Awarded Problems
I could not have imagined a more delightful set of entries to this tourney. My thanks to Dan Meinking for administering the tourney and for keeping after me to make the difficult choices required by the high level of the competition. Thanks also to Michel Caillaud, Noam Elkies, Ryan McCracken and Kostas Prentos, who woodshedded the 94 entries (after Dan had given them his initial review) and cooked 13 of them, leaving 81 problems to judge. (I believe Dan notified the authors of the cooks; many attempted ambitious schemes which I hope can be corrected and published.)
The entries exhibited numerous motivations for a promotee to leave its promotion square and return, which was the theme of this tourney: these included capture of an opposing unit (most often a pawn or a blocked bishop); clearance; screening of one king or the other against check; provision of a safe path for the opposing king; and tempo. In general, games in which capture-and-return was the principal motivation were less successful than others, though this was not uniformly the case. The theme lent itself to the production of extra-set pieces in the diagram, but happily many composers managed against all odds to avoid this even while showing complex ideas.
I am comfortable with the selection of nine problems for prizes, though I am not sure I got the ranking among them right. They are all splendid problems and achieve their aims elegantly, without evidence of the difficulty which composing them surely entailed. I selected fifteen problems for Honorable Mention and twenty-two for Commendations. While this honors slightly over 50% of the entries - which may seem a high proportion - the truth is I wrestled with myself to cut the list down. There were many fine problems that do not appear here, and they surely would have had the overall level of composition not been so high.
I thank everyone who contributed to make this tourney a great success and a wonderful birthday present!
Gianni Donati, Princeton, NJ, December 2003
Please send claims of anticipation or unsoundness to Dan Meinking (dmeinking(at)cinci.rr.com) by July 31, 2004.
1 - Michel Caillaud (France) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney 1st Prize
13+15. Proof game in 15 moves (C+)
[1n2r3/1ppk3p/1p2rn2/3p1pp1/3bq3/7b/1PPPP1PP/1NBQKBNR]
Solution
2 - Michel Caillaud & Reto Aschwanden (France/Switzerland) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney 2nd Prize
12+15. Proof game in 20 moves
[1kb5/6pp/n2p2n1/pp2p1B1/5p2/b2PP3/q1r2PPP/RNrQK1NR]
3 - Reto Aschwanden & Michel Caillaud (Switzerland/France) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney 3rd Prize
16+13. Proof game in 19.5 moves (C+)
[rnbqk1nR/pppppp1p/5P2/8/2B2R2/N1P2N1P/P1PPP2P/3QK1B1]
4 - Mark Kirtley (Alpine, TX) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney 4th Prize
14+12. Proof game in 23.5 moves
[1kBr2n1/2p2pp1/2rp1p2/3RbP2/2r5/3P4/pPPP2P1/RNBK1BN1]
5 - Michel Caillaud & Reto Aschwanden (France/Switzerland) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney 5th Prize
15+14. Proof game in 24.5 moves
[rn2k3/pp1p1p1p/3P1nr1/4p3/1P5q/K1RPPRPQ/PN2N2P/2b1Bb1B]
6 - Michel Caillaud & Reto Aschwanden (France/Switzerland) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney 6th Prize
14+15. Proof game in 17.5 moves (C+)
[q2nbbn1/pp1rpp2/1r1pk3/6p1/P4p2/8/1PP1PP1P/RNBQKBNR]
7 - Unto Heinonen (Finland) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney 7th Prize
15+15. Proof game in 22 moves
[r2qkbn1/p2b1pp1/3pp3/2p3p1/r1B1P1RP/B1PP1N2/P1Q2PPR/1nK3N1]
8 - Rustam Ubaidullaev (Russia) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney 8th Prize
13+15. Proof game in 19 moves (C+)
[3n2nk/pbpppp2/p7/5rq1/7p/4b1r1/PP1PP1PP/RNB1KBNR]
9 - Michel Caillaud (France) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney 9th Prize
14+14. Proof game in 19.5 moves
[1Rb2bR1/2pkp2q/n4n2/p5Pp/4p2r/4p3/1PPPPPr1/1NBQKBN1]
Honorable Mentions, sorted by: number of moves, total units, and total white units.
10 - Dan Meinking (Cincinnati, OH) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney After Satoshi Hashimoto Honorable Mention
14+15. Proof game in 9.5 moves (C+)
[rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/8/2PP4/2B5/PK2PPPP/2NR1BNR]
11 - Rustam Ubaidullaev (Russia) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
15+14. Proof game in 10.5 moves (C+)
[rnb3rk/pppp2bp/8/4pp2/4n3/1P5P/P1PPP1BP/RNBQK1NR]
12 - Michel Caillaud (France) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
14+15. Proof game in 12 moves (C+)
[r1b2rn1/ppppbpk1/3p2nq/7p/8/8/PPPPPPP1/RNBQKBN1]
13 - Olli Heimo (Finland) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
13+12. Proof game in 12.5 moves (C+)
[rnbRkb2/p2ppp2/8/7p/8/8/P1PPPP1p/qNBQKBNR]
14 - Dan Meinking (Cincinnati, OH) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
15+14. Proof game in 14 moves (C+)
[rnBkqbn1/p1ppp1p1/2p5/3rQ3/7p/5P2/P1PP1PPP/RNB1K1NR]
15 - Jorge J. Lois (Argentina) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
15+13. Proof game in 15.5 moves (C+)
[6Bn/ppp1p1b1/2p1k1pr/5b1q/7r/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK1NR]
16 - Satoshi Hashimoto (Japan) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
14+15. Proof game in 16 moves (C+)
[r1bq1nn1/1p3p2/2pp1pp1/1kb4p/5r2/8/2PPPPPP/RNBQKBNR]
17 - Kostas Prentos (Greece) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
13+13. Proof game in 16.5 moves (C+)
[1Rb4B/pqppp2p/2n4n/3k1p2/8/P7/2RPPPP1/1NbQKBNr]
18 - Jorge J. Lois & Roberto Osorio (Argentina) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
14+15. Proof game in 16.5 moves (C+)
[rnbqk1n1/1ppp1p2/P4rp1/4pR1p/3P3P/2PR4/2P1PPP1/KNbQ1B2]
19 - Paul Raican (Romania) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
12+13. Proof game in 17.5 moves (C+)
[rnkB1bnr/pb1p1pp1/8/1K6/6b1/1P3Q2/PB1P3P/R1q1N1NR]
20 - Göran Wicklund (Sweden) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
13+13. Proof game in 17.5 moves (C+)
[1n5Q/2pppp1p/4b2k/Rp4r1/p7/b6P/2PPP1PR/1NqQKBN1]
21 - Rustam Ubaidullaev (Russia) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
14+13. Proof game in 18 moves (C+)
[6r1/P1pppprk/1p4p1/1n3b2/8/2q5/PbPPPP1P/RNBQKB1R]
22 - Ryan McCracken (Albuquerque, NM) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
13+16. Proof game in 18 moves (C+)
[rnbq1bnr/1pp1p1pp/1k2p1R1/8/Q1R2P1P/N1P5/P2PP2B/1rK1N1b1]
23 - Kostas Prentos (Greece) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
14+14. Proof game in 20.5 moves (C+)
[R7/1ppppnp1/5prp/1pn5/5rk1/7q/NPPPPPP1/R1BQKBN1]
24 - Paul Raican (Romania) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Honorable Mention
16+14. Proof game in 21 moves (C+)
[2kr1bnr/pRpnppp1/Q2Rb3/2Bp4/P1P1P3/2N2BP1/P2P1PP1/Kq4N1]
Commendations, sorted by: number of moves, total units, and total white units.
25 - Michel Caillaud (France) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
15+14. Proof game in 8 moves (C+)
[1rb2bnr/p3p1pp/1p1p1k2/5p2/5q2/8/P1PPPPPP/RNBQKBNR]
26 - Noam D. Elkies (Cambridge, MA) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
16+14. Proof game in 9 moves (C+)
[r1b1kbB1/pp1ppp2/2n3q1/2p5/r3n3/8/PPPPP1PP/RNBQKBNR]
27 - Andrew Buchanan (Los Angeles, CA) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
15+16. Proof game in 9.5 moves (C+)
[rnr1b1k1/ppp2ppp/2pQpq1n/2b5/8/8/PPP1PPPP/RNB1KBNR]
28 - Ivan Denkovski & Gligor Denkovski (Macedonia) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
9+14. Proof game in 12 moves (C+)
[rnb1kbn1/ppp1ppp1/6p1/8/8/3P4/PPPP4/2KQ1rNR]
29 - Kevin Begley (Elk Grove, CA) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
15+14. Proof game in 12.5 moves (C+)
[2q2b1r/p1k1pppp/N1nr4/2p5/1nb5/8/PP1PPPPP/R1BQKBNR]
30 - Roberto Osorio (Argentina) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
13+15. Proof game in 13.5 moves (C+)
[1nbqkbnr/1Pppppp1/1pP4p/8/1K6/2N5/PB2PPPP/R1r3NR]
31 - Noam Elkies (Cambridge, MA) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
15+12. Proof game in 14 moves (C+)
[4n1bk/pppnr3/3p4/2b1p3/6Pq/8/PPPPP2P/RNBQKBNR]
32 - Mark Kirtley & Dan Meinking (U.S.A.) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
13+12. Proof game in 15 moves (C+)
[1nb1k1nr/2pp1ppQ/B4p1R/1P3P2/1P6/b7/1PP1P2P/1N2K1Nq]
33 - Goran Wicklund (Sweden) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
14+12. Proof game in 15 moves (C+)
[1nbq1k2/1Rpppp1p/1p3n2/8/8/PP6/1BPPP1PP/Qq1K1BNR]
34 - Jorge J. Lois & Roberto Osorio (Argentina) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
15+15. Proof game in 15.5 moves (C+)
[5bnN/p1ppp1p1/r1n1k1p1/rp1b4/8/5p2/PPPPPPP1/R1BQKBNR]
35 - Goran Wicklund (Sweden) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
10+13. Proof game in 16 moves (C+)
[rnbqk1nr/2ppp1Qp/6pb/8/8/5KQB/1PPPPPR1/8]
36 - Jorge J. Lois (Argentina) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
12+13. Proof game in 16.5 moves (C+)
[1QbqkNnr/2pp1ppp/8/8/4PR1r/1K1P4/P1B1N1PP/1nbR4]
37 - Ion Murarasu & Paul Raican (Romania) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
13+12. Proof game in 16.5 moves (C+)
[1Rb2B1r/p1ppnr1p/n2k1q2/8/8/8/1PPPKPP1/RN1r1BNR]
38 - Kostas Prentos (Greece) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
14+12. Proof game in 16.5 moves (C+)
[5rB1/2ppppp1/1qp3b1/k7/2rn4/8/P1PPPP1P/RNBQK1NR]
39 - Rustam Ubaidullaev (Russia) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
15+13. Proof game in 17 moves (C+)
[N1bqk1n1/3pppp1/2p5/ppn4p/1K6/3B4/P1PP1PPP/RNBQ2NR]
40 - Goran Wicklund (Sweden) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
11+14. Proof game in 18 moves (C+)
[rnbqkbnr/QpppP1pR/7P/7R/P7/7B/1P1PP3/1b2K1q1]
41 - Bo Lindgren & Dirk Borst (Sweden/Netherlands) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
12+13. Proof game in 18 moves (C+)
[rn1q1rk1/B1ppppp1/1p5n/8/8/2Q2P2/P1RPNPPP/nB3K2]
42 - Kostas Prentos (Greece) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
14+11. Proof game in 22.5 moves (C+)
[1Q1Nr1Bk/2bnr2p/5n2/3p1b2/8/p4Qr1/1PPP1KP1/RN3BNR]
43 - Olli Heimo (Finland) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
10+14. Proof game in 24 moves
[1n6/1p2np2/3kp1pp/Pr3bb1/3q3r/n7/1PPPPPP1/2B1KB2]
44 - Göran Wicklund (Sweden) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
14+13. Proof game in 25.5 moves
[2R2R2/1pppkppp/4p2B/2r2n2/3P4/R6b/2PQ1PPP/r1n1KBNR]
45 - Andrey Frolkin (Ukraine) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
14+10. Proof game in 27 moves (C+)
[1B3NN1/1b5n/5q1n/6kp/p4br1/2NP4/1PPP2B1/RN1Q1RnK]
46 - Nicolas Dupont (France) Gianni Donati 50th Jubilee Tourney Commendation
10+15. Proof game in 29.5 moves
[8/3p1p1B/1p4pn/q1p1n3/1k2r3/b4b2/pbPPPPP1/r1BQKB2]
