Masterpieces and Drama:Part I

 

Masterpieces and Drama:Soviet Championships 1920-1937

by Sergey Voronkov

Hardcover Edition: 464 Pages

Language:Russian

Ripol.2007

 

It was a quiet afternoon. A man in his early 30s stood perplexed before the periodicals’ rack at Petit Library, Mumbai.I walked up to him and asked,

“Is this what you are looking for?”

When he saw the chess magazine in my hands, his eyes lit up.

“How did you know?”

“I am also a chess player.”

“Glad to meet you…”

We shook hands.The man I met was Shamsul Hasan, a veteran of Indian National Championships. We became friends easily. It became a pleasant routine to visit him in his office. One day I saw him poring over games from 64, the Russian chess magazine. I had never seen it before and was enchanted. In a few minutes I had understood the strange Cyrillic symbols and was ready to follow the games. In those days 64 was read by players all over the world. I became a subscriber in no time. The magazine was published on Friday and sent by air mail to readers abroad. I would eagerly wait for my copy every Monday. It was quite a “live” experience to see games from the 44th Soviet Championship being played at that time.I had been familiar with Russian writers like Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky through translation.But this was chess stuff.Soon I began attending Russian classes and also started reading chess literature from Russia. Over the years it has become a blessing as there is a wealth of material in this wonderful language.You can also read and enjoy Russian chess books.It is just a matter of motivation and effort.

This brings me to the present.Masterpieces and drama is an extraordinary account of Soviet Championships from 1920 to 1937. The story of each tournament is described in wonderful detail with anecdotes,pictures and cartoons.What is more,there are so many rare games annotated by the contestants themselves.Many of these are not even known to players in the English-speaking world. If you are conversant with Russian you would enjoy the rich engaging prose of this book with all its humour and pathos. If you are not, sit back and relax. Enjoy the games in the book.

The story of this book begins in 1920.But to appreciate that story, we have to go back a little. From 1914 to 1920 Russia went through a series of seismic shocks. It began with the First World War, a catastrophe for Russia, with millions dead and wounded. Then there followed the February Revolution resulting in the overthrow of The Tsar. It was a cause for celebration, as democracy was ushered in Russia for the first time. Sadly, the democratic experiment did not last. The Bolsheviks led by Lenin seized the reins of power in October 1917 and there was desperate resistance to the new regime. Even as Civil War raged in the country, the land was ravaged by famine. Moscow itself seemed on the verge of collapse, with crowds all over the city, wounded soldiers returning from the war, revolutionaries, counter-revolutionaries  and spies all mingling together with the multitude.Public transport was in a poor state and power supply a failure.In the midst of this turmoil there stood a young military officer with a soft voice and sparkling blue eyes.

His name was Alexander Ilyin-Genevsky. Ilyin-Genevsky  was a charming, cultured man.He was a dedicated Bolshevik who worked for the cause of the Revolution.But he also had a passion for chess and was an organiser par excellence.It was his ceaseless eforts that earned the support of the state for chess and resulted in the organisation of the first Soviet Championship, strangely named, All-Russia Chess Olympiad.

It was no easy task to mobilize the best players of the land for the tournament. In the chaotic conditions of war-torn Russia no one knew  for sure who was alive and who was dead. So invitations went  far and wide.In the end there were 16 participants.The field was strong, led by Alekhine, Romanovsky, Levenfish and Grigoriev (the famous composer of pawn endings).

In spite of the best efforts of Ilyin-Genevsky, the facilities were far from wonderful.Players from outside Moscow were accommodated in a military training hostel.They slept on hard cots in cold barracks.The main problem was food.It was scarce not only in Moscow, but all over Russia. When the tournament began, Ilyin-Genevsky faced a protest by the players against the meagre food provided for them-only one meal a day and some bread ration.As for the meal,the first course was usually herring head soup.The second, herring tails. "Where the middle of the herrings went we never came to know,"

Levenfish wrote in his memoirs. The players wrote out a petition, threatening to go home if matters were not improved quickly. Alekhine did not sign the petition, but made it clear that he would not compete against hungry opponents.Ilyin-Genevsky who was himself participating in the tournament was sympathetic to their cause.A cheerful optimist, if there was ever one, he managed to convince the mutineers to withdraw the  protest. He promised to increase their allowance, get more bread and cheese (a great delicacy in those days) and provide cigarettes.In the end it was not enough, though... "but the insuffcient calories were compensated by youthful ardour and love of chess" as Levenfish put it.The Championship turned out to be a race between Alekhine,Romanovsky and Levenfish.Alekhine was first.He remained unbeaten with 12 out of 15 points( +9 =6 -0).Romanovsky was second with 11 points.

Both Alekhine and Romanovsky had known each other from their boyhood days.

This was the last contest in which they participated together.Alekhine left Russia and he was never to play in the National Championship again. 

 

Levenfish was third with 10 points.He was singularly unlucky, missing wins against both Alekhine and Romanovsky.The first was a draw with a stunning king march by Alekhine in the face of enemy fire.The second is a tragicomedy in which Alekhine also played his "part".

While Romanovsky was thinking, Levenfish took a walk about the hall.Meanwhile Alekhine, passing by, had a look at the position.Then having caught up with Levenfish, said, "Aha, preparing mate on g2!" Poor Levenfish, hypnotized by Alekhine's words, approached the board and instantly sacrificed a rook, not even writing down the move.To his horror he discovered a hole in his combination.... 

And Levenfish resigned.

Such are the vagaries of fate!

 

To be continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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