Author: Vasja Pirc (1907-1980)
Year: 1957
Publisher: Wiener Schachverlag
Place: Wien (Vienna)
Description:
56 pages with photographs, tables, diagrams and index. Royal octavo (9" x 6 1/4") bound in original publisher's pictorial stapled wrappers. First edition.
The European Team Championship s an international team chess event, eligible for the participation of European nations whose chess federations are located in zones 1.1 to 1.9. This more or less accords with the wider definition of Europe used in other events such as the Eurovision Song Contest and includes Israel, Russia and the former Soviet States. The competition is run under the auspices of the European Chess Union (ECU). The idea was conceived in the early 1950s, when chess organizers became aware of the need for another international team event. Consequently, a men-only Championship was devised and held every four years, with the intention of filling in the gaps between Olympiads. More recently, the Championship has grown in importance and popularity and is regarded as a prestigious tournament in its own right, providing for male and female participants. The first Championship Final was held in Vienna and Baden bei Wien in 1957 (August 22–28). It was a double round robin and notable for the surprise victory of the Yugoslav team over the mighty Soviet team in their second encounter. The Soviet Union took the gold, Yugoslavia the silver and the bronze went to Czech Republic.
Condition:
Heavy wear to edges, corners bumped, some occasional marginalia, some toning to edges else a good copy.