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ShelbyLymanchessBeginner’s corner — hint explanation: Kill on the “e”file.%I1%VvrrVBLACK GETS A ROOKFor complex reasons many men find it difficult to accept women on an equal basis. Even instances of apparent sexual harrassment, we aretold, are often less a matter of lust than of men establishing control over females.I am reminded of an incident I observed of a top male grandmaster losing to a talented but lower-rated woman player. As the game finished, he exploded into rage and swept the pieces to the floor.During a trip to the Soviet Union in the spring of 1977,1learned of a remarkable event with a similar underlying logic when I arrived early one morning at the famous Moscow Central Chess Club.“Have you heard what happened?” I was asked. ‘‘Gaprindasvili tied for first yesterday at Lone Pine.”The news was remarkable and historic. The Lone Pine(California) International Tournament usually attracted many of the world’s strongest players. It seemed virtually impossible that the Soviet Goergian world women’s champion Nona Gaprindasvili, a gifted but hopeless underdog, should finish first.Only recently, when I read an account of the tournament by the American grandmaster Pal Benko — who w'as present at Lone Pine — in his book ‘‘Winning with Chess Psychology” did I understandthe situation.The other grandmasters in the tournament, all male, were terrified of losing to her. Especially, they feared theteasing they thought wouldfollow^. Their anxiety intensified as she racked up points in the early rounds.One grandmaster who bemoaned “the danger of playing Nona” finally w'as paired against her with the typical result. After gaining a better position he had an attack of nerves and lost.Below is a quick win by 17-year-old Judit Polgar — presently tied for 20th place on theinternational rating list against Manuel Rivas from the 1993 City of Tw o BrothersTournament in Spain.
Newspaper Details
Arlington Heights Daily Herald Suburban Chicago
Arlington Heights, Illinois, US
Sun, Aug 15, 1993
Page 66
Full Page
Clipped by
Los A.
CA, USA 14 Feb 2023
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