Francisco Benkö
Encyclopedia
Francisco Benkö (Benkő, Benko) (24 June 1910 – 11 January 2010) was a German–Argentine chess
master and problemist.
He was born in Berlin into a Jewish family. His father, Richard Wilhelm Benkö, came from Hungary, and his mother, Alice Josephine Helene Pick, from Austria. In 1928 and 1929, he drew simultaneous games with Alexander Alekhine
in Berlin.
In 1935, Franz Benkö was the first Jewish chess master in Berlin.
In spring 1936, he emigrated from Germany via Holland to Argentina, because of Nazi policy.
Francisco Benkö has played many times in Argentine Chess Championship
, from 1937 till 2004 (aged 94).
Among others, he took 11th in Torneo Mayor 1937 (Jacobo Bolbochán
won), took 20th in 1938 (Roberto Grau
won), took 11th in 1939 (Juan Traian Iliesco won), took 12th in 1940 (Carlos Guimard
won), tied for 9–10th in 1941 (Markas Luckis
won), took 13th in 1945 (Herman Pilnik
won), shared 5th in 1947 (Héctor Rossetto
won), took 5th in 1948 (Julio Bolbochán
won), tied for 5–6th in 1949, and tied for 5–7th in 1953. At last, he has taken part in the 2004 Argentine Championship, finishing 91st.
In other tournaments, he tied for 9–10th at Buenos Aires 1939 (Círculo de Ajedrez, Miguel Najdorf
and Paul Keres
won), took 13th at Buenos Aires 1941 (Najdorf won), took 8th at Buenos Aires 1945 (Círculo de Ajedrez, Najdorf won), took 6th at Remedios de Escalada 1949 (Julio Bolbochán won), tied for 15-16th at Mar del Plata chess tournament
1949 (Rossetto won), and tied for 14-15th at Mar del Plata / Buenos Aires 1954 (the 2nd Torneio Zonal Sulamericano, Oscar Panno
won).
, joining in 1928, and honorary member from 2009 until his death on 11 January 2010 in Buenos Aires. He built a collection of 30,000 compositions. When Benkö lived in Germany, he was acquainted with a few famous composers, including Ado Kraemer
, Erich Zepler
and Eduard Birgfeld. He also was a friend of Wolfgang Heidenfeld
. Benkö knew some players in Berlin, too, but only managed to win against Friedrich Sämisch
and Jacques Mieses
while losing against Carl Ahues
, Kurt Richter
and Willi Schlage
. In Buenos Aires 1939 Benkö met Alexander Alekhine
, who solved some of Benkö's problems. In 1992 Benkö met Mikhail Tal
who also tried to solve a chess problem (see below) but failed twice, still solving it afterwards. Upon the original publication of the problem, more than 500 people tried to solve it with half of them guessing incorrectly.
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...
master and problemist.
He was born in Berlin into a Jewish family. His father, Richard Wilhelm Benkö, came from Hungary, and his mother, Alice Josephine Helene Pick, from Austria. In 1928 and 1929, he drew simultaneous games with 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...
in Berlin.
In 1935, Franz Benkö was the first Jewish chess master in Berlin.
In spring 1936, he emigrated from Germany via Holland to Argentina, because of Nazi policy.
Francisco Benkö has played many times in Argentine Chess Championship
Argentine Chess Championship
The first Argentine Chess Championship was held in 1921. The Champion's title was granted after victorious or drawn match between previous champion and challenger, a winner of Torneo Mayor...
, from 1937 till 2004 (aged 94).
Among others, he took 11th in Torneo Mayor 1937 (Jacobo Bolbochán
Jacobo Bolbochán
Jacobo Bolbochán was an Argentine chess master.He played many times in the Argentine Chess Championships. He won twice , both ahead of Isaias Pleci. In 1933, he took 2nd, behind Luis Piazzini. In 1935, he took 2nd, behind Roberto Grau. In 1936, he took 3rd, behind Carlos Guimard and Grau...
won), took 20th in 1938 (Roberto Grau
Roberto Grau
Roberto Gabriel Grau was an Argentine chess master.Grau played in many Argentine championships. In 1921/22, he tied for 3rd-4th . In 1922, he tied for 2nd-3rd . In 1923/24, he tied for 2nd-4th...
won), took 11th in 1939 (Juan Traian Iliesco won), took 12th in 1940 (Carlos Guimard
Carlos Guimard
Carlos Enrique Guimard was an Argentine chess Grandmaster. He was born in Santiago del Estero.-Biography:Guimard was thrice Argentine Champion. In 1936, he won the ARG-ch 15 Mayor, and in 1937 a match for the title against Roberto Grau . In 1937/38, he won a match against Luis Piazzini...
won), tied for 9–10th in 1941 (Markas Luckis
Markas Luckis
Markas Luckis was a Lithuanian–Argentine chess master.-Biography:Luckis was born in Lithuania. He twice won the Kaunas City Chess Championship in 1927 and 1928...
won), took 13th in 1945 (Herman Pilnik
Herman Pilnik
Herman Pilnik was an Argentine chess Grandmaster.-Career:...
won), shared 5th in 1947 (Héctor Rossetto
Héctor Rossetto
Héctor Decio Rossetto was one of the best chess players in Argentine history.He earned the title of International Master in 1950 and the Grandmaster title in 1960....
won), took 5th in 1948 (Julio Bolbochán
Julio Bolbochan
Julio Bolbochán was the Argentine chess champion in 1946 and 1948.Born in Buenos Aires, he represented Argentina in seven Chess Olympiads from 1950 to 1970....
won), tied for 5–6th in 1949, and tied for 5–7th in 1953. At last, he has taken part in the 2004 Argentine Championship, finishing 91st.
In other tournaments, he tied for 9–10th at Buenos Aires 1939 (Círculo de Ajedrez, 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....
won), took 13th at Buenos Aires 1941 (Najdorf won), took 8th at Buenos Aires 1945 (Círculo de Ajedrez, Najdorf won), took 6th at Remedios de Escalada 1949 (Julio Bolbochán won), tied for 15-16th at Mar del Plata chess tournament
Mar del Plata chess tournament
Mar del Plata has a rich history of chess tournaments, most notably their international chess tournament and open tournament.There is also an annual city tournament, which had its first edition in 1946, and reached its 62nd edition in 2007....
1949 (Rossetto won), and tied for 14-15th at Mar del Plata / Buenos Aires 1954 (the 2nd Torneio Zonal Sulamericano, Oscar Panno
Oscar Panno
Oscar R. Panno is an Argentine chess Grandmaster.Panno won the World Junior Chess Championship in 1953, and also won the championship of Argentina the same year....
won).
Chess composition and friends
Benkö was the longest living member of the SchwalbeDie Schwalbe
Die Schwalbe is the German chess composition society and issues the bimonthly magazine Die Schwalbe.- Society :Die Schwalbe was founded on 10 February 1924 in Essen as Vereinigung von Problemfreunden zur Förderung der Aufgabenkunst...
, joining in 1928, and honorary member from 2009 until his death on 11 January 2010 in Buenos Aires. He built a collection of 30,000 compositions. When Benkö lived in Germany, he was acquainted with a few famous composers, including Ado Kraemer
Ado Kraemer
Adolf Kraemer was a German chess master and problemist.He tied for 2nd-3rd, behind Paul Krüger, at Bad Salzuflen 1925, took 6th at Giessen 1928 , and took 9th at Dortmund 1928 . and tied for 2nd-3rd, behind Krüger, at Bad Salzuflen 1930.-References:...
, Erich Zepler
Erich Zepler
Erich Ernest Zepler , later known as Eric, was a German-born electronics expert and chess problem composer....
and Eduard Birgfeld. He also was a friend of Wolfgang Heidenfeld
Wolfgang Heidenfeld
Wolfgang Heidenfeld was a chess player.Heidenfeld was born in Berlin. He was forced to move from Germany to South Africa because he was a Jew. There, he won the South African Chess Championship eight times, and he represented South Africa in the Chess Olympiad in 1958...
. Benkö knew some players in Berlin, too, but only managed to win against Friedrich Sämisch
Friedrich Sämisch
Friedrich Sämisch was a German chess grandmaster .-Main results:* 2nd at Berlin 1920...
and Jacques Mieses
Jacques Mieses
----Jacques Mieses was a German-born Jewish chess Grandmaster and writer. He became a naturalized British citizen after World War II.p258-Chess career:...
while losing against Carl Ahues
Carl Ahues
Carl Oscar Ahues was a German chess International Master.He was Berlin champion in 1910. He was German Champion in 1929 winning the 26th DSB Congress in Duisburg. In 1930, he took 6th in San Remo , tied for 4-5th in Scarborough , and tied for 3-5th in Liege...
, Kurt Richter
Kurt Richter
Kurt Paul Otto Joseph Richter was a German chess International Master and chess writer.- Chess achievements :...
and Willi Schlage
Willi Schlage
Willi Schlage was a German chess master and trainer.In 1910, he won in Hamburg . He played in friendly matches: Berlin–Prague , Berlin–Holland , Germany–Netherlands , and Germany–Sweden...
. In Buenos Aires 1939 Benkö met 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...
, who solved some of Benkö's problems. In 1992 Benkö met 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....
who also tried to solve a chess problem (see below) but failed twice, still solving it afterwards. Upon the original publication of the problem, more than 500 people tried to solve it with half of them guessing incorrectly.