Viktors Pupols
Encyclopedia
Viktors Pūpols is an American chess master
. Known by many local players as "Uncle Vik," he frequently plays at the Tacoma Chess Club. He was the Club Champion in 1955, and some of his games can be viewed online at the club's website. Pupols is currently married to Deborah Petzal-Pupols.
, won by Charles Kalme
. Pupols beat young Bobby Fischer
with a Latvian Gambit
. This is one of only two games that Fischer ever lost on time (see time control
). Fischer became the world's youngest grandmaster three years later.
He first played in a Washington State Championship tournament in 1954. He has played in most of the tournaments since, winning outright in 1961, 1974, and 1989, and tying for first in 1978. He won the tournament in 1964, but Gerald Ronning took the title in a match.
In 1975, he tied for 6th-11th in Vancouver (Paul Keres
won, immediately before his death). In 1980, he won the Keres Memorial in Vancouver. He thrice won the Idaho Open (1984, 1985, and 1986). Just as he first did in 1956 as a teenage wunderkind, Pupols again won the Eastern Washington Open in 2005 after a final round draw with three time Spokane Chess Champion Curt Collyer.
Chess master
A chess master is a chess player of such skill that he/she can usually beat chess experts, who themselves typically prevail against most amateurs. Among chess players, the term is often abbreviated to master, the meaning being clear from context....
. Known by many local players as "Uncle Vik," he frequently plays at the Tacoma Chess Club. He was the Club Champion in 1955, and some of his games can be viewed online at the club's website. Pupols is currently married to Deborah Petzal-Pupols.
Notable games
In 1955, Pupols played in the U.S. Junior Championship in Lincoln, NebraskaLincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, won by Charles Kalme
Charles Kalme
Charles Ivars Kalme was an American International Master of chess recognized by FIDE, the World Chess Federation, and a mathematician.Kalme was born in Riga, Latvia on November 15, 1939...
. Pupols beat young Bobby 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...
with a Latvian Gambit
Latvian Gambit
The Latvian Gambit is an aggressive but dubious chess opening, which often leads to wild and tricky positions. This opening is uncommon at the top level of over-the-board play, but some correspondence chess players are devoted to it...
. This is one of only two games that Fischer ever lost on time (see time control
Time control
A time control is a mechanism in the tournament play of almost all two-player board games so that each round of the match can finish in a timely way and the tournament can proceed. Time controls are typically enforced by means of a game clock...
). Fischer became the world's youngest grandmaster three years later.
He first played in a Washington State Championship tournament in 1954. He has played in most of the tournaments since, winning outright in 1961, 1974, and 1989, and tying for first in 1978. He won the tournament in 1964, but Gerald Ronning took the title in a match.
In 1975, he tied for 6th-11th in Vancouver (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....
won, immediately before his death). In 1980, he won the Keres Memorial in Vancouver. He thrice won the Idaho Open (1984, 1985, and 1986). Just as he first did in 1956 as a teenage wunderkind, Pupols again won the Eastern Washington Open in 2005 after a final round draw with three time Spokane Chess Champion Curt Collyer.
Fischer-Pupols, U.S. Junior Championship 1955
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qf6 4. d4 d6 5. Nc4 fxe4 6.Nc3 Qg6 7. Ne3 Nf6 8. Bc4 c6 9. d5 Be7 10. a4 Nbd7 11. a5 Ne5 12.Be2 O-O 13. O-O Bd7 14. Kh1 Kh8 15. Nc4 Nfg4 16. Qe1 Rf7 17. h3 Nf6 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Bc4 Rff8 20. Be3 Nh5 21. Kh2 Bd6 22. Bb3 Nf4 23. Bxf4 exf4 24. Qxe4 f3+ 25. g3 Bf5 26. Qh4 Rae8 27. Rae1 Be5 28. Qb4 Qh6 29. h4 g5 30. Rh1 gxh4 31. Kg1 h3 32. dxc6 bxc6 33. Qc5 Qg7 34. Kh2 Qf6 35. Qxa7 Bd4 36. Qc7 Bxf2 37. Rxe8 Rxe8 38. Rf1 Bd4 39. Rxf3 Bxc3 40. bxc3 Re2+ 41. Kh1 Be4 42. Qc8+ Kg7 43. Qg4+ Qg6 44. Qd7+ Kh6 0-1Biography by Larry Parr
A biography of Pupols, Viktors Pupols, American Master, was written by Larry Parr and published by Thinkers' Press in 1983. Viktors describes his encounters with a young Grandmaster to be Yasser Seirawan "I could not even see my opponent. All I could hear was a voice calling out from under the table - Check!!". A poem was written in this book describing Viktors' arch rival James Harley McCormick:
On April the first
All editors thirst
For original tales with a gimmick
So let's punch while he's down
Although he left town
That Perrenial punchbag clean Jimmick
He moved to New York
and gave up eating pork
He believes all goyim are duffers
He sleeps under trucks
and sells blood for five bucks
The artist improves as he suffers
External links
- Photo of Pupols used on the cover of NW Chess, Chess Journalists of America winning chess photo, 2009.