Congress 5-days Long Composing Tourney
Judge: Byron Zappas (Greece)
Theme
In a try with double threat, two black defences result in new mates. In the solution, the threats of the try re-appear as mates, after the same black defences.

35 entries participated, a quite satisfactory number, considering the rather difficult theme for such a tourney. I was hoping to receive compositions showing black correction play of the thematic pieces at least in the solution.

Thematic tries taking flights were considered serious defect. Nevertheless, the top problems are of high quality. I would like to thank George Georgopoulos for expressing his view on several occasions and checking the entries with his computer, as well as Mrs Odette Vollenweider who helped me in preparing the award.

Aleksandr Feoktistov
1 Pr 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
Uri Avner & Ofer Comay
 2 Pr 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
Michel Caillaud
5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
[ex 3-4 Pr, ANTICIPATED]
#2
(9+12)
#2
(11+7)
#2
(9+8)

1st Prize: Aleksandr Feoktistov (Russia)
1.Sge5? (2.Tb3#, 2.Tc2#) 1...exd3 2.Sf3#, 1...Lxc4 2.Sxc6#, 1...Lxe5 2.Dxe5#, but 1...e2!
1.Sxe3? (2.Sc2#) 1...exd3 2.Txd3#, 1...Sb4 2.Dc5#, 1...Kxe3 2.Df2#, but 1...La4!
1.e7! (2.Dd7#) 1...exd3 2.Tc2#, 1...Lxc4 2.Tb3#, 1...Lf~ 2.De5#, 1...c5 2.Dd5#, 1...S~ 2.Dc5#
A rich and complex rendering of the theme. The thematic try threatens battery mates and the thematic defences are met by indirect battery mates. The extra try 1.Sxe3? changes again the mate of the thematic defence exd3. An almost 3x2 Zagoruyko!

2nd Prize: Uri Avner & Ofer Comay (Israel)
1.Dd2? (2.Sb4#, 2.Se3#) 1...Txd4 2.f4#, 1...Lxd4 2.Kb4#, but 1...Lxd8!
1.Dg3? (2.Dg8#) 1...Txd4 2.Se3#, but 1...Lxd4!
1.De2? (2.Dc4#) 1...Lxd4 2.Sb4#, but 1...Txd4!
1.Dh8! (2.Dg8#) 1...Txd4 2.Se3#, 1...Lxd4 2.Sb4#, 1...Tg4 2.fxg4#, 1...a6+ 2.Kxb6#, 1...Txf3 2.Lxf3#
Three tries by the wD, of which two are refuted by the thematic black defences respectively. Critical square e5 around which all white efforts are concentrated. Battery mates in the try play and in the solution.

(ex 3rd-4th Prize ex aequo, ANTICIPATED): Michel Caillaud (France)
1.La3? (2.Sxb7#, 2.Se4#) 1...T4xh5 2.Sc4#, 1...T7xh5 2.Sf7#, but 1...Te7!
1.Dh2! (2.Sc4#, 2.Sf7#) 1...T4xh5 2.Se4#, 1...T7xh5 2.Sxb7#, 1...Lxe5 2.Dxe5#, 1...Kxc5 2.Sd3#

Peter Gvozdják
 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
[ex 3-4 Pr, ANTICIPATED]
Vasyl Dyachuk
1 HM 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
Paz Einat & Ofer Comay
2 HM 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
#2
(11+12)
#2
(12+11)
#2
(8+9)

(ex 3rd-4th Prize ex aequo, ANTICIPATED): Peter Gvozdják (Slovakia)
1.Dh7? (2.Sg3#, 2.Sfd6#) 1...Dxa1 2.Sd2#, 1...Lb2 2.Scd6#, 1...Txf5 2.Dxf5#, but 1...Dc3!
1.d5! (2.Sd2#, 2.Scd6#) 1...Dxa1 2.Sg3#, 1...Lb2 2.Sfd6#, 1...Dc3 2.Sg3#, 1...Sd4 2.Dxd4#, 1...Sb4 2.Dd4#
The characteristic feature of these two problems is that the thematic mates of the try play appear as double threat in the solution. A paradoxical concept!

[Webmaster's note] Thanks to Henk le Grand (Netherlands) who pointed out that both 3-4 Prizes are totally anticipated and therefore they are removed from the award. Refer to the diagrams at the end of this page.

1st Honourable Mention: Vasyl Dyachuk (Ukraine)
1.g3? (2.Txe5#, 2.Txh5#) 1...Lxf4 2.Sc5#, 1...Sxf4 2.Txf4#, but 1...Lg6!
1.Dc5! (2.Dxd5#) 1...Lxf4 2.Txh5#, 1...Sxf4 2.Txe5#, 1...Sd~ 2.Dxe3#, 1...Txd2 2.gxf3#, 1...Lxc5 2.Sxc5#
The thematic play is introduced as in the 1st Prize with battery mates, which reappear in the solution. An original and complex concept.

2nd Honourable Mention: Paz Einat & Ofer Comay (Israel)
1.Kxf4? (2.Dc5#, 2.Dxd3#, 2.Lc3#) 1...De3+ 2.Lxe3#, 1...De4+ 2.Dxe4#, 1...De5+ 2.Dxe5#, 1...Dxc8 2.De5#, but 1...Tc7!
1.Kxg4! (2.Sf3#) 1...De3 2.Lc3#, 1...De4 2.Dc5#, 1...De5 2.Dxd3#
A task presentation with three thematic mates, featuring captures in the try and blocks in the solution.

Zoran Gavrilovski
 3 HM 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
Hans Peter Rehm
Hans Gruber
4 HM 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
Aharon Hirschenson
Comm 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
#2
(10+10)
#2
(10+9)
#2
(9+12)

3rd Honourable Mention: Zoran Gavrilovski (Macedonia)
1.Dd7? (2.Sg4#, 2.g4#) 1...Lxe6 2.Dg7#, 1...Sxe6 2.Dxd5#, but 1...Dxe6!
1.Dd1! (2.De2#) 1...Lxe6 2.g4#, 1...Sxe6 2.Sg4#, 1...Dxe6 2.g4#
Somov variations with dual avoidance play.

4th Honourable Mention: Hans Peter Rehm & Hans Gruber (Germany)
1.De7? (2.Sd5#, 2.Sg2#) 1...Le4 2.Dxe4#, 1...De5 2.Dxe5#, 1...Txe3 2.Dxe3#, but 1...Lxb6!
1.Dd2! (2.Df2#) 1...Le4 2.Sg2#, 1...De5 2.Sd5#, 1...Lf5 2.Txf5#, 1...Txe3 2.Dxe3#, 1...Ta2 2.Sc2#
An attractive composition with Somov variations. However, the possibility of anticipation is great.

Commendation: Aharon Hirschenson (Israel)
1.Lf6? (2.Se2#, 2.Td1#) 1...Txe5 2.Dc5#, 1...Sxe5 2.Db4#, but 1...Sxf2!
1.Db3! (2.Dd1#) 1...Txe5 2.Td1#, 1...Sxe5 2.Se2#, 1...Sxf2 2.Lxf2#, 1...c2 2.Dd3#, 1...Sb4 2.Dxb4#
Nice self-pins in the try and self-blocks on e5 in the solution and thematic mates without captures separated by dual avoidance.

Yosi Retter
 Comm 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
Aharon Hirschenson
Comm 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
Roland Baier
Comm 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
#2
(10+10)
#2
(8+8)
#2
(7+4)

Commendation: Yosi Retter (Israel)
1.Db4? (2.Sd2#, 2.Sg5#) 1...Lxd4 2.Sf6#, 1...Dxd4 2.Sc3#, but 1...Lxc2!
1.Dh2! (2.De2#) 1...Lxd4 2.Sd2#, 1...Dxd4 2.Sg5#, 1...Sg4 2.Df4#, 1...Dc3+ 2.Sxc3#
Same strategy as in the previous problem, a technique used by a number of entries in the tournament. Distant move in the key.

Commendation: Aharon Hirschenson (Israel)
1.Kb4? (2.Sc5#, 2.Sd8#) 1...Ke4 2.Df3#, 1...Kxe6 2.Df7#, but 1...dxe5!
1.Sg6! (2.Dxf5#) 1...Ke4 2.Sc5#, 1...Kxe6 2.Sd8#, 1...dxe6 2.Df3#
Another problem with thematic battery mates.

Commendation: Roland Baier (Switzerland)
1.Dd8? (2.Sxe4#, 2.Sb5#) 1...Kd2 2.Da5#, 1...Kd4 2.Df6#, but 1...Sd7!
1.Dg3! (2.Dxe3#) 1...Kd2 2.Sxe4#, 1...Kd4 2.Sb5#
The most economical setting of the tourney.

Emanuel Navon
Yosi Retter
 Comm 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
Arieh Grinblat & Paz Einat
Comm 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
Harri Hurme
Comm 5-Days Long Ty
Eretria 2005
#2
(9+12)
#2
(11+12)
#2
(8+14)

Commendation: Emanuel Navon & Yosi Retter (Israel)
1.Dxe3? (2.De4#, 2.Dd4#) 1...Se6 2.Td7#, 1...Sxd3 2.Txd3#, 1...Lxe3 2.Sxe3#, but 1...Sh5!
1.Sc6? (2.Sb4#) 1...La3 2.Sxe3#, but 1...Sxd3!
1.Dg4! (2.Dd7#) 1...Se6 2.De4#, 1...Sxd3 2.Dd4#, 1...La3 2.Sxe3#

Commendation: Arieh Grinblat & Paz Einat (Israel)
1.Dc1? (2.Th4#, 2.Sg3#) 1...Lxe3 2.Dxh1#, 1...Txe3 2.Dxc4#, 1...Txc1 2.Ld3#, 1...Lf2 2.Dxh1#, but 1...Dxb8!
1.Dd6! (2.Df4#) 1...Lxe3 2.Sg3#, 1...Txe3 2.Th4#, 1...Dxb8 2.Sxf6#

Commendation: Harri Hurme (Finland)
1.Lxa7? (2.Td4#, 2.Se3#) 1...Sc5 2.Sb6#, 1...c5 2.Dxa8#, but 1...Dc5!
1.Dd7! (2.De6#) 1...Sc5 2.Td4#, 1...c5 2.Se3#, 1...Sf4/Sf2 2.Tfxe5#

Daniel Papack
Schach 1990		 Andrey Lobusov
3 HM L'Echiquier Belge 1995
  #2  
(8+9)
     #2   (10+8)  

Daniel Papack, Schach 1990
1.Dh4? (2.Sxe4#, 2.Sxh7#) 1...Db5 2.Sg4#, 1...Tb5 2.Sd7#, but 1...Te7!
1.Lb2! (2.Sg4#, 2.Sd7#) 1...Db5 2.Sxe4#, 1...Tb5 2.Sxh7#, 1...Lxe5 2.Dxe5#, 1...Kxg5 2.Sf7#

Andrey Lobusov, 3 HM L'Echiquier Belge 1995
1.Dh8? (2.Sg4#, 2.Sfd7#) 1...Db3 2.Sxd3#, 1...Lb3 2.Scd7#, but 1...Df3!
1.d6! (2.Sxd3#, 2.Scd7#) 1...Db3 2.Sg4#, 1...Lb3 2.Sfd7#, 1...Sd5 2.Dxd5#