Esteban Canal

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Esteban Canal (born April 19, 1896 in Chiclayo , Peru, † February 15, 1981 in Cittiglio , Italy ) was a Peruvian chess player .

Career

Canal initially lived in Peru. In 1909 he came to Europe, where he lived in several countries. During his time in Leipzig from 1914 to 1917 he learned to play chess and became one of the strongest players there. In the 1920s he moved to Italy. He only received his titles in old age: when FIDE created the title in 1950, he was named International Master . In 1977, at the age of 81, he was named " Honorary Grand Master ".

He earned the title through numerous successes:

  • 1923: 2nd place in Trieste (behind Paul Johner )
  • 1926: Shared 2nd place in Meran (behind Colle )
  • 1926: 2nd place in Budapest (behind Maróczy )
  • 1927: Winner in Budapest
  • 1929: 10th place out of 22 participants in Karlsbad
  • 1933: Winner in Budapest
  • 1936: Shared victory in Reus (Spain) (with Jacob Silbermann )
  • 1948: Shared 2nd place in Venice (behind Najdorf )
  • 1953: Victory in Venice

At the Chess Olympiad in Dubrovnik in 1950 he played on the first board for Peru (+1 = 6 −8).

In 1934 he spectacularly sacrificed both towers and the queen in a simultaneous game , the Peruvian Immortals , in order to checkmate with two bishops .

Contributions to opening theory

Various opening variants are named after Canal:

  • the Canal variant 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5 2. Ng1 – f3 Nb8 – c6 3. Bf1 – c4 Bf8 – c5 4. Nb1 – c3 Ng8 – f6 5. d2 – d3 d7 – d6 6. Bc1 – g5 in the Italian game (C50). He played this variant in four games in Karlsbad in 1929.
  • the Canal variation 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5 2. Ng1 – f3 Nb8 – c6 3. Bf1 – c4 Ng8 – f6 4. d2 – d4 e5xd4 5. 0–0 Nf6xe4 6. Rf1 – e1 d7 – d5 7. Nb1 – c3 in a two-knight game afterwards (C56). With this surprising development he was able to defeat Paul Johner in a game in Trieste in 1923 .
  • the Canal attack 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e6 2. d2 – d4 d7 – d5 3. e4xd5 e6xd5 4. Nb1 – c3 Bf8 – b4 5. Bf1 – d3 Ng8 – e7 6. Qd1 – h5 in the exchange variant of the French Defense (C01). In Meran 1926 he managed a short victory against Antonio Sacconi .
  • the " Venice " variant of the "Dutch-Peruvian Gambit" 1. d2 – d4 d7 – d5 2. c2 – c4 e7 – e6 3. Nb1 – c3 Ng8 – f6 4. Bc1 – g5 c7 – c5 5. c4xd5 Qd8 –B6 (Venetian variant of the Dutch-Peruvian Gambit) in the rejected Queen's Gambit (D50). Canal achieved a draw with the idea as a black against Savielly Tartakower in the tournament in Venice in 1948.
  • the Canal-Sokolsky-Rossolimo attack 1. e2 – e4 c7 – c5 2. Ng1 – f3 d7 – d6 3. Bf1 – b5 + against the Sicilian Defense (B51). Canal played against Miguel Najdorf in Venice in 1948 and lost the game.

plant

  • Strategia Di Avamposti. L'Italia Scacchistica, Milan 1949.

source

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. The exact dates of life are controversial. Canal's tombstone in Cocquio Trevisago's cemetery says his year of birth was 1893. There are also indications that Canal was born in Spain, possibly Santander ( Chess Notes 5831 ). The date of death is evidenced by a death certificate.
  2. ^ Esteban Canal vs Paul F Johner , game on Chessgames.com
  3. ^ Canal vs Antonio C Sacconi , game on Chessgames.com
  4. Savielly Tartakower vs Esteban Canal , game on Chessgames.com
  5. ^ Esteban Canal vs Miguel Najdorf , game on Chessgames.com