(22.03.2014) Here is the Award of the Vladimir Zabunov - 85 MT 2014! The tourney was announced in 2013 which was the 85 anniversary year of Zabunov's birthday. I thank all participants and congratulate the awarded composers! Many thanks to the judge IGM Petko Petkov for his Award which is open for claims for next 30 days.

“Vladimir Zabunov – 85 MT” 2014

AWARD

            From the director of the tournament, Diyan Kostadinov, I've received 18 problems by 15 composers from 11 countries: No.1. Alberto Armeni (Italia), No.2.Kostas Prentos (Greece), No.3. Ricardo de Mattos Vieira (Brazil), No.4. Julia Vysotska (Latvia),  No.5. Julia Vysotska (Latvia),  No.6. Julia Vysotska (Latvia), No.7. Miodrag Mladenovic (Serbia), No.8. Velko Alexandrov (Bulgaria), No.9. Luis Miguel Martin (Spain), No.10. Franz Pachl (Germany), No.11. Franz Pachl and Ralf Kraetschmer (Germany), No.12. Mario Parrinello (Italy), No.13. Manfred Rittirsh (Germany), No.14.  Ingemar Lind (Sweden), No.15. Ingemar Lind (Sweden), No.16. Kalyan Seetharaman (India), No.17.Michel Caillaud (France), No.18. Kjell Widlert (Sweden).

            The following of these compositions were not included: No.1 – too much forced and simple idea; No.6 - not thematical; No.8 - the w.Sc2 is superfluous in the second solution;  No.15 - the scheme has an orthodox character well known from many #3; No.17 - probably, there is author's mistake as wRe2 is possible to exchange with a w.Pawn.

            The level of the competition is very high with many interesting  problems. Not all of them show "Zabunov" theme in its pure, classic form ("Classic Zabunov"). Many problems show various modifications of the theme, many of them differ substantially from the classical "Zabunov canon".

            I have decided to include in ranking these compositions, that enrich and decorate this competition. A common thing between all of them and "Classic Zabunov" is the role of the forward battery-piece that transforms in a rear battery-piece in a new battery (direct or indirect). Three special prizes are awarded basing on an exceptional and unusual modernistic interpretation of the theme!

            1-2 Prize: No.11. Franz Pachl and Ralf Kraetschmer (Germany) - A perfect realization of  "Classic Zabunov" with maximal economy of white thematic pieces and active play of the both Kings. Black self-pins of the pieces B and S are an excellent additional motive! a) 1.Bf2-h4+ Kf7-e7 2.Rc4-e4+ Bh8-e5 3.Kg5-h6+ Qh3xh4#; b) 1.Rc4-g4+ Kf7-g7 2.Bf2-d4+ Sc6-e5 3.Kg5-h5+ Qh3xg4#.  (C+, Py 4.65)

            1-2 Prize:  No.13. Manfred Rittirsh (Germany) - An important and quite substantial modification of the  "Classic Zabunov": there's the 2nd reciprocal change of direct battery front/rear piece! In both solutions the remaining initial direct battery is fired as an indirect battery, battery cross-checks combined with fine white self-blocks (Bf3/Bc2). A superb  using of  the condition Anti-Circe! I.1…Qh8 2.Ke3 c3 3.Bf3+ Qxh3(Qd8)#; II. 1…Bd7 2.Kd3 Rd4 3.Bc2+ Bxh3(Bc8)#. (C+, Py 4.65)

            3rd Prize: No.5. Julia Vysotska  (Latvia) - An excellent Meredith without white Pawns! The only problem in this tournament with a use of Take&Make that works very good in each solution in 3 half-moves! Another additional motive to this nonstandard  "Classic Zabunov" is the Annihilation of white R/Q. A minimal minus here seems the mating moves by black N. a) 1...Qc8xd7-e7+ 2.Nd5xe7-e8+ Kb5-a6 3.Qc7-e7+ Nb1xe7-c7#; b) 1...Qc8xc7-f4 2.Nd5xf4-f8+ Kb5-b6 3.Rd7-e7+ Nb1xe7-d7# (C+, Py 4.65)      

            4th Prize: No.9. Luis Miguel Martin (Spain) - A beautiful realization of the  "Classic Zabunov" with a use of black Grasshoppper as forward piece in the initial black battery! Interesting play of two duos of thematic pieces Q/R with interchange of functions  from both sides, despite the fact that  the roles  of the black Q and R  are not quite identical in both solutions. I.1.Qe7-c7 Gg3-b8+ 2.Qc7-g3 Qe6-d7 3.Rf7-f6+ Rb6xf6#; II. 1.Rf7-g7 Gg3-g8+ 2.Rg7-g3 Rb6-a6 3.Qe7-f6+ Qe6xf6#  (C+, Py 4.65)

         5th Prize: No.16. K. Seetharaman (India) - As in Rittirsch's problem (but in more modest form), we see here a transformation of a white Rook-Lion/Queen battery into Queen/ Rook-Lion battery - with interchange of function between the forward and rear battery pieces! Good additional motives: anti-critical moves by Rg2, block of black NAg1/VAg1, inclusion of PAh2. The anti-dual tries Ng1?/VAg1 instituted by the author seems somewhat elementary. But this sympathetic problem composed only with 10 figures deserves a prize! I.1...Rg2-c2   2.RLf1-c1+ NAc3-g1! (VAg1?) 3.Qe1-e2+ Rc2xc1#; II. 1...Rg2-d2 2.RLf1-d1+ VAa7-g1! (NAg1?) 3.Qe1-f2+ Rd2xd1#. (C+, Py 4.65)

            Special  Prize – No.7 Miodrag Mladenovic (Serbia)  -  Only one solution, but it demonstrates Zabunov theme two times with unusual switch from front to rear battery piece within the same battery! This excellent Meredith-Aristocrat with  beautiful model mate finish indicates a very interesting,  special way for the development of Zabunov theme! 1.Ge7-h4+ Gg7-e7 2.Gd7-d1+ Gf7-d7 3.Bg5-f4 + Sh7-f6 4.Rd2-c2+ Gd7-f7#. (C+, Py 4.65)

            Special Prize: No.4 . Julia Vysotska  ( Latvia) -  Initial white battery LE/R transforms into three new anti-batteries R/LE, where forward piece of initial battery (LE) becomes a rear piece of the new anti-battery R/LE in each solution! White Bristol R-R. Model mates. As always by this composer – a light form - Meredith! A small minus here is the symmetrical motives in the play, but these moments are organically connected with the scheme!  I. 1.LEf7-f4+ Kc7-b8 2.Rg7-a7 LEc5-c1 3.Rh7-c7+ LEc1xf4 #; II.  1.LEf7-f5+ Kc7-c8 2.Rg7-b7 LEc5-c2 3.Rh7-d7+ LEc2xf5 #; III. 1.LEf7-f6 + Kc7-d8 2.Rg7-c7 LEc5-c3 3.Rh7-e7+ LEc3xf6 # (C+, Py 4.65)

            Special Prize: No.18.  Kjell Widlert  (Sweden)  - The only problem with thematic battery created with neutral pieces! A very special kind of Zabunov theme with the first battery directed towards the b.K, the second towards the wK. Both pieces in the second battery arrive by Anti-Circe transport. This wonderful concept is worthy of a prize despite the fact that b) solution seems richer in content! a) 1.nLEe6-e5 Bg4-h5 2.Rb6-g6 Sh4xg6[bSg6->g8] 3.nLEe5xh5[nLEh5->h8]+ Sg8-e7#;  b) 1.nLEd6-d2 Sg4-h2 2.Ra6-h6 Bf4xh6[bBh6->f8] 3.nLEd2xh2[nLEh2->h8]+ Bf8-d6 #. Try: 1.nLEd7? Bh6 2.Re6 Bf8 3.nLExg4->g8+ Bd6+ 4.Kb7!  (C+, Py 4.65)

            1st Honourable Mention -  No.12.  Mario Parrinello (Italy) - Rather nonstandard and exotic demonstration of the theme, but in my opinion the fairy pieces are many and quite different in appearance here. This makes the implementation somewhat artificial and mechanical. a) 1.rCGa7-g7+ Rd5-d4 2.CGh8xd4 SIf4-f6+3.rCGg7-e5+ LEb6-b2#; b)1.rCGa7-g1+ Rd5-d1+ 2.CGh1xd1 SIf4-f1+ 3.rCGg1-e1+ LEb6-b1#  (C+, Py 4.65)

         2nd  Honourable Mention – No.3. Ricardo de Mattos Viera (Brazil) - Here the initial thematic battery is indirect (Rb6/Ba7) - a modification of the "Classic Zabunov" that is quite acceptable, of course. The new white batteries are direct (Se5/Re6) and indirect (Bd5/Rd6) therefore we see here some thematic imbalance between both solutions. Very good are additional motives - black Grimshaw (c6) and  white selfpins. But here the key-moves with non-thematic captures of the white Pawns are obviously not aesthetic. On this reason I think that this good scheme has not been developed optimally.  I.1...Sg2xh4 2.Rb6-d6 Ra6-c6 3.Bd5-f3+ Sh4xf3#; II. 1...Sg2xf4 2.Rb6-e6 Ba8-c6 3.Se5-f3+ Sf4xe6#.  (C+, Py 4.65)

            3rd Honourable Mention – No.2. Kostas Prentos (Greece) - "Classic Zabunov" demonstrated with an interesting introduction - white Grimshaw on "b5". Unfortunately, there is no full thematic identity between the solutions. a) 1…Qg7 2.Bb5 Kh5 3.Bd3+ Kg6 4.Sd6+ Sxd3#; b) 1…Bg8 2.Rb5 Kf1 3.Re5+ Ke1 4.Sc5+ Se2#. (C+, Py 4.65)

            Commendation: No.10. Franz Pachl (Germany)  -  A very difficult and interesting  thematical complex  with transformations of both white batteries Ge4/Bg6 and Gd4/Rd7, combined with creation of new black batteries, G-blocks, white self-blocks etc. Unfortunately here we see a crude non-thematic capture 3.Kxg8 in solution a); a)  1...Nc2xd4 2.Ge4-h7+ Gb1-e4 3.Kf7xg8 Qc1-c2 4.Bg6-f7+ Ge4-e1#; b) 1...Nd2xe4 2.Gd4-d8+ Gd1-d4 3.Kf7-f8 Qc1-d2 4.Rd7-f7+ Gd4-a1#.  (C+, Py 4.65)

            Commendation: No.14. Ingemar Lind (Sweden) - Another attempt to realize double Zabunov theme in only one solution.  But it is obviously that this problem is far from the level of  Mlademovic's Special prize. 1.Rh8-g8 Bg7xe5 2.Rg8xg4 Rc3-f3 3.Rg4xc4+ Rf3-f5 4.Sc5-e4+ Be5-c7# (C+, Py 4.65).

Judge: IGM PETKO PETKOV International judge of FIDE

Sofia, 9th March 2014