International Chess Tournament

In a few days, in our city

In 1911 an important chess tournament was held in San Remo to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Italian unity.

This year our city will have the honor of hosting the centenary tournament, which will also bear the designation “City of the Tricolour,” since it will end on 7 January, the 165th anniversary of our Tricolour (7 January 1797).

It is the fourth tournament to be held consecutively in our city at New Year, and it has now become a tradition. For the past three years the name of our city has been appearing in foreign magazines and newspapers, accompanied by the tournament results.

This year the event is even more important than in previous years, both because of the increased number of participants (12 instead of 10) and because of the strength and fame that make them known internationally.

For the first time there will be a grandmaster: the Yugoslav representative Vasja Pirc of Ljubljana, winner of important international tournaments and a very well-known theoretician, author of many books on chess theory.

Other international masters will honor the tournament with their names and their strength: the Peruvian Esteban Canal, winner of the 1947 Reggio tournament and later a participant in the 1951 international tournament held in the rooms of the Municipal Casino; the Bulgarian Padewsky, several times national champion; the Romanian Ghitescu, one of the best hopes of the Danubian republic; the young Hungarian Haag, who became acquainted with our city on the occasion of the Italy–Hungary match played in 1960; the Italian champion Giustolisi, who for the first time won the coveted title by prevailing in the Italian championship held last summer at San Benedetto del Tronto; the promising young Milanese master Contedini; and our able Romani, who will represent our city in this demanding struggle.

The opening of the event, in the presence of the city authorities, will take place on Wednesday 27 December at 11 a.m. in the hall of the E.P.T. (by courtesy), and in the afternoon, at 2:30 p.m., the first round will begin. The rounds will then be played regularly every day until Epiphany, when the final round will be held.

Public bodies and banks have contributed financially toward partially covering the considerable expenses incurred, and to all of them we extend our heartfelt thanks on behalf of the organizers.

Motori Slanzi, Novellara: 100,000 lire; Provincial Administration: 100,000 lire; Banca Agricola Commerciale: 15,000 lire; Cassa di Risparmio: 10,000 lire; Banco S. Geminiano e S. Prospero: 10,000 lire; Rotary Club: 10,000 lire; Chamber of Commerce: a gold medal; Lions Clubs: a cup; Calza Bloch: five boxes of men’s socks.