Конкурс был объявлен несколько месяцев после российского вторжения в Украину. Когда первый шок прошел, я отремонтировал свой сайт, перенес его на другой адрес и решил отпраздновать новоселье конкурсом. Российские композиторы не допускались к участию. Я дал объявление на форуме Мат Плюс. К сожалению, сайт arves.org отказался его публиковать. Марио Гарсия не был столь радикальным: он поместил анонс у себя на сайте, но мелкими буквами и без упоминания о запрете.
Все-таки, люди где-то нашли информацию о конкурсе. 19 этюдов, присланных композиторами из 10 стран, сделали конкурс одним из сильнейших в этом году.
Все этюды опубликованы на сайте с авторскими решениями и комментариями. В итогах я привожу этюды без второстепенных вариантов, чтобы акцентировать внимание на сути замысла и художественных достоинствах, за которые этюды получили свои отличия.
Замечания принимаются до 31 декабря. В этот день присуждение станет окончательным.
PDF PGN (English) с итогами конкурса.
31.12.2022. Претензии к оригинальности второго приза (см.комментарий) отвергнуты судьей. Других замечаний не поступило. Окончательное присуждение остается без изменений.
Perhaps even the strongest tournament of the year. I look forward to a discussion about the amusing first prize.
I believe that this terrible war can only end when the Russian aggressors withdraw from Ukraine. Only then is reconciliation possible.
There are several Ukrainian refugees in my school. They didn’t want to come to Berlin…
When I saw the award yesterday, I was very surprised about the 1st prize. I thought that was just a joke from Vladislav. After a second look, I have to realize that it doesn’t have to be that easy to technically implement this crazy idea.
It’s really paradoxical: the optical beauty of the two forks can only be realized with “ugliness” on the bottom left!
Michael Pasman is now one of the established study composers. He has good ideas and excellent technique. Sometimes I still lack the depth, but I can already say that he enriches our study art with his compositions.
I am very happy that in Jan Sprenger I now have a young and ambitious German composer at my side with whom I can exchange professional ideas. No, dear Italians – he belongs to us! 🙂
My study might have won a prize in other tournaments, but a hm from one of the most competent judges is worth more to me. And yes, it was a strong tournament that even Jan Timman couldn’t win the judge’s favour.
At least now Michael Prusikin has introduced a new genre: the tactical middlegame study.
I like this study very much!
And Beat should keep composing!
Pasman’s study is perfect indeed. Long ago I was very impressed by the King’s performance in the famous Otten’s study. Michael showed that there are even more powerful Kings who can guard half of the board and successfully hold back two light pieces. It’s a masterpiece. That’s why giving it only the 2nd prize was not a comfortable decision. Only a study completely different from it could do better, and provided the judge is able to switch off his mind from all these principles and dogmas learned from books. I think wonderful jokes can win tourneys. One needs to be a little crazy (in a good sense) to come up with such ideas, but at the same time the composer needs super skills to realize them.
I’ll explain later why Timman’s study is not in the award.
Serhiy, you showed courage with your judgement.
I can understand your reasoning.
Of course, I congratulate Vladislav from the heart.
I think he could use a little joy, especially at this time!
Indeed, the second prize is excellent!
A lot of good studies indeed. Happy with my third prize. I am also surprised, by the way, that Timman’s study is not included in the award since I liked the play a lot. Looking forward to Serhiy’s explanations later on.
Serhiy, but what was your reason for eliminating 1… Rf2 as a third mainline? Like in the two other mainlines, the bishop needs to choose a square based on avoiding black counterplay in the try (3. Bb6? d4!). And like in the try 4. Be3? Ng5!, the counterplay is based on the vulnerable position of the bishop after a surprising knight jump. To me, this looks sufficiently analogous to be classified as third mainline, even if the endplay is not rook against knight, but the checkmate on the back rank.
Congratulations to Vladislav Tarasiuk for implementing a very creative and unusual idea, and to Michael Pasman for an excellent almost-miniature!
Jan, I think the main theme of your study is mined squares. In the line 1..Rf2 squares b6 and b5 are not mined – the bishop and the knight are safe on these squares. So, it’s a good additional line with nice moves but the main theme is not there.
Сергей, ты стал слишком щедрым. Раньше ты так много этюдов не отмечал
Исправлюсь в следующих конкурсах.
Вот прислали предшественника ко второму призу. Судья не поверил. В этюде Пасмана король действует масштабнее: он сгоняет коня, конь перекрывает слона, и пока черные распутывают свои фигуры, король успевает вернуться.
Карандаш убедительно подвел окончательные итоги конкурса.