Personalia

Our next greetings go to the most northern federal state of Germany, Hanspeter Suwe (hps) celebrated his 56th birthday in Winsen/Holstein on September 13. Already in his early years the initial OTB player had devoted himself to problem chess in the course of which he developed a particular liking of "castling problems". The passion for this chess peculiarity "0-0/0-0-0" never left him any more as is shown among other things by his publishing work (supported by two additional companions) on König & Turm since 2000 – we have already briefly appreciated this magazine at our pages Publications. Some of his further commitments to problem chess can be mentioned here only shortly: his "unfinished" (because being left in disorder) collection of about 14,000 castling problems; his working as a Schwalbe editor (end of 1976 to 1979) in the category "Experimental Chess" – at that time fairy chess was temporarily called this way; and the publication of the castling magazine "0-0", this forerunner of "K & T" saw 11 issues (since 1978). For the first time he became familiar with historical chess literature by the unforgotten Hamburg problemist Hans Klüver, for hps a stimulation to devote himself in depth to chess historical investigations on the genesis of castling – that’s also a field he deals with till today. hps pursues his profession as a teacher/deputy headmaster of a primary school at Norderstedt and it is surprising that he has still some time left for non-chess hobbies – they include mountain hiking, literature (particularly Marcel Proust) and music (jazz). You will learn more about hps by reading his self-portrait in Caissas Schloßbewohner 3 (1986), additionally "K & T" No. 3 / 2000, p. 97-98.

We will turn now to one of the three grandmasters in KWA ranks, Raj Tischbierek looked back on 42 years on September 24. The native Leipziger who was successful as a double GDR champion (1987 and 1990) made his name later on especially as a publisher: since 1991 he has been editor-in-chief of the magazine Schach which at the beginning of 1997 absorbed the "unified magazines" Deutsche Schachzeitung - Deutsche Schachblätter - Schach-Report. Since 2000 Schach – Die Zeitschrift mit Tradition und Anspruch – is published by the Berlin Exzelsior Verlag (E. Publishing House) which was founded by Raj Tischbierek in the year before. Due to the time-consuming editorial work he naturally hasn't got much time for active participations in chess tournaments, especially as he competes for his club SC Kreuzberg in the 1st "Bundesliga" (German Chess League) as well.
Raj Tischbierek has authored two books: Sternstunden des Schachs. 30 x Olympia. London 1927 – Manila 1992 (Berlin 1992) – we have briefly presented this work at our pages Publications of our members; as well as the fine tournament book of the SKA-Turnier München 1994 (Berlin 1994). He has additionally collaborated as an editor on the four-volume series ATTACKE – Das Beste vom Sowjetschach/Schach der Sowjets (Berlin 1991-2). Up to now two interesting book projects have been realized by the Exzelsior Publishing House, we are confident that also the third one – namely the Zukertort biography initiated/prepared by the KWA – will meet the special interest of the collectors' community.

One day later our new member John Donaldson celebrated his special day in San Francisco, he turned 46 on September, 25. Only in this summer our secretary Michael Negele had visited him at the Mechanics’ Institute, IM John Donaldson holds there the leading position of a Chess Room Director (surely Michael will still report on this visit on his website). We will mention here at least that this institute houses the oldest US chess club – the Mechanics' Chess Club was founded in 1854! A short biography of John (including a photo) will provide information about the most important stages of his (chess) life and save myself further explanations. Many publications in book form have established his excellent reputation as a chess writer at home and abroad, so the enclosed list of his existing chess books (no responsibility for completeness!) is not only impressive by its mere size. Typically he was chosen as the Chess Journalist of the Year in 1994 ...

Congratulations to all!