The sakkzseni (chess genius) from the Szeged
By Slobodan Adzic
On May 1st 2004 Hungary became a member of the European Union, and by this
the town of Szeged has become Europe's southern gateway.
The sun shines here for 2,100 hours a year. That is why Szeged (pronounced
"segg-gedd", to rhyme with egghead), situated at the confluence of
the rivers Tisza and Maros, is usually known as "the City of the Sunshine"
(Hungarian: a Napfény Városa). There are two universities
and almost a hundred fish restaurants.
The Cathedral ”Dom”, which is symbol of Szeged
Today Szeged is mostly known as the town where the world's number four ranked
chess player, Peter Leko, 25, lives. This is possible the only chess player
in the world to whom the city where he lives gave the title of Honorary Citizen.
The other symbol, Peter Leko, posing in front of the Dom
In Europe Szeged’s name sounds familiar to gourmets because of the 136-year-old
salami manufacturing company PICK.
The Géza Maróczy Square. On the plaque it says: Géza Maróczy
(1870-1951). More than half a century long a leading chess player, two times
Olympiad Champion (1927 London and 1936 München).
In Hungary Szeged is a synonym for chess. In this town, in the southern part
of the country, with a population of 250,000 (the third largest in Hungary)
lived Géza Maróczy, one of the world's best grandmasters in the
first half of the twentieth century.
A bust of the famous composer Franz Liszt, pianist and composer, on Dom
Ter (Dom Square). Liszt, who spent many years studying in Szeged, was possibly
the greatest piano virtuoso of all time. He studied and played in Vienna and
Paris, and for most of his life toured throughout Europe giving concerts.
|
Another
famous personality: Albert Szent-Györgyi, the discoverer of Vitamin
C, lived and worked in Szeged for a long period. He was given the Chair
of Medical Chemistry at the University of Szeged in1928, and for his findings
was awarded with the Nobel prize in 1937. |
The Town Hall of Szeged
Szeged is the only city in the country where chess is a subject in primary
schools, from the first class onwards. For thousands of children Peter Leko
is an idol. His world championship match against Kramnik was broadcast live
in the center of the city, in the pedestrian precinct of the Hotel Royal.
Receiving an award from the Mayor of Szeged Dr. Laszlo Botka
When he returned from Brissago Mayor Botka awarded Peter Leko the 2005
Honorary Citizenship of Szeged. In the City Hall Leko showed the Szeged political
leadership some games from Brissago.
Peter with Hungary's Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany
The draw result and the excellent performance was the reason why he was given
the honorary citizen title from the City Senate and Mayor Dr Laszlo Botka.
Peter visited Hungary's Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, and recently a new
book titled "A sakkzseni" (Chess Genius) about Leko Peter's life
has been presented. The authors of the book are journalists Imre Dlustus from
Szeged and Miklos Novak from Budapest.
The presentation of the book "A Sakkzseni"
by Imre Dlustus,
a journalist from Szeged who, as the Editor of the local magazine "Delmagyarorszag",
has supported Peter Leko since he was eight; and Robert Suli, also a journalist
and Peter’s tennis partner.
Peter's Szeged
The river Tisza, which periodically floods parts of the city
The bridge across the river
A market stand at the river
Chess pieces on sale in street stalls
Available in many different shapes and sizes
An interview with Peter Leko at Dom Square
Wife Sofia with her grandmother
With Sofia and a Szeged chess fan
Analysing with father-in-law Arshak Petrosian
A 100-board simul with Arshak Petrosian, Ildiko Madl, Veronika Schneider,
the current Hungarian women's champion GM Nikoletta Lakos, and Peter Leko against
Szeged prominence
A special hand-carved wooden chess set for sale at the simul. It was provided
by the Mayor of Szeged for auction, and the income will be used for the local
chess club "Maróczy" in Szeged
Peter the soccer player and fan
In action in an indoor match
When we were just 2300 – a picture form the Leko family album
Peter Leko's
official web site
The
Author
Slobodan Adzic, 47, is a FIDE master who spent most of his life in Novi Sad,
former Yugoslavia, where he worked as a professional journalist. He also took
a degree at the University of Economics and Journalism in Belgrade. From 1976
to 1983 Slobodan published about 2000 articles in the biggest daily newspaper
of Yugoslavia, Vecernje Novosti. From 1985 until 1992 he was the
chess editor of the daily newspaper "Dnevnik" in Novi Sad. He was
the editor of the bulletins during the Chess Olympiads in 1990 (Novi Sad),
1992, (Manila) and 1996 (Yerevan).
In 1985 Slobodan Adzic founded the company Chess
Press in Novi Sad. After sanctions were imposed against Yugoslavia
and the match Fischer-Spassky in Sveti Stefan he moved Chess Press to Szeged.
Today Slobodan is the editor of "Sakkfutár", a monthly Hungarian
chess magazine, and manager of the Chess Press Center in Szeged. In the first
days of July Chess Press will release Garry Kasparov's book "My Great
Predecessors I" in the Hungarian language.