Jerusalem - Tel Aviv Match, 1935: a Pen Portrait

 

The above note, from the Palestine Post (later the Jerusalem Post), Feb. 15th, 1935, p. 7, gives a short pen portrait of the players on both team. It was brought to our attention by a frequent correspondent. Note, in particular, the many foreign Jews who came to the country - Enoch, Blass, and Czerniak. 

We add that we finally find an English source for the player we phonetically spelled 'Churgin.' The Jerusalem post prefers 'Hurgin'. But neither Gaige's Chess Personalia nor Chessbase's database has a fitting player (except for one 1923 correspondence game with 'Churgin,' which may or may not be the same person.) As both spellings seem reasonable, we shall keep 'Churgin.'

Barav's Web Site Updated

Israel Barav (Rabinovich). Photo credit: Ami Barav

Israel Barav's memorial web site had been updated with some new games. These includes games from his later (1960s) career, as well as the last game from his 1926 match with Churgin. In particular, we a see-saw 64-move game with Barav getting a winning attack, Churgin surviving the onslash and getting two connected passed pawns for a bishop, and then Barav, after both play rather well for a long time, pouncing on Churgin's inaccuracy to ensnare the opponent's king in a rook-and-bishop mating net.