World Jewish News

A traditional friendly chess tournament between the teams of the Armenian and Jewish communities took place in Penza.

A traditional friendly chess tournament between the teams of the Armenian and Jewish communities was held in Penza.
The Jews from Penza, including the eminent Boris Malyov, a Candidate to Master of Sports, were opposed to the solid and tightly-knitted team of Armenians, which included five currently playing chess players, Logos Nakhapetyan, the ex-Champion of Russia in his age category, and his brother Hachathur, three times' champion of the region, among others.
What failed our congeners were the sense of comradeship, the ability to succeed if not by skill and mastery, than at least by wit and stratagem. Moreover, the stronger players, indulging into ambitions of theirs and ignoring the team's interests, were seeking after playing the first chess-boards, where the strongest Armenians were playing (it had been clear long before the match was over that our players were helpless in that sector). The best players were Serguei Beder and Y.Urvant, who added 1,5 points to the team's score.
The first series of the matches was held in the building of Jewish Community center, the second - in the Armenian territory. In the second series, having regrouped their forces and having changed the tactics, the Jews did their best if not to win, but at least to draw the game. The duo of the Krivoshei brothers- Artyom and Ilya- were inimitable: they added two points, so much necessary to maintain the national pride. However, the points added did not change the score: 5,5:1,5 and 5:2 in favor of the united and experienced Armenian team. No matter the final score of 10,5:3,5, G.Muradyan, a player and the Chairman of the Armenian community, said that the true winner was friendship.
Having sweetened the bitterness of defeat at the tea table and having found topics of common interest to talk about, the Jewish and Armenian chess players decided to meet again, at tennis tables and in a football pitch.

Источник: ijc.ru