Probably Koblents. Both Furman and Averbakh were too young in 1923.

Edit: No, must be Nezh. Koblents would not defeat Tal.

Mysterie guest---sign in please---

Chess Quickies---open book quiz

1. In My Reliable past Sosonko talks of a World Chess Champion who, as a habit, walked to his chess club and walked home again. He was frugal and wouldnt take a bus, or a taxi, a train etc., etc.

It must have been a long desolate walk because the champion carried a pistol with him!  Name him.

2. This Grandmaster had parents who had the same Surname before they were married.   name him.

3. Vasiliev wrote about Petrosian's depression in his book on Petrosian. He also wrote about other grandmasters who suffered depression. One Russian grandmaster was so depressed that shortly before he died he burned his chess set and pieces.  Name him.

Hints---

1. As president of fide he was instrumental in saving the Spassky-Fischer match.

2. The Grandmasters parents were cousins who had the same Surname.

3. the Russian grandmaster was a major source of inspiration for the Soviet School of Chess.

#1 Euwe

#2 Leonid Stein?

 correct!

 Nope.

The mystery grandmaster suffered ill health all his adult life. He died in his 50's but looked to be in his 80's.

#2 sounds like Tal.

 ok!   As for #3---who was this guy?

Oddy,  Tschigorin's Romanitc style seems almost the antithesis of the cold, scientific style usually associated with the Soviet school. But the Soviets did like to portray him as a prototype, possibly more because of his name-recognition and  appeal to the masses than for his actual influence on Soviet chess.

More quickies---

1. During an Olympiad in Cuba Mikhail Tal missed the first five rounds of the Olympiad because-------

2. This grandmaster was attacked by a mugger in NYC. It took a long operation to repair his hand which was slashed in the attack. Who was this former junior world champion ?

#2=Lombardy

Tal was a bottlehead.

#1--Was this the occasion he was flirting with a guy's wife in a bar and the guy pummeled him?

Yes, like batgirl said---he took a beer bottle to the forehead. He was very fortunate that he had Soviet compatriots with him that day. If it wasn't for Geller he probably would have lost a kidney.

Can you think of anyone more unfit for a barfight ?

Penrose comes to mind!

(And hey, this brings to mind his Olympiad victory over Tal--if my brain is still working.)

Lets go to the auction---Which of these books sold for the most money---

 1. The Hastings Chess Tournament 1895, edited by Horace F. Cheshire, containing the Authorised Account of the 230 Games Played Aug-Sept. 1895. London 1896. L/N 5239. xii + 370 pages, including index. That was one of the greatest chess tournaments ever, won by Pilsbury ahead of Tchigorin, Lasker, Tarrasch, Steinitz, et al. This book contains portraits of all participants. Bound in original maroon cloth, with embossed covers, gilt spine and gilt upper cover. Very good. This is a presentation copy to a member of the tournament organising committee, as a sticker to endpapers indicates.

2. Charousek’s Games of Chess, with annotations and a bibliographical introduction By Philip W. Sergeant. London 1919. L/N 3052. Bound in original orange cloth, ink signs to endpapers, very good.

3. First Piatigorsky Cup, by Isaac Kashdan. The Ward Ritchie Press, Los Angeles, 1965. 204 pages. Keres and Petrosian won this 1963 double-round tournament, ahead of Najdorf, Olafsson, Reshevsky, Gligoric, Benko and Panno. All 56 games with brief notes by Reshevsky and other participants. Tournament crosstable, indices, photos. Bound in red cloth with gilt spine and upper cover. Some discolouration to the upper cover, otherwise fine – very clean and crisp throughout. Signed by Samuel Reshevsky and Mrs. Piatigorsky.

1. Hastings 1895---$174.00

2. 1st Piatigorsky cup $112.00

3. Charousek $63.00

Alexander Baburin, GM

Chess Promotions Ltd

3 Eagle Hill, Blackrock

Co Dublin, Ireland