Lev Omelchenko - A Ukrainian Great That You Have Never Heard Of! Some Games.

In my little post on Penrose, I wrote something that will have passed you all by. I noted how strong the USSR Correspondence Olympiad team was, in having Omelchenko on board six.

So, Lev Omelchenko. How good was he? ... VERY!!

To start with he is unique in the history of the USSR Correpondence Chess Championships - he won it twice in a row, which is pretty staggering imho. He also won two Olympiad gold medals as part of the Soviet team - both times he was the highest scorer on his board, and went through unbeaten. Add to that his victory in the elite invitational event the Kurt Klar Memorial, and hopefully you will understand that he could seriously play.

First port of call in doing this was to find my copy of this lovely book.

It comes with a bonus cd with a mass of games. The header photo is from the book.

So let's get to a goodie bag of wonderful chess. To start with a couple from the book, with the notes given there.

And one against a chess legend, Vladas Mikenas.

It may surprise some, but top Grandmasters and International masters didn't just walk in and do well in Soviet Correspondence Championships. ( There is a different set of chess skills involved.) Mikenas could only come 11th in this one - some way behind another famous name, Viktor Baturinsky!

Wins against World Champions always have a special interest - particularly in c.c. where the players obviously played a lot less games, and the top guys were really tough to beat.

Yakov Estrin

was one of the greats - a World Champion and also a finalist in other championships. 

To put Omelchenko's performance in winning back to back titles into perspective, in this one Estrin came ... 10th!! These were mighty tough tournaments!! I really like this game on many levels, and have included my thoughts.

Whilst we are on World Champions, here is a game against one of the absolute greatest , Tonu Oim 

Not just a World Champion, he was a DOUBLE World Champion. Incredible! 100% legend.

Let's give a game with a stunning combination. If you work this one out, give yourself a Christmas bonus!! Various versions of the score exist, but the combination is the same.

O.K. A couple of games against opponents I have had the honour of knowing back in the past.

The wonderful Bernard Cafferty

who was very kind to me in my youth, and introduced me to studying Steinitz, ends up in a position that always brings a smile to my face.

And the delightful Alan Borwell.

What a lovely man! A sporting and generous opponent, he was a major figure in the iccf, where he was the long time president. His request to me to take part in a particular tournament resulted in me playing the then World Number 10, a debt of gratitude I have never been able to repay. A real gentleman, a fine player, and a wonderful servant to correspondence chess.

O.K. Two  more games that I have a picture to go with. Grandmaster ( in c.c. at that time the Grandmaster title was a huge thing) and second in the 9th USSR Championships. Wonderful player!! This was the decisive game in the tournament - a draw would have given Kosenkov first place.

And Laslo Barczay. O.B. Grandmaster, and C.C. International Master. He probably looked a bit like this during this particular game.

O.K. So now you have heard of Lev Omelchenko!!

I will leave you with a Santa present bag full of games to dip into over the holidays, over a turkey sandwich and a glass of sherry.

With a special mention to all my chess friends in The Ukraine, I will wish you all a wonderful Christmas, and a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year for you and those you care about. Take care everyone.