“50 years ago, on June 5, 1975, the legendary Estonian chess player Paul Keres went”, – WRITE: Sport.ua
He never became the world champion, but gained a unique honor: he became the first chess player in history to be perpetuated on a bill – 5 Estonian crowns (and later his image appeared on a coin of 2 euros). Paul Keres was called the least Soviet chess players: an elegant suit, a perfect cut, a spectacular tie, exquisite manners, a unique charm. Against the backdrop of the bored Soviet everyday life, he really seemed like a white crow. He was born in Nava in 1916, learned to play by German -speaking books, the multi -dummy of Estonia and the USSR multi -empty.
The range of interests of little Paul was embroidered: piano, collecting crossword puzzles, making clay musical instruments, chess, tennis (had the 1st category of this sport), football, volleyball, swimming, secretary in a sports circle in the gymnasium. After the Soviet occupation of Estonia, he takes the Smeiserian citizenship (at the same time, he did not know the Russian language at first!), And at the 1940 country the Council of Soviets ranks 4th. In the 1940s, the 1940s plays in the territory of the Third Reich, it is included in the list of enemies of Soviet power in Estonia, but with the assistance and comprehensive support of the Estonian Ekaters and the leadership of the local Communist Party, gradually deserves indulgence. However, the denunciations and slander on the chess player continued, but after Stalin’s death, the situation was somewhat normalized, and Keres was able to take care of chess. Although under the supervision of the KGB, the eminent grandmaster and his wife Maria Constance (lived a long life, left this world at the age of 97 in the 21st century) were all the time. One of the 1965 KGB archives stated: “The family lives so much, the owner of the American limo.” That’s right! On the verge of thaw and stagnation!
The second is the second
In the 1950s and 1960s, Paul took 2 times in a row in the contenders’ tournaments, without being able to read the match for the world chess crown. “The second” is an unfortunate nickname, but it was glued to Kerres firmly. He could also become the first Soviet (Oh, he wants to take this word in this context!) Fide President, because his candidacy did not cause opposition in Western countries, but did not show appropriate will, acknowledging that he could not be independent at the head of Fide. “I can only write books on my own,” Kerres said.
An indicative fact. When in 1974 the final match of the contenders against Anatoly Karpov was waiting for Viktor Kornchny, the sports committee and the management of the USSR Chess Federation were completely on the side of his opponent. Of course, it was not a secret for Soviet grandmasters. Only Bronstein and Keres were offered Corchno. But, after all, the debut ideas of Bronstein Corchy used, but Kerres rejected the proposal of Kerch. “I only made a few draws with him, losing four parties, and I had the feeling that if I agreed to his help, he would have been fighting for the chessboard, not me. Kerry’s chess authority was too pressed on me, ”Korchny explained his decision in many years. By the way, a chess dissident believed that if Kerres remained in the West (and the corresponding opportunity was attracted to Stockholm), then the championship would eventually win. Interesting opinion, is worth a deep work.
The last victory friendly aristocrat
On May 31, 1975, Kerres flew from Vancouver (where in the last round of the representative tournament defeated the white American Walter Brown) to Helsinki. The next day, the grandmaster had to go to Tallinn, but he became ill at the hotel, and Kerres was hospitalized at the University of Helsinki. Doctors diagnosed a heart attack. The next day, the Groster was facilitated, he was visited by a Finnish chess figure Simo Nuotio in the ward. Keresov recommended staying in the hospital for another two weeks, so the wife did not hurry to go to him. But a few days later, at 59 years of age, Keres died.
About 100,000 people (Tallinn’s population did not exceed 400,000 inhabitants at that time) took part in the burial procession of Paul Kerres on the streets of Tallinn at that time): the male choir, the power of a lot of flowers, the coffin with the body was carried by the best athletes of Estonia at that time. The chess player was buried in the metaxalist cemetery, where many prominent Estonia figures were found eternal.
If we talk about the creative manner of the great Estonian Graster, it can be called a universal. Both vivid sacrifices and some comprehensive sharpness (commitment to royal gambitis – therefore testimony), and the ability to endure in a viscous positioning struggle, and virtuosity in endshchy and encyclopedic of debut knowledge are all signs of a real master. It had something that could be called, by the definition of German Grasmaster Wolfgang, the “kindness of the aristocher”. Let us recall some of his twists over the world champions (and Kerres won the 9th owners of the highest chess title, besides him, this was only the case with Victor Korchny and Alexander Bilyavsky), who, without exaggeration, came into the chess can.
1. Keres – Alekhin, Margit, 1937
A wonderful Estonian roaring, which largely led to his overall victory (along with American Roiben Fine) at a tournament in British Margita. Alekhin, after all, fell behind 1.5 points, without playing any party in the tournament. Not without the victim of the enzyme, but here the rival Kerres did not accept it. As soon as Kerres brought his hand for this course, Alekhin left the tournament hall without a word. However, after 20 minutes, he returned to admit his defeat, because the mat, if you accept the victim, would not be avoided. I note that Estonets ironically called the Russian Champion of Alyoshka.
2. Keres – Kapablanca, Harlem, 1938
The Big Cuban did not accept the victim of the horse. As a result, he was left without a pawn. And this small material advantage Estonets subsequently skillfully implemented. And on this Augro-tournament Keres divided 1-2th places with Roiben Fine. Botvinnik, Alekin, Eve and Capablanca remained behind. The Estonian Grandmaster was the only one on that elite competition that has not been defeated!
3. Eve – Keres, Rotterdam, 1940
A great example of the work of a prominent Estonian chess player, when the enzyme (again!) Was sacrificed. Some at one time considered the victim not quite correct, but, after all, the researchers of Kerres’s work came to the conclusion that everything was thought out as best possible. After the victim of the enzyme and before Eve made a weapon, a good dozen moves passed.
4. Keres – Spassky, Gothenburg, 1955
What a beautiful matte attack on the king of black! Again, the victim of the enzyme is offered, and the next world champion immediately recognizes the futility of his hopes to escape! At this interzonal tournament, for the 21st participant, Keres finished 2 after David Bronstein.
5. Tal – Keres, Belgrade, 1959
In that PhD tournament, Tal won, but from 4 parties against Keres Ryzhanin lost 3, and won only a one-time one (draw-here!). This party was played in the 24th round, and the Estonian chess player in Ferzovo-Cone endshpil was able to hamper a surprise talent with his ryza maneuvers, to get 2-pishakov material The advantage and finally bring the party to victory.
Alexei Ryzhkov