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Last update: Thursday July 21, 2005 11:47
The choice this year came down to two books of contrasting but great merit. The first is:
My Great Predecessors 2 Gary Kasparov Everyman £25.00
Continues the high standard established in volume 1, which won last years Book
of the Year Award. Indeed if anything it is even better as Kasparov is on more
familiar ground as he met and played most of the champions discussed in the
second volume, which considers Euwe, Botvinnik and Smyslov and Tal, with vignettes
on Bronstein and Keres. He is particularly good on his early coach and mentor,
Botvinnik writing with great sympathy about that remarkable mans strengths and
weaknesses. As before the book is beautifully produced.
The second book is quite different as it concentrates at great length-668 pages
in all- on one player.
Pal Benko My Life, Games and Compositions GM Pal Benko and IM Jeremy
Silman Siles Press £31.50. It is further subtitled Opening Survey
by IM John Watson and Foreword by GM Susan Polgar.
This is a remarkable work. Silman explains that he was dissatisfied with the
conventional best game collections and wanted to create a chess biography of
a man that he "admired, who was part of chess history, who played many
beautiful games, and who lived a colourful life that transcended mere chess
concerns-life death struggles, sexuality, financial stability etc". All
this and more can be found here and the book paints a vivid picture of Benko's
eventful life and times by means of interviews, photographs and stories of the
personalities met on the way.
The chess side is also very well covered with 138 annotated games, a description
of the evolution of the Benko Gambit by the founder himself and a 132 page survey
by John Watson on Benko's contribution to opening theory. Last but not least,
the book includes 91 pages on Benko's worldwide reputation as a problem and
end game study composer.
No wonder, then, that this book is one of the heaviest chess books the judges
have seen- but it is also one of the best.
The choice then was a difficult one; but the judges unanimously selected the Benko volume as it exemplified a new and refreshing approach to chess biography. Gary can console himself that he has another 3 volumes coming out in his My Great Predecessors series, which will surely be in contention for the Book of the Year award in the future.
R B Edwards M Fox J Toothill 21 October 2004
There have been many excellent textbooks and manuals published this year, but the choice this year goes to four biographies/ game collections, which consider much more than just the games themselves. As can be seen the books are large (two very large), but they are packed with interest as all the authors have a personal passion in their chosen subject and not a page is wasted.
Amos Burn A Chess Biography Richard Forster (McFarland) pp972 £55.50
Amos Burn (1848-1925) was arguably England's strongest player between Staunton and Short. The author covers Burn's chess career and also vividly depicts the Victorian/ Edwardian chess world in which he played, via contemporary anecdotes, reports, annotations and many excellent photographs. The book itself is beautifully printed by McFarland.
My Great Predecessors Part 11 Gary Kasparov (Everyman) pp480 £25.00
Kasparov moves on to consider Euwe, Botvinnik, Smyslov and Tal. Part One won last year's Book of the Year Award and this volume is even better. Kasparov is particularly good on his old trainer Botvinnik. The book production quality maintains the high standard of its predecessor. Outstanding in every way.
Pal Benko My Life, Games and Compositions Pal Benko and Jeremy Silman (Siles Press) pp668 £31.50
Silman explains that he wanted to create a chess biography of a man that he "admired, who was part of chess history, who played many beautiful games, and who lived a colourful life that transcended mere chess concerns - life and death struggles, sexuality, financial stability etc." All this and more can be found here. In addition John Watson considers Benko's opening contributions in 125 pages and a further 91 pages are devoted to Benko's end game studies. A beautifully printed book that worthily reflects the years of effort that went into it.
Judit Polgar The Princess of Chess Tibor Karolyi (Batsford) pp286 £15.99
A collection of Judit Polgar's best games put together by a writer who was a trainer to the Polgar sisters in their early days. Karolyi makes many interesting observations on the remarkable Polgar family and Hungarian chess. But the games are the thing and the quality of the best of them can hold their own with any in the books above.
R B Edwards M Fox J Toothill 2nd
September 2004
