Stepan Popel
Encyclopedia
Stepan Popel (Popiel) (born 15 August 1909, Komarniki
, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine
) – died 27 December 1987, Fargo
, North Dakota, USA) was a multiple chess
champion of Lviv, Paris and eventually, of the Ukrainians in North America (USA and Canada).
(1863–1941), and took a liking to chess at an early age – he played in his first tournament at age 12. He went on to became the best chess player in the region and is now regarded as one of the important masters of pre-World War II Europe. In 1931, he earned a masters degree in French and Latin language and literature from the University at Lviv. He also acted, during WW II, Greek-Catholic Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky’s personal secretary until 1944.
In 1929, Popel won a championship of Lviv, followed by E. Kaufman, Henryk Friedman
, Oskar Piotrowski
, etc. In 1929 and 1934, he was a member of Lviv team at 1st and 2nd Polish team championships. In 1934, he was a member of Polish team at Correspondence Olympiad. In 1935-1936, he took 9th at Correspondence Championship of Poland.
In 1943, Popel published his handbook Poczatki szachista (Introduction to Chess) in Ukrainian at Kraków. In 1943, he tied for 1st with Myroslav Turiansky
at Lviv (GG). In 1943, he won at Sambor (GG). In 1944, he won at Sanok (GG). Because of the Red Army’s approach, he did manage to avoid deportation to Siberia or any worse fate during the Soviet occupation (e.g., that of Vladimirs Petrovs
). Joining the westward exodus in 1944, Stepan Popel wound up in Kraków. In 1944, he drew a match against Fedor Bogatyrchuk
at Kraków (2 : 2). At the end of war, he escaped to West. Finally, he came to France.
In 1950/51, Popel won at Hastings (Premier Reserve Major). In 1951, he won the 26th Paris City Chess Championship
. In 1951/52, he tied for 4th-6th at Hastings. In April 1953, he won, ahead of Maurice Raizman
, the 28th Championship of Paris. In 1954, he won the 29th Championship of Paris. In 1954, he took 4th at Saarbrücken. In 1954/55, he played at international tournament at Paris. In 1955/56, he took 2nd at Hastings (The Premier Reserves Major).
In 1956, Popel was authorized to migrate to the US. As an American master, he won three times the Michigan state championship, in 1957, 1958, and 1959. He also won the North Central Open at Wisconsin in 1957, where his young competitor Bobby Fischer
took 6th place. In 1958, he took 4th at North Central Open, and took 6th at Western Open. Both those events were won by Pal Benko
. Around 1960, Stepan Popel became a professor of French language and literature at North Dakota State University in Fargo. He continued to enter tournaments, and he became eleven-time North Dakota champion (from 1965 to 1980). In 1966, he took 2nd at a championship of Ukrainian Sport Centrale of America & Canada. In 1969, he won a championship of USCA&C. In 1970, he took 3rd at North Central Open. Popel played the US Open at Lincoln 1969, Atlantic City 1972, Chicago 1973, Columbus 1977. In 1986, he tied for 5th-8 th at a championship of USCA&C. The event was won by Orest Popovych.
Popel died in 1987, and is buried in Fargo. But his childhood town hasn’t forgotten him. In 1996, the now Ukrainian city of Lviv hosted their first International Chess Tournament in memory of Stepan Popel.
Turka Raion
Turka Raion is a raion in Lviv Oblast in western Ukraine. Its administrative center is Turka. It has a population of 54 906.It was established in 1939.-External links:*...
, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
) – died 27 December 1987, Fargo
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
, North Dakota, USA) was a multiple 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...
champion of Lviv, Paris and eventually, of the Ukrainians in North America (USA and Canada).
Biography
Stepan Popel was the nephew of an early master, Ignatz von PopielIgnatz von Popiel
Ignatz von Popiel was a Polish-Ukrainian chess player.-Biography:...
(1863–1941), and took a liking to chess at an early age – he played in his first tournament at age 12. He went on to became the best chess player in the region and is now regarded as one of the important masters of pre-World War II Europe. In 1931, he earned a masters degree in French and Latin language and literature from the University at Lviv. He also acted, during WW II, Greek-Catholic Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky’s personal secretary until 1944.
In 1929, Popel won a championship of Lviv, followed by E. Kaufman, Henryk Friedman
Henryk Friedman
Henryk Friedman was a Polish chess master.He lived in Lvov . In 1926–1934, Friedman won seven times in succession the Championship of Lvov but 1930, when he took 2nd place behind Stepan Popel. Friedman played in four Polish championships. In 1926, he took 14th in Warsaw . The event was won by...
, Oskar Piotrowski
Oskar Piotrowski
Oskar Piotrowski was a Polish chess master.In 1902, he played in several chess tournaments in Berlin; took 2nd, behind Eduard Dyckhoff, in the Berlin Finckenschaft-Turnier, tied for 4-5th in the Café Kerkau Free Tournament , lost a game to Ranneforth in a match Anderssen Chess Club vs...
, etc. In 1929 and 1934, he was a member of Lviv team at 1st and 2nd Polish team championships. In 1934, he was a member of Polish team at Correspondence Olympiad. In 1935-1936, he took 9th at Correspondence Championship of Poland.
In 1943, Popel published his handbook Poczatki szachista (Introduction to Chess) in Ukrainian at Kraków. In 1943, he tied for 1st with Myroslav Turiansky
Myroslav Turiansky
Myroslav Turiansky was a Ukrainian chess master.He won the championship of the Shakhovyi Konyk Club in Lviv in 1928, and tied for 1st-2nd with Stepan Popel in the Championship of Western Ukraine at Lviv 1943.Joining the westward exodus in 1944, Turiansky wound up in Vienna, where in the years...
at Lviv (GG). In 1943, he won at Sambor (GG). In 1944, he won at Sanok (GG). Because of the Red Army’s approach, he did manage to avoid deportation to Siberia or any worse fate during the Soviet occupation (e.g., that of Vladimirs Petrovs
Vladimirs Petrovs
Vladimirs Petrovs or Vladimir Petrov was a Latvian chess master.He was born in Riga, Latvia. Though he learned the game of chess relatively late, at age thirteen, Petrovs made rapid progress. By 1926, at age 19, he won the Riga Championship and finish third in the national championship...
). Joining the westward exodus in 1944, Stepan Popel wound up in Kraków. In 1944, he drew a match against Fedor Bogatyrchuk
Fedor Bogatyrchuk
Fedir Parfenovych Bohatyrchuk was a Ukrainian-Canadian International Master of chess, and an...
at Kraków (2 : 2). At the end of war, he escaped to West. Finally, he came to France.
In 1950/51, Popel won at Hastings (Premier Reserve Major). In 1951, he won the 26th Paris City Chess Championship
Paris City Chess Championship
The first Paris City Chess Championship was held in 1925....
. In 1951/52, he tied for 4th-6th at Hastings. In April 1953, he won, ahead of Maurice Raizman
Maurice Raizman
Maurice Raizman was a French chess master.Born into a Jewish family in Bendery , he emigrated to France...
, the 28th Championship of Paris. In 1954, he won the 29th Championship of Paris. In 1954, he took 4th at Saarbrücken. In 1954/55, he played at international tournament at Paris. In 1955/56, he took 2nd at Hastings (The Premier Reserves Major).
In 1956, Popel was authorized to migrate to the US. As an American master, he won three times the Michigan state championship, in 1957, 1958, and 1959. He also won the North Central Open at Wisconsin in 1957, where his young competitor 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...
took 6th place. In 1958, he took 4th at North Central Open, and took 6th at Western Open. Both those events were won by Pal Benko
Pál Benko
Pal Benko is a chess grandmaster, author, and composer of endgame studies and chess problems.- Early life :Benko was born in France but was raised in Hungary. He was Hungarian champion by age 20. He emigrated to the United States in 1958, after defecting following the World Student Team...
. Around 1960, Stepan Popel became a professor of French language and literature at North Dakota State University in Fargo. He continued to enter tournaments, and he became eleven-time North Dakota champion (from 1965 to 1980). In 1966, he took 2nd at a championship of Ukrainian Sport Centrale of America & Canada. In 1969, he won a championship of USCA&C. In 1970, he took 3rd at North Central Open. Popel played the US Open at Lincoln 1969, Atlantic City 1972, Chicago 1973, Columbus 1977. In 1986, he tied for 5th-8 th at a championship of USCA&C. The event was won by Orest Popovych.
Popel died in 1987, and is buried in Fargo. But his childhood town hasn’t forgotten him. In 1996, the now Ukrainian city of Lviv hosted their first International Chess Tournament in memory of Stepan Popel.
Notable chess games
- Stepan Popel vs Czarnecki, Paris 1947, Grünfeld Defense, D94, 1-0
- Stepan Popel vs Daniel Yanofsky, Hastings 1951/52, King's Indian Attack, Wahls Defense, A11, 1/2-1/2
- Harry Golombek vs Stepan Popel, Hastings 1951/52, English Opening, A16, 0-1
- Maurice Raizman vs Stepan Popel, Paris 1953, Neo-Grünfeld Defense, Main line, D79, 0-1
- Robert James Fischer vs Stephan Popel, Oklahoma City 1956, US-Open, King's Indian Attack, Symmterical Defense, A05, 1/2-1/2