess and therefore absolutely no future as a chess player.” Rarely was a judgement about chess talent more wrong — Karpov went on to become the 12th World Chess Champion. Here is a look at his career and lots of games.

Mark Taimanov celebrates 90th birthday

2/7/2016 – As a child Mark Taimanov was a film star and later he was one of the best chessplayers of his time. He was also a celebrated concert pianist, giving concerts all over the world. With his fourth wife he founded and runs a chess school in St. Petersburg. Today, 7th February 2016, Taimanov celebrates his 90th birthday. Dagobert Kohlmeyer talked to the multi-talent.

Estonia celebrates Keres' 100th birthday

1/7/2016 – Paul Keres was born 7th January 1916 in Narva, Estonia, and was one of the best players in the history of chess. He played in eight candidates tournaments and four times he finished second. He won games against nine World Champions but never played a match for the title. He was also a fantastic chess writer and an impeccable sportsman. In Estonia he is a national hero.

Pal Benko's birthday problems

7/18/2015 – On July 14 Hungarian problem componist GM Pal Benkö turned 87. His wife Gisela is 78, his daughter Palma 45, son David 44 and his grandson Adam 12. Why are we telling you this so specifically? Because Pal is celebrating with some wonderful number problems: positions shaped like digits, to share with his family and with problem lovers all over the world. Now with solutions!

John Nunn's 60th Birthday Blitz

4/27/2015 – Sixteen players, most of them with GM titles, gathered together in the splendid Home House in London's West End to play a blitz tournament. This was to celebrate the 60th birthday of one of their most esteemed colleagues, Dr John Nunn, mathematician, former top world class GM, author, problemist. We wish John a very happy birthday with this big pictorial report.

Garry Kasparov turns fifty

4/13/2013 – He is widely considered the greatest chess player of all time – the youngest ever undisputed World Chess Champion. Garry Kimovich Kasparov dominated chess for twenty years, until his retirement in 2005. Since then he has devoted his time to politics and writing. Today Garry turns fifty, and we wish him a very happy birthday with a nostalgic look at the past 25 years.

Bobby Fischer's 70th birthday

3/9/2013 – One of the greatest chess players and heroes in the history of the game, 11th World Chess Champion Robert James "Bobby" Fischer, died at the age of 64 on January 17, 2008. Today the American chess legend would have turned 70. Valery Golubenko has a posthumous present for his idol since childhood, and, to celebrate the day, we bring you a

ChessBase is 25: Birthday greetings from Anand

6/1/2011 – Our company was born on May 19, 1986, twenty-five years ago, and on May 19, 2011 one of our most loyal friends, World Champion Viswanathan Anand, logged into the Playchess server and sent us a ten-minute birthday greeting. It was quite moving to be reminded of the early days by one who was present at the time – and who has remained a close friend ever since. Must-watch historical video.

Happy Birthday! Anatoly Karpov turns sixty

5/23/2011 – He is one of the greatest chess players in the history of the game, World Champion from 1975 to 1985, superb tournament player with 160 first-place finishes against world-class opposition, including the legendary 2985 performance at Linares in 1994. Our special birthday present is an amusing little video, narrated by the late Alexander Roshal, on the eleven-year-old prodigy Karpov.

Viktor Korchnoi's 80th birthday clock simul

4/4/2011 – A week ago we celebrated Viktor Korchnoi's 80th birthday in Zurich. There was a gala dinner with chess prominence, but before that the octogenarian gave a handicap clock simul against ten talented members of the Swiss juniors. Viktor Lvovich won the match 8-2 and played some very attractive games. The juniors sent them to us with their notes. Big pictorial report.

Viktor Korchnoi's 80th Birthday Celebration

3/28/2011 – On Saturday the Schachgesellschaft Zürich celebrated the anniversary of someone who had done more for chess in Switzerland than any other player. Viktor Korchnoi, born on March 23 1931, kicked things off with a clock simul and then attended a gala dinner in his honour. Guests included Mark Taimanov and Garry Kasparov. We bring you a big pictorial report by Frederic Friedel.

Going strong at 85 – Mark Taimanov's birthday

2/16/2011 – For decades he was one of the world's top grandmasters. Mark Evgenievich Taimanov, who last week turned 85, has led a very full life, as a child actor, concert pianist and as a proud father (having children 57 years apart!). For his birthday this extraordinary personality gave a number of interviews and with them a unique insight into contemporary chess and his personal life.

Anand felicitated on his 39th birthday

12/13/2008 – The World Champion Viswanathan Anand was born on December 11 1969. Last Thursday he turned 39, in the town of his birth, Chennai, India. Such an occasion cannot pass uncelebrated, and the All India Chess Federation arranged a worthy celebration for the All India Sporting hero. From the captain of the Indian cricket team Anand received a diamond ring. Pictorial report by Arvind Aaron.

Biel 01: Happy Birthday, Judit Polgar – and great game!

7/23/2007 – The Grandmaster Group of the 40th annual Biel Chess Festival started with a spectacular black win for Judit Polgar, who was also celebrating her 31st birthday, over Loek van Wely. Magnus Carlsen was the second successful player, in a marathon game with white against China's Bu Xiangi. The other three games were drawn, mostly after interesting fights.

Bessel's Birthday – a Party in Prague

3/16/2007 – Last December Bessel Kok, Dutch businessman and chess organiser, turned 65, and also married his partner Martina. All of this happened in strict privacy. Now, three months later, Bessel, who will soon be running the commercial branch of FIDE, celebrated the milestones in a party spectacular held in Prague, with former president Václav Havel acting as patron. A chess treat was included.

Congratulations and happy birthday, Judit!

7/24/2006 – Goodness, how time flies! Seems like yesterday we were playing table-tennis with the pre-teen Judit Polgar, and now she has turned thirty and given birth to her second child Hanna, who entered the world at 3.5 kilos two weeks ago. Judit remains by far the strongest female player in the history of the game. Portrait and pictures.

John Nunn 50th birthday endgame study tourney

2/22/2006 – Last week we brought you a selection studies that were submitted to a composing tourney, organised to celebrate Grandmaster John Nunn's 50th birthday. The article contained partial solutions, which our readers were expected to complete. Here are the full solutions and links to all the studies in the award. Enjoy!

Lubomir Kavalek's birthday guide to Prague

8/9/2005 – Today the well-known Czech-American GM and Washington Post chess columnist celebrates his 62nd birthday. He does this by sending us a spectacular photo report of his beloved Prague, where recently the Czech President and two FIDE presidential candidates attended the CEZ Chess Trophy. Here's Lubos' birthday report.

The Birthday Blitz – John at Fifty

4/25/2005 – Today John Nunn turned fifty. To commemorate this there was a weekend blitz in London's beautiful Home House, with most of the top British players. Afterwards, at a sumptuous dinner, the veteran captain of the English team summed up John's career in a memorable speech. We bring you pictures and a transcription.

Happy birthday Bent!

3/5/2005 – Bent Larsen is one of the most interesting players of the 20th century. He came to light at the age of 19, then developed into the strongest Western player and one of the most serious threats to Soviet hegemony in chess. On March 4th he completed his 70th year. We bring you a short biography and an indepth interview.

Will the world end on Kasparov's 66th birthday?

2/8/2005 – The answer is no, almost certainly not. That is the conclusion drawn by NASA last week, after conducting radar measurements with the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico. The chances of a birthday armageddon have sunk from 2.7% to virtually zero. Warning: the following article has very little chess content. And it is not for the faint-hearted...

Happy Birthday Helmut Pfleger!

8/6/2003 – Who is the best-known German chess player? If you count the number of people who know his name or would recognize him on the streets then GM Helmut Pfleger wins the contest hands down. Not because he was one of the most talented players in the sixties and seventies, but because he has brought chess into the mainstream media. Today Helmut turns sixty.

Want to know what they're saying about Judit Polgar?

7/27/2003 – Four days ago she celebrated her 27th birthday. After our story about the world's strongest female player appeared we received hundreds and hundreds of letters congratulating her. All were dutifully passed on to the much-admired young lady. Here are a few samples for you to enjoy.
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