In 2012, the annual match between The University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Belgrade was renamed the Svetozar Gligorić Transatlantic Cup. That change was in memory of Grandmaster Svetozar Gligorić (1923-2012), the best player ever from Serbia. Belgrade is the capital and the largest city in Serbia. This year, the 14th match in the series that began in 2006, was won by The University of Texas at Dallas.
FIDE Honors Svetozar Gligorić
Just this month, FIDE, the World Chess Federation, announced the creation of the Svetozar Gligorić Fair Play Trophy Award. According to the FIDE announcement, Svetozar Gligorić was known for respecting his opponents, famously stating that he played against the chess pieces, not the man. The Svetozar Gligorić Fair Play Trophy Award recognizes a chess player who exhibits fairness, respect, friendship, team spirit, equality, tolerance, and care; with, additionally, an outstanding sportsmanship demonstration within the past year. Nominations are open until December 19, 2019. The Svetozar Gligorić Fair Play Trophy Award will be given at an Award Ceremony at the FIDE Congress in December of 2019.
2019 Results and Games
The Svetozar Gligorić Transatlantic Cup is played over the Internet, via the Internet Chess Club, with strict rules. For example, no “take-backs” are allowed.
In the 2019 match, played on Friday, November 15, The University of Texas at Dallas won with a score of 10.5-5.5. Last year, the 13th in the series, UT Dallas won by the even greater margin of 12.5 to 3.5. Wins count as one point each, draws as .5 points each, and there are 16 students playing for each university’s team. The games are ordered as first board, second board, and so forth, down to board 16. The program lists the students competing for each university. The Svetozar Gligorić Transatlantic Cup is played via the Internet Chess Club and the games are available here.
In last year’s article, I showed a draw by University of Texas at Dallas chess team member International Master Emil Stefanov on board 12. Stefanov played board 11 this year and won his game. The first board for the 2019 Svetozar Gligorić Transatlantic Cup, for The University of Texas at Dallas, was Grandmaster Razvan Preotu, who also won.
Panda Chess Academy
I am highlighting Stefanov and Preotu because they are appearing later this month at the Panda Chess Academy in Houston. I will be there too. Here is a description of that upcoming event, which I summarize below:
On November 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Panda Chess Academy will host a special event featuring members of The University of Texas at Dallas chess team, Grandmaster Răzvan Preotu and International Master Emil Stefanov. GM Preotu and IM Stefanov will give lectures and simuls, and Dr. Alexey Root, Lecturer at University of Texas at Dallas, will be speaking to parents about chess and education, college scholarships, college team chess competition, and related topics.
Chess Game Annotated
Preotu won his game from the 2019 Svetozar Gligorić Transatlantic Cup, which follows.
Preotu is also the co-author of The Chess Attacker’s Handbook, available from Gambit Publications.
