Kniazer Caricature

 

The above caricature of Kniazer, by M. Props [ph. spelling], appeared in Davar, Feb. 14th, 1947, p. 2  That is, it appeared on the 14th page of Dvar Ha'shavuah, the weekly weekend supplement of Davar, following the ten-page daily newspaper. The title is, "Kniazer's secret weapon: the cigarette." Indeed, Kniazer (like many chess players at the time, e.g. Aloni) was a chain smoker who was rarely seen without a cigarette while playing. 

Doing Their Bit, pt. II - and Chess on the Radio.

 

Source: Wiener Schach-Zeitung, 3/4 1949, pp. 99-100.

We have noted in this blog before that Israeli players did their bit to help the country in the wars. Our Austrian correspondent, Herbert Halsegger, notes that their effort was reported also abroad, in this case, in the Wiener Schach-Zeitung. Based on the similarities in the scores, these may well be the same games reported by Shaul Hon in sept. 1948 (see the link just given), but this is not certain. 

The article also mentions that Israeli radio has a weekly radio broadcast, again a point mention by Hon at the time, as mentioned previously in this blog. Apparently, chess was beginning to be noticed abroad. 

From the 1976 Olympiad

 

Looking in the archives of Haifa's municipal government, I have found much material relating to the 1976 chess Olympiad. Here is one example: the top photo a certificate for participation in the 'Haifa Chess Olympiad Display Window Contest.' This context was a contest among local businesses to decorate their display windows in a chess-related and, especially, Olympiad-related way, by using the Olympiad's symbol, etc. 

The bottom photo is an advertisement from the August 1976 Haifa's Merchants' General Union publication, asking 'Haifa Merchants' to 'properly decorate their businesses', and that the union can give them appropriate decorating material. They also suggest giving a discount to 'all comers who wear the Olympiad's symbol.' 

Source: Haifa City Archive, files no. 23589-01161/11 (top photo) and 23582-01161/4 (bottom photo).  

"Ganef:" The other Side of the Story

 

Mr. Herbert Halsegger had notified us that he had found the "Ganef" story - from the "older British player"'s point of view. In the Weiner Shach-Zeitung of Jan. 1933, pp. 18-19, in an interview with Viktor Teitz, Teitz reminisces about Burn, Blackburne, and others. In this version, Blackburn speaks of a "younger player" who exclaimed that "the old Ganef managed to swindle me after all!" and Blackburne finally asks the crucial question, whether a Ganef is a gentlemen or not. 

One problem with the claim that this is Blackburne is, as Mr. Halsegger notes, only played with Nimzowitsch twice, and beaten him once (St. Petersburg, 1914). Calling that game a "swindle" - if, indeed, that is the game - is somewhat of an exaggeration. Computer analysis says Nimzowitsch had an advantage at one point, but was certainly not clearly winning. Another problem is that the story, oddly, comes in several versions, but seems to often only mention one of the players, never both. 

Added 29/10/21: Mr. Halsegger notes Edward Winter had investigated the issue, as can be seen in Chess Notes #6513.  that the story has several versions, and sometimes mentions both the (alleged) players - always Blackburne, but with various opponents and observers. 

Another News Bulletin of the 1964 Olympiad

 

A frequent correspondent sent us another news bulletin of the 1964 chess Olympiad in Tel Aviv. It was recorded by the "Geva Bulletins" (Yomaney Geva) in Herzlia studios. 

A Porat Interview, a Najdorf Quip, and a Nimzowitsch Story

From an interview with Yosef Porat by Yosef "Tommy" Lapid, Ma'ariv, Oct. 19th, 1962, p. 11, brought to our attention by a frequent correspondent:

Botvinnik is very modest and doesn't demand special treatment... Bobby Fischer the American is the exact opposite: incomparably vain, a show-off. Success had gone to his head...

Najdorf lost to Fischer in the [1962] Olympiad. After the game, in which he blundered, I've heard him say: 'I always told myself there's only one chess player I need to fear - Najdorf.'

Nimzowitsch once played in an international tournament against an old English player and got into difficulties. He muttered [in Yiddish]: 'this alter ganef [literally, 'old thief'] tricked me after all...' the English player understood the entire sentence except for the word ganef [thief] but all present didn't want to explain it to him. So finally he asked if a ganef can be a gentleman or not.

The last anecdote was shared by Porat in good faith, but unlike the other two, he was of course not a witness. Is there any proof of the actual occurrence of this 'once' story? 

We are skeptical. First, Nimzowitsch is the subject of quite a few such 'once' stories. Second, the opponent and occasion are not specified. Third, we have read at least one other version. In it, Nimzowitsch himself, and not all present, does not want to explain what ganef means. It is added that he quickly agrees that, yes, a ganef can be a gentleman, calming the English player. 

Beginning, End, and Fischer

 

The same correspondent which we just mentioned in the previous post had also notified us of two newsreels made in Israel of the 1964 Tel Aviv Olympiad: one of the start and one of the end of the tournament. He also provided us with a clip of the 1968 Netanya tournament, with - naturally - concentration on Fischer's participation. 

Yoram Lubianiker's Stamp Collection

 

A frequent correspondent notified me of the chess stamps' collection of Yoram Lubianiker. It is a collection, not of chess stamps per se, but of chess stamps related in some way to war. The online (and physical) exhibition has 94 different placards, of which this is one - showing the cancellation stamp commemorating the 1935 Olympiad, as well as two more modern stamp and collections about the Olympiad. 

Participation

 

Today in the mail arrived a present from Mr. Herbert Halsegger. It is an original participation certificate from the 1976 Haifa Olympiad! We thank Mr. Halsegger for this gift, indeed, and will update with more information about Ms. Wagner when available. 

Edited to add: well, the first update, form more material Mr. Halsegger sent us, is that it is Ms. Wagner and not, as we assumed, Mr. Wagner. She also had gotten a certificate for making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem at the same time.