Comments for Chess in Translation

Comment on Remembering Smyslov by John E Hawkes

John E Hawkes — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 13:48:27 +0000

A wonderful read – Thank you so much
John E Hawkes

Comment on Spassky: “I knew the openings badly” by William

William — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 02:05:16 +0000

I did meet spassky 25 years ago. he was a very nice man.

Comment on Anand’s WhyChess interview by hari

hari — Sat, 26 Mar 2016 17:45:35 +0000

great interview!

Comment on Anti-hero? Evgeny Vasiukov on Viktor Korchnoi by Prof. Nagesh Havanur

Prof. Nagesh Havanur — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 05:20:00 +0000

Dear S2,
I shall dwell on only two points:
1)Korchnoi asked his lawyer to meet his wife and son at the air port to ensure that there were no legal issues at the Swiss end on account of their immigration. This was necessary after all the problems created by the Soviet establishment preventing their departure.
Petra Leeuwerik was a friend and confidante of Korchnoi.She acted as his manager on the eve of the match and also saw to practical arrangements for his family.It is demeaning to call her his “mistress” as you have chosen to do.
Igor Korchnoi has stated facts and Vasiukov has spun a scandal.
The two are by no means comparable.
2) If Fischer remembered his visit to Moscow in 1958 and his meeting with Vasuikov it is not surprising.But that book “Russians versus Fischer” by Plisetsky and Voronkov mentions only Petrosian having beaten the American, not Vasuikov.

Comment on Anti-hero? Evgeny Vasiukov on Viktor Korchnoi by s2

s2 — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 20:09:53 +0000

Impressive research prof! But imo having a lawyer pick up your family and then joining them with your mistress is not very classy. And like Igor points out, K. HAD to pay for them. In the end I’m inclined to believe both Igor and Wasjukow as both their stories are very compatible in my opinion.
But let’s not make a too big deal of it; Korchnoi is famous for his beautiful chess, not his beautiful personality.

P.s. On another note, in Russians vs Fischer one can read that Fischer was sufficiently impressed by Wasjukow to remember their 58 games in 1971 (and to talk about it).

Comment on Karpov, Kramnik and Kasparov on Spassky by Gerhard van Wyk

Gerhard van Wyk — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 16:18:00 +0000

A BIT LATE, but :

We in the West was off course quite thrilled with the Fischer -Spassky outcome in 1972, maybe for the wrong reasons. HOWEVER, growing older I came to realise what a gentleman Boris Spassky is. And in harmony with himself, a balanced person with natural chess genius. I learned that the “escaped” from a Parisienne hospital earlier this year, 2014. Hope all goes well after your stroke Mr. Spassky! Your games are so instructive and you serve as a true example of being a humble person.
From : “Just a social player from South Africa.” Gerhard van Wyk
August 2014

Comment on Anti-hero? Evgeny Vasiukov on Viktor Korchnoi by Prof. Nagesh Havanur

Prof. Nagesh Havanur — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:25:21 +0000

Dear readers,
After several enquiries I managed to contact Mr. Igor Korchnoi.
Here is his reply to my query.
I trust, his reply should put an end to the slander spread by Vasiukov.
Email received on 17th August, 2014
Dear Mr. Nagesh Havanur,
I am not very much inclined to write to threads 3-years old. Maybe, later.
Now, to facts.
We were greeted in Vienna airport by Mr. Alban Brodbeck, Mr. Kortchnoi’s lawyer at the time. Some hours later, we boarded a Swissair flight for Zurich and then headed to his (Mr. Brodbeck) home in Glarus, where we stayed for two months. Mr. Kortchnoi joined us late in the evening, along with Petra, after coming back from his simultaneous in France.The divorce proceedings were started in 1982 on behalf of Mr. Kortchnoi, about three months after our arrival in Switzerland.The divorce agreement was signed in 1986.
In between, Mr. Kortchnoi had to pay for my mother and me according to Swiss Law.
Best Wishes,
Igor Kortchnoi

Comment on Anti-hero? Evgeny Vasiukov on Viktor Korchnoi by Prof. Nagesh Havanur

Prof. Nagesh Havanur — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 04:58:31 +0000

More on Korchnoi here:
http://chess-news.ru/node/15642

Comment on Spassky: “I knew the openings badly” by ebillgo

ebillgo — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:52:21 +0000

Reading the interview is just like meeting an old friend whom I haven’t seen for 20 years.

Comment on Spassky: “I knew the openings badly” by cbbishop

cbbishop — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 22:17:24 +0000

What a nice interview! Spassky should have written an autobiography.

Interesting when he compared himself with Capablanca in not caring much about openings and winning the middle-game. He must like Carlsen a lot on the same basis!