Evgeny Sveshnikov
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Evgeny Sveshnikov
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
Ah, all 2c3 Sicilian devotees (of which I am one) will feel this keenly.
Also played regularly the Advance French, another of my openings.
But may be best remembered for his role in revolutionising Sicilian theory from the Black side.
Also played regularly the Advance French, another of my openings.
But may be best remembered for his role in revolutionising Sicilian theory from the Black side.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
It's always more shocking when you knew the person.
We played each other on top board in the penultimate round of the 2014 World Senior ( 50+) Championship, and afterwards he granted me a warm, friendly post-mortem even though I had swindled him horribly.
Always a gentleman, he shook my hand on every occasion thereafter, when we were at the same even together.
There is no mention on Evgeny's Wiki page but I believe that he had a very good score over a large number of games against World Champions.
We played each other on top board in the penultimate round of the 2014 World Senior ( 50+) Championship, and afterwards he granted me a warm, friendly post-mortem even though I had swindled him horribly.
Always a gentleman, he shook my hand on every occasion thereafter, when we were at the same even together.
There is no mention on Evgeny's Wiki page but I believe that he had a very good score over a large number of games against World Champions.
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
A quick glance revealsKeith Arkell wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 2:19 pmThere is no mention on Evgeny's Wiki page but I believe that he had a very good score over a large number of games against World Champions.
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
I remember spending weeks trying to find a cheap copy of his c3 Sicilian book. Seems he wrote the bible of the Alapin.
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
Thanks for informing us Justin. Very sad news, a terrible shock. Evgeny was a legend of the game.
We have a couple of Latvian players at Poulton-le-Fylde Chess Club who I believe met him in Latvia before they moved to the UK.
We have a couple of Latvian players at Poulton-le-Fylde Chess Club who I believe met him in Latvia before they moved to the UK.
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
A quick search of my small database reveals
+2=10-1 vs Smyslov
+3=8-4 vs Tal
+2=4-2 vs Petrosian
+0=0-1 vs Spassky
+1=5-3 vs Karpov
+0=2-1 vs Kasparov
+1=1-0 vs Anand
=0=1-0 vs Ponomariov
+0=1-0 vs Kramnik
+0=5-2 vs Khalifman
Yes, I know that people don't regard all of them as world champions. I found no games against Botvinnik, Fischer, Carlsen e.g.
He played at Guernsey in 2010 and seemed affable. Every time he got black (4 out of 7), I went to look at the opening, but all his opponents played d4 or c4.
+2=10-1 vs Smyslov
+3=8-4 vs Tal
+2=4-2 vs Petrosian
+0=0-1 vs Spassky
+1=5-3 vs Karpov
+0=2-1 vs Kasparov
+1=1-0 vs Anand
=0=1-0 vs Ponomariov
+0=1-0 vs Kramnik
+0=5-2 vs Khalifman
Yes, I know that people don't regard all of them as world champions. I found no games against Botvinnik, Fischer, Carlsen e.g.
He played at Guernsey in 2010 and seemed affable. Every time he got black (4 out of 7), I went to look at the opening, but all his opponents played d4 or c4.
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
I think he would be turning in his grave to think that such an awfulMatt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 1:08 pmAh, all 2c3 Sicilian devotees (of which I am one) will feel this keenly.
anti opening designed to wreck the dynamic black system he invented should be associated in any way with his namesake.
Lose one queen and it is a disaster, Lose 1000 queens and it is just a statistic.
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
On the contrary, I read that he often praised the c3 saying it fed his family for 40 years.
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
It boggles the mind that he on one hand played a super sharp and uncompromising black opening and then a really negative white one - he must have been a somewhat complex personality.
Lose one queen and it is a disaster, Lose 1000 queens and it is just a statistic.
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
I think it is a Frankenstein/ Frankenstein's monster thing.
Sveshnikov only played his Sicilian for a few years before switching to 4...e5, which is more positional whatever Everyman want us to call it.
I am sure he deserves his reputation as a great innovator. But the kind of innovator who came up with new positional ideas rather than a tactical maverick.
Sveshnikov only played his Sicilian for a few years before switching to 4...e5, which is more positional whatever Everyman want us to call it.
I am sure he deserves his reputation as a great innovator. But the kind of innovator who came up with new positional ideas rather than a tactical maverick.
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
I suspect there is a high correlation between people who seek to portray various anti-Sicilian systems as “negative” or “cowardly” and, er, Sicilian black side devotees...
Anyway regardless of the other counterpoints put, it is hardly unusual when individuals have particular favourite openings to seek ways to avoid being confronted with “playing against themselves”.
Anyway regardless of the other counterpoints put, it is hardly unusual when individuals have particular favourite openings to seek ways to avoid being confronted with “playing against themselves”.
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
One day I may just post a few of my games in the supposedly "deadly dull" 2c3 Sicilian.
Of course, the fact that many are quick tactical crushes of the Black side may not make Joey feel any better
Of course, the fact that many are quick tactical crushes of the Black side may not make Joey feel any better
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
In my experience, c3 is the move that devotees of the Sicilian least like to face.
Open lines? Objectively they are the strongest, but we know our stuff there - or at least we are meant to.
The c3 lines are a different kettle of fish. Equality is not easy to find. We can play it safe with 2...e6, but Sicilian players tend not to be at home in the French!
Open lines? Objectively they are the strongest, but we know our stuff there - or at least we are meant to.
The c3 lines are a different kettle of fish. Equality is not easy to find. We can play it safe with 2...e6, but Sicilian players tend not to be at home in the French!
Re: Evgeny Sveshnikov
Sveshnikov's The Complete C3 Sicilian is a book I've actually read (as opposed to simply looking at it wistfully on the shelf). It's a house-brick of a tome in day-glo yellow which, alas, promises more than it delivers. The bulk of the book contains hundreds of unannotated games, hence any real value comes in the early pages where the Great Man instructs us in the ups & downs of positions emerging from 2...d5; and 2...Nf6.Nick Ivell wrote: ↑Fri Aug 27, 2021 4:07 pmThe c3 lines are a different kettle of fish. Equality is not easy to find
So come on then, Evgeny, I haven't got all day - which is better? Well, he hums and haws, and if and buts, but eventually he reckons 2...Nf6 gives Black better prospects. And that's how I now respond, changing from 2...d5 (with which I once beat Nigel Short ).
Thanks for everything, Evgeny, especially Sicilian 5...e5. Our game is the better for you. RIP