Chocen 1942

International Master Tournament

card 14 x 9 cm with two photos

signed by all 12 participants

Very good: light signs of use, no flaws. Stamp of the photographer (Josef, Matousek, Chocen) and text in Czech on the back.

The photos in the front (8 x 5.5 cm each) are from the games:

1) upstairs: Richter (White, left) vs. Saemisch;

2) downstairs: Keller (left) vs Katetov (the winner, 8.5 of 11).

The photos are published in the magazine Sach 1942: the upper photo in no.10, p.138 and the bottom in no.9, p.127.

The card is addressed to Oldrich Malcanek (one of the best Olomouc players for years), who is present in both photos as a spectator: upstair standing to the right, downstairs standing to the left.

Signatures on the back, left column: Gustav Tikovsky, Frantisek Zita, dr. Jaromir Florian, Jaroslav Sajtar, Josef Dobiás, Zdenek Martinek (tournament director, he is in the bottom photo sitting next to Keller), Hans Keller.

Right column: Fritz Saemisch,  Karel Hromadka, Miroslav Katetov, Cenek Kottnauer, Emil Richter,  Bedrich Thelen.

The last picture shows the tournament table.

Biographical data:

Miroslav Katetov (1918-1995), Prague champion 1942 and 1946, one of the strongest Czech players in 1940s. In 1953-1957 he was rector of Charles University.

Emil Richter (1894-1971), strong Czech master and trainer (Jansa), an expert on endgames.

Karel Hromadka (1887-1956), strong Czech master, Czech champion in 1913, Czechoslovak co-champion in 1921.

Friedrich (Fritz) Saemisch (1896-1975), strong German GM, noted theoretician. His best years were in 1920s: he won a match against Reti in 1922, was 3rd at Baden-Baden 1925 after Alekhine and Rubinstein, 1st at Dortmund 1928 ahead of Reti, Bogoljubov and Spielmann.

Jaroslav Sajtar (1921-2003), Czech master, FIDE vice-president in 1954-1974, honorary FIDE GM.

Frantisek Zita (1909-1977), Czech IM, 2x co-winner of Czech(oslovak) championship, multiple winner of Prague chess championship. Zita was strong positional player, took part on 5 chess olympiads.

Jaromir Florian (1911-1984), Czech master, several times Brno champion, in 1975 he was second in the World Championships of the Blind.

Cenek Kottnauer (1910 Prague – 1996 London), Czech master, he emigrated to the UK in 1953. He played in 3 Olympiads, in Helsinki 1952 for Czechoslovakia and in Tel Aviv 1964 and Lugano 1968 for England

Hans Keller (1902? – 1953), Austrian player, he took parti in Helsinki 1952 olympiad.

Augustin (Gustav) Tikovsky (1912 – 1972), one of the best Brno players in 1940s and 1950s. 6x Brno champion between 1942-1955.

 Bedrich Thelen (1905-1972), Czech master, author of the book Zevrubne pojednani o sachu, Praha 1929.

Josef Dobias (1886-1981), Czech master (since 1911), in 1920s one of editors of the main Czech magazine Casopis ceskoslovenskych sachistu.

Zdenek Martinek, chess enthusiast, he was the main organizer of the Czech youth championships in town Chocen from 1943 to 1954.

xxx

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