Fond memories in Chess

[Hugh Brodie]

More on Montreal chess - in 1969, the Alekhine Chess Club began - run by Arthur Langlois, using the facilities of the Quebec-USSR Cultural Society. He began running blitz tournaments if there was a demand. I suggested starting a rating system, so my first blitz rating list came out in December, 1970. Friday night blitz tournaments became a regular event there - even as the club moved a few times until its demise in 1978. Most of them were run by me - usually 15-20 player round-robins.Kevin Soraggett was the usual winner if he showed up - with many "picket fences" on the crosstables. Other regulars included Camille Coudari, Francois Leveille, Sylvain Barbeau, Leo Williams, and Cyrus Lakdawala. (Leveille is still a regular at Montreal's nightly summer outdoor chess gatherings).

Due to a lack of clocks, we had a electric buzzer that would buzz every 10 seconds. Those without clocks would play at 10 seconds a move. I would speed up the buzzer if games were getting a little long.

Other cafes and clubs began to pop up during the Fischer boom, including the Cafe En Passant (1972-81). During the Spassky-Fischer match, Leo Williams manned a demo board, as someone from "La Presse" who had access to an almost live teletype transmission of the moves, would phone the Cafe every few minutes with the latest moves. Lots (for us) of money changed hands in all-night sessions of "contra". or backgammon. Visitors included GM's Peter Biyiasis, Miguel Quinteros, Larry Christiansen, and players such as Lajos Portisch from the "Montreal 1979" tournament. (Quinteros beat everyone at 5-1 blitz, but it was a night when Kevin Spraggett wasn't there).

The weekly Friday night blitz tournaments continued at the Chess Specialist until 2002. I organized blitzes on other nights in other chess locales. At one point I was running five blitz tournaments a week. There was little (if any) money to be made in running them, so they died out when I stopped running them..

[Hans Jung]

Tony, what was the best part of 99 Closed for you? the planning stages? - realising the dream? - the actual tournament? the dramatic ending? the partying during?
The reason Im asking is that my memory seems to be stuck on actual games and opponents and I have trouble remembering the encounters and drama (which I usually have no trouble remembering)

[Tony Ficzere]

All of it. The organizing team was excellent. Rob Gashgarian, Frank Hughes, John Erickson, Lee Hendon, Ray Stonkus, Randy Fintas, Roy Jones. One of the coolest times was the Hamilton Picnic when Robert's wife came by with a ton of food for all the players and there was also a soccer game. I still remember Nigel's big feet! I recall Larry Bevand was there for the big match between Spraggett and Lesiege and became the first live broadcast every in Canada. We followed up by broadcasting the top board in every round after that. Was pretty cool. Also fun was the party the organizers had after everything was wrapped up. We were so tired we weren't able to drink much, probably got drunk on the first beer, and we became rugs on the floor at Randy's place. We stayed up all night anyway before becoming rugs. I still remember Rob's wife walking into Randy's place to find us all passed out on the floor. Classic!

[Tony Ficzere]

Another funny moment. As organizers we were allowed to bring in one player. We looked for a talented junior and came up with Lewis Harkes. He basically became everybody's punching bag. I recall speaking to Rocket Rob Gardner and Lewis walked by as his game had just finished. Another loss. Rob came out with Harkes the Carcass as his new nickname!

[Hans Jung]

I didnt know that about Lewis (being your choice) - so I owe you a big thank you. My game with him turned my tournament around. After my first round win against Michael Schleiffer I didnt treat my next 3 opponents seriously enough ( a Latvian Gambit against Rocket Rob Gardiner who destroyed me) and lost 3 straight. I dont recognize my opening against Lewis but it got me a great ending. https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1623909

[Hans Jung]

I was at a tournament today and I was talking about - so what was your favorite moment in tournament chess? - c'mon share!? I know you'll say - if you have many years of experience - I cant pick just one moment - well choose one. - mine today was Reykjavik 1986 - I came into the tournament room to play Salov and when I came to my chair - already seated to my left - Misha Tal and to my right Efim Geller - and guess what I did? I couldnt concentrate on my game! I watched simultaneously everything Tal and Geller did! You know those spine tingling moments? - well this one went on for hours and hours!!

[Tony Ficzere]

Another moment from North Bay. Can't remember what round it was or my opponent, but we sat down to play. The board next to us was Doug Burgess, he hadn't arrived just yet. My opponent fell into an opening trap and the game was over in about 3 minutes. Doug arrives at the board and shakes his opponents hand and glances over at me shaking my opponents hand as he resigned. Doug just looked at me with that "wtf" look in his eyes. Too funny.

[Hans Jung]

Lol Tony - thats hilarious!

[Tony Ficzere]

I grew up just outside Scotland Ontario. This kid from Philadelphia moved into the area and we became friends. He taught me how to play chess, must have been in grade 5 or 6. It was 1970 and there was this American player, Bobby something or other who was on the rise. We played chess everyday and made it a point to play over Bobby's games, even though we had no clue what we were looking at. We played hundreds of games and eventually I started to win more than I would lose. I started to play games against my older brothers and would win. My father thought I was some sort of prodigy. He set up a game between myself and our neighbor, Stan Kairys. I didn't know it at the time but Stan was an expert. He was from Lithuania, could speak 6 languages, and loved chess. So we played. I think I lasted about 10 moves, Stan made quick work of me. He did offer some words of encouragement and took me to the Delhi chess club under his wing. Unfortunately, Stan died the following year and chess took a back seat. It wasn't until years later that I took chess up seriously. But I always think of Stan, the man.

[Hans Jung]

Again a memory from the 99 Closed. In a later round I played Denis Allan. Now Denis between 1965 and 2000 was one of Canadas top masters and amongst the best in Hamilton amongst many great players. To me he was feared and before this game was at least 4-0 against me and in not one of them did I have a chance. The outcome was a thrill for me.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1623910

[Hans Jung]

and then there was my game against Stephen Glinert. Stephen was one of Canada's all time best prodigies. He climbed the tournament ranks fast and I believe in 2002 he scored a GM norm in one of Hal's Guelph Pro-Am Internationals. Stephen was the only perfect opponent for me. I beat him as an expert, as a master, as an FM and as an international master. To my disappointment he gave up tournament chess at the age of 19 just shy of the grandmaster title.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1623911

[Hans Jung]

Forget the games. Chess talk readers want to hear stories (mostly). I also recall Paul Simon from the 99 Closed (not the singer - the chessmaster) Seems as though Ive known Paul forever. I dont recall where I first met him. Maybe it was at Frank Pushkedra;s open house analysis sessions but more likely it was at a tournament somewhere. Paul played alot in the early days before he had a horrific car accident. Paul loves to joke around and have fun. One time I was with Brian Hartman and we were all serious about chess and then Paul jumps out of a car and runs over, grabs Brian around the shoulders and down they go - old fashoned wrassling (no love hug) down and at em, grab before you get grabbed, rolling around in the grass (what the ???) and then they both get up laughing. Brian's fond of a story: His daughter came home from school and said "Dad today I got taught by a real chessmaster, not one like you." Lol.
I have lots of stories about Paul Simon. Tell me yours, I'll tell you mine.

[Tony Ficzere]

I don't have many interesting stories to tell about Paul. He was the first player to give me lessons sending me down the right road. He has a great sense of humor though and I recall laughing a lot when he was around. After his accident he did go through a bit of a personality change, but basically the same guy except he started to suffer from headaches, and this marked the end of his tournament play. We remained friends throughout the years but I've lost touch with him since I moved west.

[Hans Jung]

In telling about Paul what comes up (of course) was the legendary gathering at the kitchen table at Frank Pushkedras place. So many players had the privilege of gathering at Frank's table and sharing analysis, learning opening lines via speed chess, making notes , and most importantly picking Frank's extensive chess brain backed up by his eye popping chess library - and Frank new every book - every page. What a challenge and what a learning experience! I think (weak memory talking here) that I had been at a tournament with Brian Hartman and he invited me over to his pad. It was an old house I think just off Barton and the heat had been cut off - so we hung out in the kitchen because the stove was cranked and the oven door was open - the only source of heat. I crashed on a ratty old sofa but it was far more comfy then Brian on the floor with a sleeping bag. In the morning Brian said lets go over to Franks! We showed up, knocked on Franks door, and in a little while his mother answered and said Franks asleep but invited us in where we dutifully sat at the kitchen table and waited. A while later Frank comes in, rumpled hair, blurry eyed, obviously fresh from sleep. He immediately put the kettle on for tea and whipped out the chess set. Now Frank already knew about me thanks to having played me in a team match earlier in the year where I escaped with a draw. So Im sure he had the incentive to find the gaps in my knowledge and plug home new learning. I dont remember all that we discussed. I do know that it went on for hours - we started about 11am and it went on to about 4 at which point having only had tea we had to stop because we were too hungry. I do know there was a lot of embarrassment on my part and a big challenge. Frank was focused on me and mercilessly finding gaps in my knowledge, challenging me on all the openings I thought I knew and pummeling me in speed chess. Brian certainly enjoyed it and contributed a lot but I although eager to learn felt a bit like a punching bag and was glad to leave and lick my wounds and bruised ego.

[Tony Ficzere]

Ya, Frank is a pretty cool guy. He played in several tournaments in Brantford that I organized. I remember going over some of my games with him and couldn't believe what he could see at a glance. He has these piercing blue eyes! I think he was the only one to take a half point from the "Fed" when he played back in the 90's. Always a pleasure to be around.