The legendary grandmaster and problemist Pal Benko has passed away on August 26, at the age of He was one of the very few world-class players who also excelled at chess composition, adept in devising problems and endgame studies alike. Indeed, he held the unique distinction of acquiring both the titles of GM for the over-the-board game and IM for problem composing. Thus not too surprisingly, he was my No.1 pick in an earlier post, The greatest masters of both the game and problems – Part 1. Additionally, Benko did much to popularise the art of composed problems through his long-running columns, “Endgame Lab” and “Benko's Bafflers,” in the U.S. magazine, Chess Life. His book, My Life, Games and Compositions (), likewise must have introduced many chess players to the world of directmates, helpmates, and studies.
For this tribute to Benko as a composer, I have selected three of his works from different genres. Besides the orthodox types represented here, he also delved into unconventional forms, such as letter-shape and retro-analytical problems. Notwithstanding his versatility, he was most proficient in the field of endgame studies. His specialty
Pal Benko: My Life, Games, and Compositions
Grandmaster Pal Benko is a chess legend: A challenger for the World Championship, an innovator of many modern opening systems, a problem composer par excellence, and a father figure to his close friend Bobby Fischer, Benko has played and defeated most of the top players of the last fifty years. This biography is a celebration of a great man's creative legacy. Its amazing collection of deeply annotated games which have been carefully prepared to be entertaining, enlightening, and instructive is brought to life by Benko's memoirs of his early years in war-torn Hungary, a world of poverty, chaos, pain, and ultimately, personal triumph. His insights into famous grandmasters transform legends into real people with substance and personality, and his reminiscences of famous tournaments take us on a journey through chess history unlike anything that's been published before. Interviews with note players offer insights into Benko's nature. A massive survey of Benko's openings (by John Watson) shows us the scope of Benko's theoretical contributions to the game. Photos abound, and of Benko's chess compositions allow lovers of the game to bec
They didn’t tell me I’d be writing obituaries when I signed on as US Chess Digital Editor.
So when I saw that Pal Benko had died on August 26th, I slumped back in my chair and began to think. What could I possibly write about a legend like Benko, especially as I had never had the pleasure to meet the man?
And then these lines floated through the years back to me, lines I read years ago in Fred Waitzkin’s masterful book on Garry Kasparov. Here, Waitzkin encounters a dejected Kasparov packing up his hotel suite in New York after a difficult first half of the World Championship match.
“The last two or three times I had visited, I had brought with me an autographed copy of Grandmaster Pal Benko’s endgame book, a volume that Benko had published himself and which he had asked me to give Kasparov. I believe there were a hundred copies or so in this new edition. Each time I came, I forgot to give it to Garry, or his mood was so bad that I thought that he wouldn’t notice it. …
When Garry came back in the room to sit among the boxes, I handed him Benko’s self-published book, half-expecting him to drop it at his feet. But instead, he started reading. “This is very important,” he said,
FIDE announced it this morning:
It is with the deepest sadness that we learnt about the passing of Pal Benko, a two-time candidate for the world title ( and ), as well as a renowned composer of endgame studies and chess problems. He was 91 years old.
To the chess family, Benko was a historical figure of legendary proportions, whose name and legacy will never be forgotten as long as people keep playing this game.
His love for chess and his contributions to many aspects of the game, from the opening to the endgame, were an inspiration to several generations of players. Very few in the history of the game demonstrated the inextricable link between art and chess quite as he did. He left behind an invaluable legacy, compiled on several books.
Besides, he was a fantastic individual, respected by everybody who crossed paths with him. His personal charm and bonhomie earned him countless friendships among his colleagues.
Short biography
Benkö Pál (Hungarian orthography) was born on July 15, , in Amiens, in France. He became Hungarian champion when he was twenty and finished in first place (or tied for first place) in a record of eight US Championships: , (in that year he also wo
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