Grigory Levenfish. The Amateur Who Beat World Champions.
A few months or so ago, I started collecting bits and pieces to do an article on Grigory ( originally Gershlik ) Levenfish. Officially - another story - the second Grandmaster of the U.S.S.R. He was the only official Grandmaster of the U.S.S.R. to not be paid by the state, as I understand it - hence the 'Amateur' status - probably due to the fact that he was one of 'the old school', and not politically favoured.
However, the project got shelved, when I found out that his games collection ( my original Russian copy is too battered to scan ) was being translated by the incredible Douglas Griffin, and since then it has been released.
Soviet outcast is a good title!!
The book is not as Levenfish himself wrote it - he is reported to have said to Bronstein that ''They have crossed half of it out!!'' A great shame, and a loss to chess literature. The book is, however, still utterly fascinating, and full of little tidbits of chat about his life, career and opponents. He was an extraordinary man.
I will just do some chess stuff. That's my thing. For those who want to look into the man himself, my friend @RoaringPawn has provided a host of links which I will throw in here before I forget!! ( google translate and optical recognition etc. works fine with them.)
That would be time well spent.
A HUGE thanks, my Roaring friend!! You are a star.
http://www.e3e5.com/article.php?id=1617
https://litresp.ru/chitat/ru/%D0%A1/sosonko-gennadij-borisovich/moi-pokazaniya
https://ruchess.ru/persons_of_day/levenfish/
http://chess86.ru/chesslessontypearchive/item/136
https://chesspro.ru/_events/2006/voronkov_m37.html
https://biography.wikireading.ru/152995
https://baikvesti.ru/new/area_players__issue_no__38__806___p__m__javerbaum__meeting_with_gm
He was fantastically strong! In 1938 - he had been playing at 'master' level, in the terms of the time, for over 25 years by then - he was ranked number 9 in the World on chessmetrics.
Doesn't sound that amazing until you realise that the eight above him were the competitors at the legendary 'A.V.R.O'. tournament of that year!!. He had hoped to be able to take part in that event, but it wasn't to be.
By his own account, from an early stage of his career he was very strong tactically, and able to calculate forcing lines very quickly and easily. Later he matured and became a true eclectic. In the endgame he was very strong, and of course 'co-wrote' the book that was the bible on Rook endgames for many years. I have included a couple of endgames here.
O.K. lets look at some chess!! The notes are by Levenfish himself from the book - via Griffin's translations - with a couple of comments that I have added myself.
I will start with 'the fun game' that I like to include in these brief glimpses into a player's games. Usually they are off-hand games, and/or won against 'unknown' opponents. Well, this one is a little different!!
It is serious tournament game against Alekhine!! Levenfish knew Alekhine very well - go buy the book - and there is a similar miniature won in a tournament game with the roles reversed.
O.K. Having mentioned Levenfish in connection with Rook endgames, the next one is to be found in all the text books, and he won it against one of the greatest.
The story of how Levenfish gained the Soviet Grandmaster title is an article in itself - see the links!
To cut a long story short, he won the Soviet Championship in Botvinnik's absence, and was then required to defend the title in a match against Botvinnik. As a side issue it was decreed that if he didn't lose the match he would get the G.M. title.
The match ended in a draw, and was a fascinating one throughout. Go take a look at the games. Great stuff!
Various pictures exist. I have taken this version of one of them from videochess-boom.online as it is a clear copy.
The game is a great indication of how good Levenfish was.
'Grandmaster Draw'
Time for another Rook endgame. I find this one particularly fascinating, difficult, and instructive. His opponent was no mug.
Going through it, I realised that Levenfish's notes are not up to his usual standard, so I have added some stuff, including Aagard's contribution from 'Soviet Outcast.' Great game though!
Over 35 years in to his chess career at a high level, Levenfish was still capable of not only standing up to, but also beating, the very best. Smyslov was to play for the World title the next year, whilst Levenfish was, I think, 58 years old. Yes, really!
And the game won the first brilliancy prize. ( there were some pretty tasty games played in that tournament.)
A nice picture - courtesy Douglas Griffin on Twitter - to link the previous game with the next one,
In many tournaments this would have won the brilliancy prize!
Whilst on the subject of Levenfish - Alatortsev, Levenfish won a match between the two, so I have decided to throw in a bonus game - no notes, just enjoy it. Black's 'King March' is really something not to be missed.
O.K. A much shorter article than originally planned, but still quite long!
Hope you enjoyed it and are inspired to look at Levenfish - both the man and the player - for yourself.
Take care everyone.
