Ezer év - 1000 years
Submitted by
cgs on Mon, 04/07/2008 at 10:29am.
To my previous article is closely connecting this one. The basic idea of Budapest Defense was the Abonyi Gambit. Instantly must remark that the gambit isn't current in the practice, the defense all the more. Because the Abonyi Gambit is disproved more words waste for it is unnecessary. Because Abonyi initiated into practice, it's name belong to him. The situation with the Alekhine Defense was similar. Now, here is the theme only the Budapest Defense. I'll join it to person of Dr. Árpád Vajda (he is on the photograph), of who describes was waited inpatiently in columns of journal "Magyar Sakkélet". Now I produced the volume of 1966, where he give account of his career.
It is a must to describe that Árpád Vajda in the Chess Olympiad in London, 1927 was a permanent member of Hungarian team. In the final curve he must have win in order that Hungary won the Olympiad. Árpád Vajda had three olympic gold medail and two silver on the occasion of six partitipation. In London he won his final game against Spanish Placido Soler where had played the Budapest Defense. The Hungarian team scored 40 from 60 games. Second was Denmark 38,5, third England 36,5. According to English custom presented a lady the gold medals to every member of Hungarian team. She was Lady Margaret Hamilton Russel.
Dr. Árpád Vajda wrote in the number of monthly chess journal "Magyar Sakkélet" (Hungarian Chesslife) in May,1966:
"I had born in that day when was celebrated thousand years old anniversary of existence Hungarian State's. (2, May, 1896) For this reason I have got the name Árpád. (Árpád was the leader of Hungarians in 896, when they came up to Karpath basin.) Because I had born with some minutes after midnight, may be that I'm the first children of second thousand years."
Can we to say that is not accidental? The first Hungarian of second thousand years is a frequent olympic champion! Whether it is true that will be olimpic champion who will to come into the world in 2, May, 2896? We never will aware of! But we remain at Árpád Vajda, still we pay attention to him:
"My parents hail from Pannonia.(the west part of Hungary, left from Danube) One is originated from Jánosháza, the other from city Veszprém." May be the origin of my sympathy is from this fact, for, I'm a citizen of Veszprém for 26 years. More precisely: not only for this reason. Let us glean between articles of 1966 year: "After that when the Hungarian chessplayers was assembled in Budapest in August of 1911 to establish the Hungarian Chess Federation, I also accepted the invitation." Let me stand for a moment! In the previous article I wrote that István Abonyi was the delegate in the statutory meeting of FIDE in Paris, as Vajda was the delegate in Budapest. They were the participants of chess history. But, remain at Vajda: "In 1919 I turned into player of main tournaments, and since 3, June, 1921 became master. My teacher was the grandmother on the mothers side, who couldn't live to see this - she died in February, 1921 -, but earlyer she was sure of my master title, because she had dealed with card an she held it as an infallible fact." After this nobody can say that chess is in relationship with card!
We can read in journal "Magyar Sakkélet" in October, 1966, in the article "My first master years (1921-1924)" from Vajda:
"Interesting personal experience was the great tournament in London, 1922, which took place in Westminster Central Hall in more groups. I there became acquainted with Izidor Gunsberg (1854-1930) grandmaster who had born in the Orczy-house of Pest, an his 8 years age ago is living in England. Recommanded to his good graces we had a lot of talk, and numerous secret kept behind the scenes of West European chess life came to my knowledge. Maróczy presented me to Blackburne who than was 82 years old and to Capablanca. The well arranged tournament was much frequented by numerous notability, as example Bonar Law, who six week later had been the prime minister of England. and there was Winston Churchill, the well-known great statesman, who not too long time ago died. His father, Randolph Churchill was the president of English Chess Federation for a long time. W. Churchill similary played chess, he was the member of St. George chess-club. Beside a game of Maróczy he was sitting 10 minutes long."
Gunsberg, Maróczy, Blackburne, Capablanca, Churchill... from pen of first Hungarian of "second thousand years". In the next year Árpád Vajda dead. Shortly next his 112nd birthday. Let us bow before him!
There is a necrolog in our chess journal in November, 1967. There was written: "He was the 'literary gentlemen' of Hungarian chess-playing." He died in 25, October, 1967, he was fallen asleep between his books.
In the next consultation game we can admire his comments.
On the White side are: Havasi, Dr. Négyesy, Lajos Steiner and Sterk. On the Black side are: Abonyi, Merényi, Endre Steiner and Dr. Árpád Vajda. There are 2-2 olympic champions (two Steiner, Havasi and Vajda). This game we can find in the journal "Magyar Sakkvilág" (Hungarian Chessworld) in January, 1928, in article Ferenc Chalupetzky. The game was published with analizing of István Abonyi (signed A) and Dr. Árpád Vajda (signed V). The sign of Chalupetzky comment's is Chy. But the analizing, how, we cannot see!
We can say: two olympic team had played this game.