Alexander Koblencs
Encyclopedia
Alexander Koblents (3 September 1916, Riga
– 9 December 1993, Riga
) was a Latvian chess
International Master, trainer, and writer.
In 1935, he took 4th place in Rosas (Salo Flohr
won). In 1936, he took 5th in Reus (Esteban Canal
and Silbermann won). In 1937, he won, ahead of Lajos Steiner
, in Brno
with 9/11. In 1938, he took 5th in Milan
(Erich Eliskases
and Mario Monticelli
won). In 1939, he tied for 13-14th in Kemeri-Riga (Flohr won).
Koblencs won the Latvian Championship
four times (1941, 1945, 1946, 1949). Although he took 2nd, behind Vladimir Alatortsev
in 1945, and behind Mark Taimanov
in 1949, both were off contest (hors concours). In June 1944, he took 2nd, behind Voldemars Mezhgailis, in Udelnaya (Latvian SSR ch.). In 1944/45, he took 2nd, behind Paul Keres
, in Riga
(Baltic Chess Championship
). In 1945, he took 14th in Moscow (14th USSR-ch). In October/November 1945, he tied for 3rd-4th in Riga (Baltic Republics ch., Vladas Mikėnas
won). In June/July 1946, he tied for 6-8th in Vilnius
(Baltic Rep. ch, Yuri Averbakh
won). In 1961, he took 3rd in Palanga
(Baltic Rep. ch, Iivo Nei
won).
Koblencs was awarded the title International Master by FIDE.
As a trainer, he started to work with young Mikhail Tal
in 1949, and coached
him through his meteoric rise from the mid-1950s. Most prominently, he coached him in his World Chess Championship
matches in 1960 and 1961 against Mikhail Botvinnik
.
He also coached the team of the Soviet Union (e.g., 1956 in Moscow and 1960 in Leipzig
).
Koblencs is also well known as a writer of chess books, many of which have been translated into foreign languages, in particular to German. For several years, he was the editor of the Latvian chess magazine Sahs and of the German chess magazine Schach-Journal.
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
– 9 December 1993, Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
) was a Latvian chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
International Master, trainer, and writer.
In 1935, he took 4th place in Rosas (Salo Flohr
Salo Flohr
Salomon Mikhailovich Flohr was a leading Czech and later Soviet chess grandmaster of the mid-20th century, who became a national hero in Czechoslovakia during the 1930s. His name was used to sell many of the luxury products of the time, including Salo Flohr cigarettes, slippers and eau-de-cologne...
won). In 1936, he took 5th in Reus (Esteban Canal
Esteban Canal
Esteban Canal was a leading Peruvian chess player who had his best tournament results in the 1920s and 1930s.-Birth and life:Born in Chiclayo, Peru, he moved to Italy in the 1920s and remained there.-As a chess player:...
and Silbermann won). In 1937, he won, ahead of Lajos Steiner
Lajos Steiner
Lajos Steiner was a Hungarian–born Australian chess master.Steiner was one of four children of Bernat Steiner, a mathematics teacher, and his wife Cecilia,, and a younger brother of Endre Steiner...
, in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
with 9/11. In 1938, he took 5th in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
(Erich Eliskases
Erich Eliskases
Erich Gottlieb Eliskases was a chess Grandmaster of the 1930s and 1940s, who represented Austria, Germany and Argentina in international competition....
and Mario Monticelli
Mario Monticelli
Mario Monticelli was an Italian chess grandmaster.In 1922, he won in Rome . In 1925, he won in Bologna. In 1926, Monticelli tied for 1st with Ernst Grünfeld in Budapest. In 1929, he took 11th in Budapest . In 1929, he tied for 4-5th in Barcelona...
won). In 1939, he tied for 13-14th in Kemeri-Riga (Flohr won).
Koblencs won the Latvian Championship
Latvian Chess Championship
-History:Professional level Latvian chess players have already appeared in the nineteenth century. They participated in chess tournaments and union congresses, organized by the Riga Chess Association. After the World War I, when Latvia became an independent country, official Latvian chess...
four times (1941, 1945, 1946, 1949). Although he took 2nd, behind Vladimir Alatortsev
Vladimir Alatortsev
Vladimir Alexeyevich Alatortsev , was a Russian chess grandmaster, organizer, teacher, author, and administrator. During his career, he became champion of both Leningrad and Moscow, and played nine times in the Soviet Chess Championship finals, with his best competitive results in the 1930s...
in 1945, and behind Mark Taimanov
Mark Taimanov
Mark Evgenievich Taimanov is a leading Soviet and Russian chess player and concert pianist.-Chess:He was awarded the International Grandmaster title in 1952 and played in the Candidates Tournament in Zurich in 1953, where he tied for eighth place. From 1946 to 1956, he was among the world's top...
in 1949, both were off contest (hors concours). In June 1944, he took 2nd, behind Voldemars Mezhgailis, in Udelnaya (Latvian SSR ch.). In 1944/45, he took 2nd, behind Paul Keres
Paul Keres
Paul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
, in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
(Baltic Chess Championship
Baltic Chess Championship
The first Baltic Chess Congress took place in Riga, Latvia , in 1899. The winner was Robert Behting, the elder brother of Karl Behting, who won a play-off game with Karl Wilhelm Rosenkrantz. The second Baltic Chess Congress was played in Dorpat, Estonia , in 1901...
). In 1945, he took 14th in Moscow (14th USSR-ch). In October/November 1945, he tied for 3rd-4th in Riga (Baltic Republics ch., Vladas Mikėnas
Vladas Mikenas
Vladas Mikėnas was a Lithuanian International Master of chess, an Honorary Grandmaster, and a journalist.- Early life :Vladas Mikėnas played for Lithuania at first board in five official and one unofficial Chess Olympiads....
won). In June/July 1946, he tied for 6-8th in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
(Baltic Rep. ch, Yuri Averbakh
Yuri Averbakh
Yuri Lvovich Averbakh is a Soviet and Russian chess player and author. He is currently the oldest living chess grandmaster.-Life and career:...
won). In 1961, he took 3rd in Palanga
Palanga
Palanga and beautiful sand dunes. Officially Palanga has the status of a city municipality and includes Šventoji, Nemirseta, Būtingė and other settlements, which are considered as part of the city of Palanga.-Legend:...
(Baltic Rep. ch, Iivo Nei
Iivo Nei
Iivo Nei is an Estonian chess master.In 1947, at the beginning of his career, Nei took 3rd in Leningrad at the sixth USSR championships. The event was won by Viktor Korchnoi. In 1948, he tied for first with Korchnoi in Tallinn...
won).
Koblencs was awarded the title International Master by FIDE.
As a trainer, he started to work with young Mikhail Tal
Mikhail Tal
Mikhail Tal was a Soviet–Latvian chess player, a Grandmaster, and the eighth World Chess Champion.Widely regarded as a creative genius, and the best attacking player of all time, he played a daring, combinatorial style. His play was known above all for improvisation and unpredictability....
in 1949, and coached
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
him through his meteoric rise from the mid-1950s. Most prominently, he coached him in his World Chess Championship
World Chess Championship
The World Chess Championship is played to determine the World Champion in the board game chess. Men and women of any age are eligible to contest this title....
matches in 1960 and 1961 against Mikhail Botvinnik
Mikhail Botvinnik
Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik, Ph.D. was a Soviet and Russian International Grandmaster and three-time World Chess Champion. Working as an electrical engineer and computer scientist at the same time, he was one of the very few famous chess players who achieved distinction in another career while...
.
He also coached the team of the Soviet Union (e.g., 1956 in Moscow and 1960 in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
).
Koblencs is also well known as a writer of chess books, many of which have been translated into foreign languages, in particular to German. For several years, he was the editor of the Latvian chess magazine Sahs and of the German chess magazine Schach-Journal.