Author: Richter, Kurt (1900-1969)
Year: 1936-37
Publisher: Druck von Metzger & Wittig
Place: Leipzig
Description:
2 volumes: 176+[4 ad] pages with diagrams, tables and plates; 192+[4 ad] pages with diagrams, tables, plates and index. Octavo (8 1/2" x6") issued in beige cloth with blue lettering to spine and front cover. (Volumes 6 & 7 from the 1936 Olympics coverage). Bibliotheca Van der Linde-Niemeijeriana:5534. First edition.
The German Chess Federation wanted to organize an Olympiad as a counterpart to the Olympic Games at Berlin in 1936. Munich was chosen to be the venue - for the local chess club was celebrating its centenary - and teams of eight plus two reserves were invited to take part. But since the German Chess Federation was not a member of FIDE, the event was not recognized as belonging to the official series of Olympiads. Twenty-two countries entered for this mammoth tournament and of these only Spain later withdrew. However, the dates coincided with the international tournament at Nottingham, with the result that not only was the English team unable to enter but also a number of grandmasters were absent from the top boards of their respective countries. The favorites seemed about equally handicapped by this.
In all the history of chess there had been very few international matches in which the number of players on each side exceeded that in normal Olympiads. Accordingly, it was difficult to compare the teams and to size up their chances beforehand. The following were considered to have good prospects of gaining a high place: Hungary, a soled, powerful side led by grandmaster Maroczy; the German team, which had prepared itself thoroughly for this event; and countries such as Poland, Sweden, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Austria whose chess traditions were strong. The Olympiad opened on August 17th with 208 participants (the Dutch and Brazilian teams had only nine players).
A chess tournament on such a scale had never been witnessed before (1680 games were played!) and only the most recent Olympiads have surpassed it in size. From the very beginning the struggle was fierce. Moreover, owing to the numerous adjourned games and the bye caused by the odd number of teams, even those 'on the inside' found it hard to assess the situation clearly. For two-thirds of the distance the lead altered between German and Poland, with the Czechs and Yugoslavs in hot pursuit. Hungary had the free day early on (in the fourth round) and for that reason did not figure among the chief pace-makers at first. Nevertheless, the leaders had the disquieting feeling that their dangerous rival was not far behind. The Hungarians, gaining one sound victory after another, gradually overcame every obstacle. As the teams in front had the bye so their advantage disappeared, until at last, in the sixteenth round, when Germany were free, Hungary assumed the lead. From then onwards they held it securely, entering the last round four points ahead of the field; a modest win over Norway was sufficient to give them first place. Hungary's achievement in defeating, in an all-play-all tournament, all the opposition without conceding a single drawn match remained unequaled in the Olympiads until 1960. Poland finished second and Germany third. (Foldeak Chess Olympiads)
Condition:
Spine ends chipped, soiled, corners bumped and rubbed through, book plate removed from paste down of first volume else about very good issued without jackets.