Moshe Czerniak
Encyclopedia
Moshe Czerniak was an Israeli International Chess Master.
. In 1934 Czerniak emigrated from Poland to Palestine
(then the British Mandate). In April 1935, he tied for 7th–8th in Tel Aviv (the 2nd Maccabiah Games
, Abram Blass
won). He was Palestinian Champion
in 1936 and 1938. In April 1939, he played in the First Lasker Chess Club Championship in Tel Aviv
. In June 1939, he became the champion of Jerusalem. Czerniak played for his adopted country at first reserve board in the 6th Chess Olympiad
at Warsaw 1935 (+6 =2 −5), and at first board in the 8th Olympiad at Buenos Aires
1939 (+4 =2 −10).
In September 1939, when World War II
broke out, Czerniak, along with many other participants in the 8th Chess Olympiad
, decided to stay in Argentina.
Immediately after the 8th Olympiad, in October 1939, he tied for 3rd–4th with Gideon Stahlberg
, behind Miguel Najdorf
and Paul Keres
in the Buenos Aires 1939 chess tournament
(Circulo). In 1940, he tied for 7–9th in Argentine championships (Torneo Mayor). In 1941, he won in Quilmes. In 1941, he took 2nd, behind Paulino Frydman
in Buenos Aires, and tied for 6th–8th in the Mar del Plata 1941 chess tournament
. In 1943, he took 2nd, behind Najdorf, in Rosario, and took 3rd in Buenos Aires. In 1944 and in 1948, he won in Buenos Aires. In 1949, he took 4th in Mar del Plata, and tied for 3rd-4th in Argentine championships (Torneo Mayor). In 1950, he tied for 9th–11th in Mar del Plata.
In 1950 Czerniak settled in Israel
. In 1951, he won at Vienna (the 4th Schlechter Memorial). In 1951, he won at Reggio Emilia
. In 1955, he won the Israeli Championship. In 1958, he took 2nd, behind Jan Hein Donner
, at Beverwijk. In 1961, he tied for 1st–3rd with Milan Matulović
and Petar Trifunović
at Netanya. In 1962, he tied for 1st–2nd with Tan at Amsterdam (2nd IBM Tournament). In 1963, he tied for 2nd–3rd with Donner, behind Lajos Portisch
, at Amsterdam (3rd IBM). In 1963, he took 2nd, behind Padevsky, at Polanica Zdrój (Rubinstein
Memorial). In 1964, he tied for 4th–9th at Polanica Zdrój. In 1965, he won at Netanya. In 1966, he tied for 7th–8th at Tel Aviv. In 1968, he tied for 2nd–3rd with Daniel Yanofsky
, behind Robert Fischer
, at Netanya.
Czerniak played for Israel in nine Chess Olympiads: 1952, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1968, and 1974. he won the championship of Israel in 1974 at the age of 64.
Czerniak was awarded the International Master title in 1952.
He wrote many chess books in three languages. In 1956 he founded the first Israeli chess magazine, 64 Squares. For more than thirty years he was the chess editor of the Israeli daily Haaretz
. He was also the chess teacher of IM and study composer Yochanan Afek
.
In 1976 he got a special award from the Israeli education ministry for his life-long contribution to the education of chess.
The yearly chess festival in Tel Aviv is named after him.
Biography
In 1930 Moshe Czerniak took ninth at Warsaw in an event won by Paulino FrydmanPaulino Frydman
Paulino Frydman was a Polish chess master.-Biography:...
. In 1934 Czerniak emigrated from Poland to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
(then the British Mandate). In April 1935, he tied for 7th–8th in Tel Aviv (the 2nd Maccabiah Games
1935 Maccabiah Games
The 1935 Maccabiah Games was the second Maccabiah held. These games were held despite official opposition by the British Mandatory government. A total of 28 countries were represented by 1,350 athletes. Delegations from Italy, Belgium, Holland, Turkey, France and South Africa arrived for the first...
, Abram Blass
Abram Blass
Abram Blass was a Polish-Israeli chess master.Born in Łomża , he moved to the USA, staying from 1911 to 1924. After returning to Poland, he lived in Warsaw. In 1924/25, Blass tied for 3rd-5th in Warsaw . In 1926, he tied for 1st with Paulin Frydman in Warsaw...
won). He was Palestinian Champion
Israeli Chess Championship
The Israeli Chess Championship is a chess event held every year in Israel.-History:From 1951-1971, the men's and women's championships were held every two years, eventually becoming an annual event...
in 1936 and 1938. In April 1939, he played in the First Lasker Chess Club Championship in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. In June 1939, he became the champion of Jerusalem. Czerniak played for his adopted country at first reserve board in the 6th Chess Olympiad
Chess Olympiad
The Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess tournament in which teams from all over the world compete against each other. The event is organised by FIDE, which selects the host nation.-Birth of the Olympiad:The first Olympiad was unofficial...
at Warsaw 1935 (+6 =2 −5), and at first board in the 8th Olympiad at Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
1939 (+4 =2 −10).
In September 1939, when World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out, Czerniak, along with many other participants in the 8th Chess Olympiad
8th Chess Olympiad
The 8th Chess Olympiad, organised by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs , comprised an 'open' tournament, as well as a Women's World Championship contest...
, decided to stay in Argentina.
Immediately after the 8th Olympiad, in October 1939, he tied for 3rd–4th with Gideon Stahlberg
Gideon Ståhlberg
Anders Gideon Tom Ståhlberg was a Swedish chess grandmaster.He won the Swedish Chess Championship of 1927, became Nordic champion in 1929, and held it until 1939....
, behind Miguel Najdorf
Miguel Najdorf
Miguel Najdorf was a Polish-born Argentine chess grandmaster of Jewish origin, famous for his Najdorf Variation....
and 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 the Buenos Aires 1939 chess tournament
Buenos Aires 1939 chess tournament
The event was held in Buenos Aires, immediately after the 8th Chess Olympiad, from August 21 to September 19, 1939. The tournament was played between 2nd and 19 October 1939 at the Círculo de Ajedrez, the main chess club in the city. Play took place at the club's long-time premises at Bartolomé...
(Circulo). In 1940, he tied for 7–9th in Argentine championships (Torneo Mayor). In 1941, he won in Quilmes. In 1941, he took 2nd, behind Paulino Frydman
Paulino Frydman
Paulino Frydman was a Polish chess master.-Biography:...
in Buenos Aires, and tied for 6th–8th in the Mar del Plata 1941 chess tournament
Mar del Plata 1941 chess tournament
The fourth Mar del Plata chess tournament was held in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina, in March 1941. The first three Mar del Plata international tournaments were regarded as the third, fourth, and sixth South American Chess Championship , respectively...
. In 1943, he took 2nd, behind Najdorf, in Rosario, and took 3rd in Buenos Aires. In 1944 and in 1948, he won in Buenos Aires. In 1949, he took 4th in Mar del Plata, and tied for 3rd-4th in Argentine championships (Torneo Mayor). In 1950, he tied for 9th–11th in Mar del Plata.
In 1950 Czerniak settled in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. In 1951, he won at Vienna (the 4th Schlechter Memorial). In 1951, he won at Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia chess tournament
The Reggio Emilia chess tournament is a chess tournament played in Reggio Emilia, Italy. In Italian the tournament is called Torneo di Capodanno , as it starts just after Christmas and ends on the day of Epiphany...
. In 1955, he won the Israeli Championship. In 1958, he took 2nd, behind Jan Hein Donner
Jan Hein Donner
Johannes Hendrikus Donner was a Dutch chess grandmaster and writer. Donner was born in The Hague and won the Dutch Championship in 1954, 1957, and 1958. FIDE, the World Chess Federation, awarded him the GM title in 1959. He played 11 times for the Netherlands in the Chess Olympiads...
, at Beverwijk. In 1961, he tied for 1st–3rd with Milan Matulović
Milan Matulovic
Milan Matulović is a chess Grandmaster who was the second or third strongest Yugoslav player for much of the 1960s and 1970s behind Svetozar Gligorić and possibly Borislav Ivkov. He was primarily active before 1977, but has remained an occasional tournament competitor as recently as...
and Petar Trifunović
Petar Trifunovic
Dr. Petar Trifunović was an International Grandmaster and Serbian Champion of chess...
at Netanya. In 1962, he tied for 1st–2nd with Tan at Amsterdam (2nd IBM Tournament). In 1963, he tied for 2nd–3rd with Donner, behind Lajos Portisch
Lajos Portisch
Lajos Portisch is a Hungarian chess Grandmaster, whose positional style earned him the nickname, the "Hungarian Botvinnik"...
, at Amsterdam (3rd IBM). In 1963, he took 2nd, behind Padevsky, at Polanica Zdrój (Rubinstein
Akiba Rubinstein
Akiba Kiwelowicz Rubinstein was a famous Polish chess Grandmaster at the beginning of the 20th century. He was scheduled to play a match with Emanuel Lasker for the world championship in 1914, but it was cancelled because of the outbreak of World War I...
Memorial). In 1964, he tied for 4th–9th at Polanica Zdrój. In 1965, he won at Netanya. In 1966, he tied for 7th–8th at Tel Aviv. In 1968, he tied for 2nd–3rd with Daniel Yanofsky
Daniel Yanofsky
Daniel Abraham Yanofsky, OC, QC was Canada's first chess grandmaster, an eight-time Canadian Chess Champion, a chess writer, a chess arbiter, and a lawyer.-Life in chess:...
, behind Robert Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
, at Netanya.
Czerniak played for Israel in nine Chess Olympiads: 1952, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1968, and 1974. he won the championship of Israel in 1974 at the age of 64.
Czerniak was awarded the International Master title in 1952.
He wrote many chess books in three languages. In 1956 he founded the first Israeli chess magazine, 64 Squares. For more than thirty years he was the chess editor of the Israeli daily Haaretz
Haaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
. He was also the chess teacher of IM and study composer Yochanan Afek
Yochanan Afek
Yochanan Afek is an Israeli chess player, composer, trainer and arbiter. He described pioneering Israeli master Moshe Czerniak as "my teacher"...
.
In 1976 he got a special award from the Israeli education ministry for his life-long contribution to the education of chess.
The yearly chess festival in Tel Aviv is named after him.
Notable chess games
- Moshe Czerniak vs. Feliks Kibbermann (EST), 6th Olympiad at Warsaw 1935, Dutch, Staunton Gambit, A82, 1-0
- Ernst Rojahn (NOR) vs. Moshe Czerniak, 8th Olympiad at Buenos Aires 1939, Uncommon King's Pawn Opening, B00, 1/2-1/2
- Moshe Czerniak vs. Daniel Yanofsky, Tel Aviv 1966, Caro-Kann Defense, Breyer Variation, B10, 1-0
- Moshe Czerniak vs. João Maria Cordovil (POR), 21st Olympiad at Nice 1974, Sicilian Defense, B29, 1-0 White's 9th move, giving away a Rook and a check, resembles a problem and is extremely strong, as the game proved.