Håkan Åkvist

Eksjö 1978

From 25 August to 2 September 1978, Eksjö Chess Club's 6th international tournament was played. It was a hard-fought and interesting event with unmistakable Swedish success. The clear winner was 21-year-old Harry Schüssler from Limhamn, who just before the tournament had secured the coveted IM title in a tournament in Norway.

After the chairman of the Swedish Chess Federation, Christer Wänéus, had opened the tournament and conducted the drawing of lots, everything was ready for the start according to the following seeding: 1. H. Åkvist, Eksjö; 2. S. Wagman, USA; 3. F. Borkowski, Poland; 4. J. Přibyl, Czechoslovakia; 5. Z. Krnić, Yugoslavia; 6. L.-Å. Schneider, Jönköping; 7. H. Wademark, Hultsfred; 8. T. Wedberg, Stockholm; 9. E. Paoli, Italy; 10. H. Schüssler, Limhamn.

Interesting things happened already in the first round. Wedberg began his pursuit of an IM title by convincingly defeating last year's winner Borkowski. I myself missed a queen win in time trouble against Schüssler and had to settle for a draw in the adjourned position. This year's Småland champion, Helge Wademark, lost to the pre-tournament favourite Přibyl.

In round 2 came the tournament's first major sensation. In a Closed Sicilian, Wademark sacrificed the exchange against Krnić and, in a hopeless position, overstepped the time limit. Borkowski won an endgame against Paoli and Přibyl convincingly defeated Wedberg.

Přibyl continued his winning march in round 3 through an effective refutation of Paoli's attack, and Borkowski produced another brilliant miniature after I had greedily swallowed the “test pawn” on b2. After two opening draws, Schneider scored his first win following an opening mistake by Wademark. Wedberg had long had serious difficulties against Krnić, but in time trouble the Yugoslav lost his grip and when the smoke cleared the knight ending was won for the Swede.

In round 4 Schüssler won efficiently against Wademark and Wedberg elegantly against Schneider. Borkowski inflicted Wagman's first defeat, and Krnić took his first full point by outplaying Paoli. I drew with Přibyl and the standings were: Přibyl 3½, Borkowski, Wedberg, Schüssler 3, Schneider 2, Wagman, Krnić 1½, Åkvist, Wademark 1, Paoli ½.

In round 5 Schüssler's defensive skills were severely tested. Borkowski made a prepared piece sacrifice, avoided a repetition of moves and — lost! Schüssler thereby caught Přibyl, who in a slow but highly interesting game had to be grateful for a draw against Wagman. Schneider beat Paoli and I took my first victory after solid play against Krnić. Wademark scraped together a well-earned draw against Wedberg.

After a short draw with Wedberg in round 6, Schüssler finally took the lead. In a well-known theoretical line of the Yugoslav Attack, Borkowski obtained a slightly better endgame, but Přibyl patiently neutralized the Pole's attacking attempts. Krnić finally showed what he could do and won comfortably against Wagman. Paoli won a complicated game against Wademark, while I, after four earlier defeats in our mutual encounters, managed to draw with Schneider in a fairly balanced game.

Krnić outplayed Borkowski, while in the Småland derby Wademark–Åkvist the former mishandled the opening. The other games ended in draws.

Wedberg could not break through Paoli's tenacious defence, Wagman easily neutralized Schneider's initiative, and Přibyl–Schüssler was agreed drawn after only 11 moves. The standings after round 7 were: Schüssler 5, Přibyl, Wedberg 4½, Borkowski, Schneider 4, Krnić 3½, Åkvist, Wagman, Wademark 2½, Paoli 2.

Wedberg needed 1½ and Borkowski 2 points from the final two rounds to secure their IM titles. I managed to completely spoil Wedberg's optimistic setup, while Borkowski's effort against Schneider deserved a better fate. After a double piece sacrifice the Pole missed a fantastic winning move and Schneider's material advantage became decisive. Wagman won safely against Wademark. Schüssler outplayed Paoli with simple but effective means and thereby regained the lead, as Přibyl and Krnić drew after only 12 moves.

In the final round Krnić–Schüssler and Schneider–Přibyl quickly ended in draws. Wademark had long had good chances against Borkowski, but that game too ended peacefully in a draw. The remaining games became real marathons. When Wedberg finally defeated Wagman in a rook ending after nearly ten hours of play, I was still struggling desperately with two extra pawns against Paoli. Finally physical condition decided the matter — the 70-year-old outlasted me — and over a banquet already begun with wine and sandwiches, a draw became a fact!

The prize-giving was conducted by the tournament's all-in-all, Leif Lagerqvist, assisted by IM Axel Ornstein, who pleased the organizers with his presence during the final rounds.

Finally, I would like to express Eksjö Chess Club's thanks to all those who in various ways contributed to the successful conduct of the tournament. I especially wish to mention the Swedish Chess Federation and the Småland Chess Federation. Without their generous financial support the tournament could not have taken place.

(Games from the tournament will appear in the next issue of TFS! Ed.)

Final Standings

1. (IM) Schüssler — 6½
2. Wedberg — 5½
3. IM Přibyl — 5½
4. IM Schneider — 5½
5. IM Krnić — 4½
6. Borkowski — 4½
7. Åkvist — 4
8. Wagman — 3½
9. Wademark — 3
10. IM Paoli — 2½

About the Eksjö Tournament

The tournament committee — Hans Larsson, Leif Lagerqvist and Håkan Åkvist — had hoped to obtain players from four countries that had not been represented in previous tournaments: France, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and the USA. A last-minute cancellation by an IM reduced the number to three.

IM Paoli — the man behind twenty New Year's tournaments in Reggio Emilia, Italy — arrived by train shortly before the tournament began. It was the sixth tournament of the year for the 70-year-old. No wonder he was tired!

One indication of the fighting spirit in this year's Eksjö tournament: in all seven games decided by a time forfeit, the players had made 40 moves or more, while only five of the drawn games lasted fewer than 20 moves.

In the Swedish Championship in Degerfors, Schüssler lost only one game (to Helmertz in round 4) and has since completed two international tournaments in Norway and the Eksjö tournament without a single defeat. That means 38 games in a row without defeat — a fantastic result!

Wademark was defeated in all five of his games with White, but lost none with Black.

Tournament director Jarosław Hołowiecki of Poland had an easy task, to which the players' exemplary conduct naturally contributed.

Håkan Åkvist