International Chess Tournament in Lviv dedicated to memory of champion (10/31/99)

International Chess Tournament in Lviv dedicated to memory of champion

by Dr. Orest Popovych

LVIV - A capacity crowd filled the theater of the Lviv chess palace on September 22, in order to witness the opening ceremonies of the second international chess tournament to be organized by the Lviv Regional Chess Federation in memory of Stepan Popel.

The first such "Popel Memorial" had been held here in 1996. Stepan Popel (1907-1987) was a champion of Lviv, western Ukraine, Paris and eventually, of Ukrainians in North America. Thus, Mr. Popel's chess career constitutes a bridge uniting chess players of Ukraine and the diaspora.

Seated on the stage of the Lviv chess palace were the 10 invited tournament participants and the directors, arrayed against a backdrop of huge demonstration chess boards.

The audience was addressed first by grandmaster Adrian Mykhalchyshyn, president of the Lviv Regional Chess Federation, then by Ivan Yaremko, a journalist and one of the tournament organizers; by Viktor Kart, the legendary coach of the "Lviv school" of chess and chief arbiter of this tournament, as well as by two residents of Lviv with personal connections to Mr. Popel, Prof. Joseph Kobiv, a friend, and Alexander Popel, a nephew.

Petro Bezpalko, author of the recently published book "Chess Players of the Ukrainian Diaspora," read the official greetings from the Chess Federation of the city of Kyiv. The concluding speeches were delivered by representatives of the diaspora, Dr. Orest Popovych, director of chess activity at the Ukrainian Sports Federation of the U.S.A. and Canada (USCAK), and, finally, by the USCAK president Myron Stebelsky. They greeted the tournament organizers and participants, tying this event to the long-standing traditions of chess excellence in the city of Lviv, in which a significant role has been played by the man being honored by this tournament, Stepan Popel.

Furthermore, the speakers from the diaspora noted with pride and joy the fact that the Lviv region today is brimming with an abundance of exceptional chess talent among children, and can look forward to a bright future in chess.

Noteworthy among the very young champions are Anya Muzychuk of Stryi (twice European champion among girls), Andriy Volokytin (the under 12 vice-champion of the world) and Katya Lahno (Ukrainian champion for girls under 10). The latter two live in Lviv. All three have recently received financial support from USCAK to enable them to travel to world championships as Ukraine's representatives.

The tournament competition itself started on September 23 and lasted for nine consecutive days, through October 1. Nine professional chess players - international grandmasters and masters, representing Ukraine, Slovenia, Russia and Turkey - as well as Orest Popovych, a FIDE master representing the Ukrainians of North America, were invited to fight it out in a nine-round single round-robin.

The tournament was won by Alexander Motylev (Russia), who scored 6.5 points out of a possible 9. Next in line were: 2. Andriy Maksymenko (Ukraine) - 6 points; 3. Adrian Mykhalchyshyn (Slovenia) - 5.5 points; 4-5. Volodymyr Buturyn (Ukraine) and Suat Atalik (Turkey) - 5 points; 6-8. Viktor Zhelandinov, Vitaliy Koziak and Oleksander Sulypa (all of Ukraine) - 4.5 points; 9. Orest Popovych (USA) - 2.5 points; 10. Danilo Polejzar (Slovenia) - 1 point.

The second Popel Memorial Chess Tournament was sponsored by USCAK and by the local businesses LvivVodoKanal and the Dnister Hotel.

The Lviv chess organization plans to stage similar tournaments in the future on a regular basis, to maintain the rich chess traditions for which the city of Lviv is world famous.

| Home Page |