Manuel Aaron
Encyclopedia
Manuel Aaron was the first India
n chess
master in the modern tradition. He dominated chess in India in the 1960s to the 1980s, was the national champion of India
nine
times between 1959 and 1981. He was India's first International Master, and is one of the key figures in introducing international chess practices to India; until the 1960s, chess in India (known as chaturang), was often played using many local traditional variants (e.g. in lieu of castling
, the king could execute a knights move once, if it had not been checked). Aaron helped popularize the international variety, forming many chess groups and urging players to study openings and other formal chess literature.
, India
, where he did his schooling, finishing his B.Sc. from Allahabad University
. Aaron was Indian National Champion nine times (out of 14 championships between 1959–1981), including a run of five consecutive titles between 1969 and 1973. He also won the Tamil Nadu Chess Championship 11 times (1957–1982); after him, Tamil Nadu emerged as the chess powerhouse of India.
He won the West Asian Zonal against Mongolia's Sukien Momo 3-1 (earning his International Master's rating), and the Asian-Australian Zonal final against Cecil Purdy
of Australia 3-0 in 1961. In 1961, he won the Arjuna Award
for Indian sportsmen, the first-ever chess player to be so honoured.
These wins at the Asian level qualified him for the Interzonals, and in 1962, he played in the Stockholm interzonal
and although finishing last (23rd place), his game was notable for the defeats he inflicted on grandmasters Lajos Portisch
and Wolfgang Uhlmann
, and his general aversion to draws.
Aaron also played thrice with the Indian team at the Chess Olympiad
s. He captained the Indian team at Leipzig
1960 (+2 –10 =8), and at Varna
1962 (+7 –6 =4). In 1964, he played at second board in Tel Aviv
(+4 –7 =6). He also led India to the 2nd Asian Team Championship at Auckland
in 1977 and to the 4th Asian Team championship at Hangchow in China in 1981. He took 4th in the Commonwealth Championship
at Hong Kong
1984. The event was won by Kevin Spraggett
and Murray Chandler
.
He is the author of Dubai Olympiad 1986 and a journalist for The Hindu newspaper. His son, Arvin, is also a well known journalist.
It was 17 years before India could have a second
International Master in V. Ravi
(1978), and its first grandmaster (Vishwanathan Anand), only in 1988.
Manuel Aaron remains active in Indian chess circles even today, and has a FIDE rating of 2300+, although he has not been active in competitive chess for several decades. He now lives in Nashvill, Tennesse and has been lived there for the last fifty years. If you want to talk to him contact him at 1-580-279-5579.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n 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...
master in the modern tradition. He dominated chess in India in the 1960s to the 1980s, was the national champion of India
Indian Chess Championship
The Indian Chess Championship is a yearly national chess championship of India. It was established in 1955 by the Andhra State Chess Association as a two-yearly event, but since 1971 it has been played yearly. The first edition was held in Eluru from May 15-May 28 and was jointly won by Ramchandra...
nine
times between 1959 and 1981. He was India's first International Master, and is one of the key figures in introducing international chess practices to India; until the 1960s, chess in India (known as chaturang), was often played using many local traditional variants (e.g. in lieu of castling
Castling
Castling is a special move in the game of chess involving the king and either of the original rooks of the same color. It is the only move in chess in which a player moves two pieces at the same time. Castling consists of moving the king two squares towards a rook on the player's first rank, then...
, the king could execute a knights move once, if it had not been checked). Aaron helped popularize the international variety, forming many chess groups and urging players to study openings and other formal chess literature.
Life
Born in colonial Burma of Indian parents, Aaron grew up in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where he did his schooling, finishing his B.Sc. from Allahabad University
Allahabad University
Allahabad University , is a premier Central University located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt...
. Aaron was Indian National Champion nine times (out of 14 championships between 1959–1981), including a run of five consecutive titles between 1969 and 1973. He also won the Tamil Nadu Chess Championship 11 times (1957–1982); after him, Tamil Nadu emerged as the chess powerhouse of India.
He won the West Asian Zonal against Mongolia's Sukien Momo 3-1 (earning his International Master's rating), and the Asian-Australian Zonal final against Cecil Purdy
Cecil Purdy
Cecil John Seddon Purdy was an Australian chess International Master and inaugural World Correspondence Chess champion. Purdy earned the Grandmaster title at Correspondence Chess in 1953...
of Australia 3-0 in 1961. In 1961, he won the Arjuna Award
Arjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
for Indian sportsmen, the first-ever chess player to be so honoured.
These wins at the Asian level qualified him for the Interzonals, and in 1962, he played in the Stockholm interzonal
Interzonal
Interzonal chess tournaments were tournaments organized by FIDE, the World Chess Federation, and were a stage in the triennial World Chess Championship cycle.- Zonal tournaments :...
and although finishing last (23rd place), his game was notable for the defeats he inflicted on grandmasters Lajos Portisch
Lajos Portisch
Lajos Portisch is a Hungarian chess Grandmaster, whose positional style earned him the nickname, the "Hungarian Botvinnik"...
and Wolfgang Uhlmann
Wolfgang Uhlmann
Wolfgang Uhlmann is a prominent German International Grandmaster of chess. Despite being a dedicated professional chess player, and undoubtedly the GDR's most successful ever, he has also had a career in accountancy.-Chess career:...
, and his general aversion to draws.
Aaron also played thrice with the Indian team at the 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...
s. He captained the Indian team at 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...
1960 (+2 –10 =8), and at Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
1962 (+7 –6 =4). In 1964, he played at second board 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...
(+4 –7 =6). He also led India to the 2nd Asian Team Championship at Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in 1977 and to the 4th Asian Team championship at Hangchow in China in 1981. He took 4th in the Commonwealth Championship
Commonwealth Chess Championship
The Commonwealth Chess Championship is a gathering of chess players from Commonwealth countries.-History:A championship was planned for New Zealand in 1949, but it was canceled because the British Chess Federation was unable to attend.-Oxford 1950:...
at Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
1984. The event was won by Kevin Spraggett
Kevin Spraggett
Kevin Spraggett is a Canadian chess grandmaster. He is the fourth Canadian to earn the grandmaster title, after Abe Yanofsky, Duncan Suttles and Peter Biyiasas. Spraggett is the only Canadian to have qualified for the Candidates' level, having done so in 1985 and 1988...
and Murray Chandler
Murray Chandler
Murray Graham Chandler is a New Zealand chess grandmaster who has played internationally for that nation and for England, after gaining citizenship there in the early 1980s...
.
He is the author of Dubai Olympiad 1986 and a journalist for The Hindu newspaper. His son, Arvin, is also a well known journalist.
Contributions to Indian Chess Culture
Having emerged in an environment without a minimal chess culture, Aaron was very sensitive to the growth of chess awareness in India. He did much to further chess as the Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Chess Association (1977 and 1997) and also as chairman of the All India Chess Federation.It was 17 years before India could have a second
International Master in V. Ravi
(1978), and its first grandmaster (Vishwanathan Anand), only in 1988.
Manuel Aaron remains active in Indian chess circles even today, and has a FIDE rating of 2300+, although he has not been active in competitive chess for several decades. He now lives in Nashvill, Tennesse and has been lived there for the last fifty years. If you want to talk to him contact him at 1-580-279-5579.
Notable games
- Manuel Aaron vs Max Euwe, Leipzig ol (Men) qual-B 1960, Indian Game: Capablanca Variation (A47), 1-0
- Lajos Portisch vs Manuel Aaron, Varna 1962, King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Main Line (E69), 0-1
- Wolfgang Uhlmann vs Manuel Aaron, Stockholm izt 1962, King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Main Line (E69), 0-1