Lajos Asztalos
Encyclopedia
Lajos Asztalos (29 July 1889, Pécs
– 1 November 1956, Budapest
) was a Hungarian chess International Master, professor, and languages teacher.
At the beginning of his career, he tied for 6-8th at Budapest
1911 (3rd HUN-ch
, Zoltán von Balla
and Zsigmond Barász
won); tied for 7-8th at Breslau (Wrocław) 1912 (18th DSB–Congress, B tourn, Bernhard Gregory
won); took 2nd, behind Gyula Breyer
, at Temesvár 1912 (4th HUN-ch); won at Debrecen
1913 (5th HUN-ch); tied for 8-9th at Budapest 1913 (Rudolf Spielmann
won), took 5th at Mannheim
1914 (Hauptturnier A); took 4th at Vienna
1917 (Quadrangular, Milan Vidmar
won), and took 5th at Kaschau 1918 (Richard Réti
won).
After World War I, he moved to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later known as Yugoslavia
). In 1923, he tied for 6-7th in Trieste
; (Paul Johner
won). In 1924, he took 3rd in Györ
(7th HUN-ch, Géza Nagy
won). In 1925, he took 5th in Budapest (Lovas and Sterk won), and tied for 13-14th in Debrecen (Hans Kmoch
won). In 1926, he took 3rd, behind Hermanis Matisons
and Savielly Tartakower
, in Bardejov (Bártfa, Bartfeld, Bardiów). In 1927 he took 4th in Kecskemét (Alexander Alekhine
won).
He represented Yugoslavia in Chess Olympiads:
In 1931, he took 13th in Bled
(Alekhine won). In 1934, he took 6th in Maribor
(Vasja Pirc
and Lajos Steiner
won). In 1935, he tied for 8-9th in Belgrade
(Vasja Pirc
and Borislav Kostić
won). In 1938, he tied for 5-7th in Ljubljana
(Kostić won).
During World War II, Astaloš played for Croatia in a match against Slovakia on first board with Ivan Vladimir Rohaček
(1 : 1) in Zagreb in December 1941. He returned to Hungary in 1942. Asztalos became Vice President of the Hungarian Chess Union and Secretary of the FIDE Qualification Committee. He was a professor
of philosophy and a languages teacher.
He died in Budapest during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 against the Soviet Union.
He was awarded the International Master (IM) title in 1950 and the International Arbiter
(IA) title in 1951.
He was the author of A sakkjáték elemei (Budapest 1951).
Asztalos Memorial has been held regularly in Hungary since 1958 till 1971.
Pécs
Pécs is the fifth largest city of Hungary, located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to its border with Croatia. It is the administrative and economical centre of Baranya county...
– 1 November 1956, Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
) was a Hungarian chess International Master, professor, and languages teacher.
At the beginning of his career, he tied for 6-8th at Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
1911 (3rd HUN-ch
Hungarian Chess Championship
The inaugural Hungarian Chess Championship was held in the city of Győr in 1906. Initially, there was no governing body responsible for its organisation, until the formation of the Hungarian Chess Federation. The HCF first appeared in 1911, but failed to establish itself properly until 1923...
, Zoltán von Balla
Zoltán von Balla
Zoltán von Balla was a Hungarian chess champion.In 1904, he took 11th in Coburg . In 1905, he took 10th in Vienna. In 1906, he won 1st Hungarian Championship in Györ. He shared the title with Zsigmond Barász at Budapest 1911...
and Zsigmond Barász
Zsigmond Barász
Zsigmond Barász was a Hungarian chess master.He took 2nd, behind Zoltán von Balla, at Györ 1906 and lost a match to him there; took 9th at Budapest 1906 , tied for 1st-2nd with Forgács at Budapest 1907 , and took 4th at Székesfehérvár 1907 .Barász won at...
won); tied for 7-8th at Breslau (Wrocław) 1912 (18th DSB–Congress, B tourn, Bernhard Gregory
Bernhard Gregory
Bernhard Gregory was an Estonian chess master.In 1902, he tied for 16-19th in Hannover . In 1903/04, he tied for 9-10th in Berlin...
won); took 2nd, behind Gyula Breyer
Gyula Breyer
Gyula Breyer was a Hungarian chess player. He was a leading member of the hypermodern school of chess theory, which favored controlling the center with pressure from the flanks....
, at Temesvár 1912 (4th HUN-ch); won at Debrecen
Debrecen
Debrecen , is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county.- Name :...
1913 (5th HUN-ch); tied for 8-9th at Budapest 1913 (Rudolf Spielmann
Rudolf Spielmann
Rudolf Spielmann was an Austrian-Jewish chess player of the romantic school, and chess writer.-Career:He was a lawyer but never worked as one....
won), took 5th at Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
1914 (Hauptturnier A); took 4th at Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
1917 (Quadrangular, Milan Vidmar
Milan Vidmar
Milan Vidmar was a Slovene electrical engineer, chess player, chess theorist, philosopher, and writer. He was a specialist in power transformers and transmission of electric current.- Biography :...
won), and took 5th at Kaschau 1918 (Richard Réti
Richard Réti
Réti composed one of the most famous chess studies, shown in this diagram. It was published in Ostrauer Morgenzeitung 4 December 1921. It seems impossible for the white king to catch the advanced black pawn, while the white pawn can be easily stopped by the black king...
won).
After World War I, he moved to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later known as Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
). In 1923, he tied for 6-7th in Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
; (Paul Johner
Paul Johner
Paul Johner was a Swiss chess master.A noted musician , elder brother of Hans Johner, he won the Swiss Championship in 1907 , 1908 , 1925, 1928 , 1930 and 1932 .He played in many international tournaments...
won). In 1924, he took 3rd in Györ
Gyor
-Climate:-Main sights:The ancient core of the city is Káptalan Hill at the confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Rába and Rábca. Püspökvár, the residence of Győr’s bishops can be easily recognised by its incomplete tower. Győr’s oldest buildings are the 13th-century dwelling tower and the...
(7th HUN-ch, Géza Nagy
Géza Nagy
Géza Nagy was a Hungarian chess master.He was Hungarian Champion in 1924. He took 6th at Budapest 1926 ....
won). In 1925, he took 5th in Budapest (Lovas and Sterk won), and tied for 13-14th in Debrecen (Hans Kmoch
Hans Kmoch
Johann "Hans" Joseph Kmoch was an Austrian-Dutch-American chess International Master , International Arbiter , and a chess journalist and author, for which he is best known....
won). In 1926, he took 3rd, behind Hermanis Matisons
Hermanis Matisons
Hermanis Matisons , , was a Latvian chess player and one of world's most highly regarded chess masters in the early 1930s. He was also a leading endgame composer...
and Savielly Tartakower
Savielly Tartakower
Ksawery Tartakower was a leading Polish and French chess Grandmaster. He was also a leading chess journalist of the 1920s and 30s...
, in Bardejov (Bártfa, Bartfeld, Bardiów). In 1927 he took 4th in Kecskemét (Alexander Alekhine
Alexander Alekhine
Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine was the fourth World Chess Champion. He is often considered one of the greatest chess players ever.By the age of twenty-two, he was already among the strongest chess players in the world. During the 1920s, he won most of the tournaments in which he played...
won).
He represented Yugoslavia in Chess Olympiads:
- In 1926, in 2nd unofficial Chess Olympiad2nd unofficial Chess OlympiadThe 2nd unofficial Chess Olympiad was held in Budapest, June 26 - July 15, 1926, during the FIDE Congress.Team tournament was won by Hungary. The individual tournaments, among them a masters', an open, and a women's tournament, had also been played...
in BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
– team silver medal; - In 1927, at third board in 1st Chess Olympiad1st Chess OlympiadThe 1st Chess Olympiad, organized by the FIDE and comprising an open and women's tournament, as well as several events designed to promote the game of chess, took place between July 18 and July 30, 1927, in London, United Kingdom...
in London (+4 –3 =8); - In 1931, at second board in 4th Chess Olympiad4th Chess OlympiadThe 4th Chess Olympiad, organized by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs and comprising an open and women's tournament, as well as several events designed to promote the game of chess, took place between July 11 and July 26, 1931, in Prague, Czechoslovakia...
in PraguePraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
(+7 –3 =6); - In 1936, at fourth board in 3rd unofficial Chess Olympiad3rd unofficial Chess OlympiadThe 3rd unofficial Chess Olympiad was held by German Chess Federation as a counterpart of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin with reference to 1924 and 1928 events....
in MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
(+5 –3 =8).
In 1931, he took 13th in Bled
Bled
Bled is a municipality in northwestern Slovenia in the region of Upper Carniola. The area, within the Julian Alps, is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
(Alekhine won). In 1934, he took 6th in Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
(Vasja Pirc
Vasja Pirc
Vasja Pirc was a leading Slovenian chess player. His name is most familiar to contemporary players as the originator of the hypermodern Pirc Defense...
and 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...
won). In 1935, he tied for 8-9th in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
(Vasja Pirc
Vasja Pirc
Vasja Pirc was a leading Slovenian chess player. His name is most familiar to contemporary players as the originator of the hypermodern Pirc Defense...
and Borislav Kostić
Borislav Kostic
Borislav Kostić was a Serbian professional chess grandmaster from Vršac , then in the Austro-Hungarian Empire ....
won). In 1938, he tied for 5-7th in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
(Kostić won).
During World War II, Astaloš played for Croatia in a match against Slovakia on first board with Ivan Vladimir Rohaček
Ivan Vladimir Rohacek
-Biography:He won Slovak championships in 1930, 1936, and 1939. Rohaček took 12th at Bad Sliač 1932 . In 1935, he took 8th in Luhačovice . In 1938, he took 4th in Prague ....
(1 : 1) in Zagreb in December 1941. He returned to Hungary in 1942. Asztalos became Vice President of the Hungarian Chess Union and Secretary of the FIDE Qualification Committee. He was a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of philosophy and a languages teacher.
He died in Budapest during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 against the Soviet Union.
He was awarded the International Master (IM) title in 1950 and the International Arbiter
International Arbiter
In chess, International Arbiter is a title awarded by FIDE to individuals deemed capable of acting as arbiter in important chess matches . The title was established in 1951....
(IA) title in 1951.
He was the author of A sakkjáték elemei (Budapest 1951).
Asztalos Memorial has been held regularly in Hungary since 1958 till 1971.
Notable games
- Lajos Asztalos vs Alexander Alekhine, Bled (03) 1931, French Defense: Classical, Burn Variation Morozevich Line (C11), ½–½
- Lajos Asztalos vs Borislav Kostic, Bled 1931, Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian, Advance Variation (B00), ½–½
- Geza Maroczy vs Lajos Asztalos, Bled 1931, Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation (C49), ½–½