Géza Füster
Encyclopedia
Géza Füster was a Hungarian-Canadian
chess
International Master.
Born in Budapest
, he won his first of many Budapest Championships in 1936. During World War II
, he played in several strong tournaments. In 1941, he won the Hungarian Championship
. In 1941, he took 4th, behind Jan Foltys
, Szily and Potuček, in Trenčianske Teplice
.
In September 1941, he took 11th in Munich
(Europa-Turnier), drawing his game with World Champion Alexander Alekhine
. The event was won by Gösta Stoltz
. In September 1942, he tied for 3rd-5th in Munich (München B, Qualification Tournament). In 1943, he took 2nd, behind Gedeon Barcza
, in Diosgyör (Hungarian championship). In 1943, he won in Kolozsvár. In 1943-44, he won the Hungarian correspondence championship.
After the war, he defected
. He planned to cross the border at East Berlin
with Pal Benko
. Fuster made it across the border, but Benko was apprehended and sent to prison for nearly three years. Fuster made it to Canada in 1953, settling in Toronto
. Fuster's first success in his new land was winning the Toronto City Championship in 1954; he repeated in 1955, 1956, 1962, 1969, and 1971 (shared) (source: David Cohen's Canadian Chess site).
Fuster played in many Canadian championships. In 1955, he took 6th in Ottawa
(Closed Canadian Chess Championship
). In 1955, he was Canadian Speed Champion. In 1957, he won the U.S. Speed Championship. He took 2nd, behind Povilas Vaitonis
, in the 1957 Closed Canadian Championship in Vancouver
. He played and took last place in the Interzonal
at Portorož
in 1958.
Füster also represented Canada in two Chess Olympiads in 1958 at Munich
(8.5/14 on board 4; (+5 =7 -2)), and in 1970 at Siegen
(+1 =1 -4) as second reserve (http://www.olimpbase.org/players/kiiycu4c.html).
He was awarded the International Master title in 1969, following his strong performance in the Closed Canadian Chess Championship, held at Pointe-Claire.
In 1979, Bill Goichberg
invited him to a round-robin norm tournament at the Marshall Chess Club
because Fuster had the IM title and therefore by beating him other players could get an IM norm. Unfortunately, however, Fuster beat all the aspiring IMs, and so nobody got a norm. He was not invited back.
Füster was a fixture at the YMCA Chess Club and later the Toronto Chess Club. A lover of speed chess, very generous with advice and encouragement to young players, and beloved for his aphorisms. When an opponent played a dubious move he would always say: "When a player is weak I say: 'Will you come again to play tomorrow?'".
He died at Toronto in 1990.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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...
International Master.
Born in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, he won his first of many Budapest Championships in 1936. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he played in several strong tournaments. In 1941, he won the Hungarian Championship
Hungarian Chess Championship
The inaugural Hungarian Chess Championship was held in the city of Győr in 1906. Initially, there was no governing body responsible for its organisation, until the formation of the Hungarian Chess Federation. The HCF first appeared in 1911, but failed to establish itself properly until 1923...
. In 1941, he took 4th, behind Jan Foltys
Jan Foltys
Jan Foltys , was a Czech chess International Master.-Biography:...
, Szily and Potuček, in Trenčianske Teplice
Trencianske Teplice
Trenčianske Teplice is a health resort and small spa town in western Slovakia, in the valley of the river Teplička, at the foothills of the Strážovské vrchy mountains.-Characteristics:...
.
In September 1941, he took 11th in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
(Europa-Turnier), drawing his game with World Champion Alexander Alekhine
Alexander Alekhine
Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine was the fourth World Chess Champion. He is often considered one of the greatest chess players ever.By the age of twenty-two, he was already among the strongest chess players in the world. During the 1920s, he won most of the tournaments in which he played...
. The event was won by Gösta Stoltz
Gösta Stoltz
-Biography:Stoltz played a few matches with strong chess masters. In 1926, he lost to Mikhail Botvinnik at a team match Stockholm – Leningrad in Stockholm. In 1927, he drew with Allan Nilsson in Göteborg . In 1930, he won against Isaac Kashdan in Stockholm. In 1930, he lost to Rudolf Spielmann ...
. In September 1942, he tied for 3rd-5th in Munich (München B, Qualification Tournament). In 1943, he took 2nd, behind Gedeon Barcza
Gedeon Barcza
Gedeon Barcza was a Hungarian chess master.In 1940, Barcza took third place, behind Max Euwe and Milan Vidmar, at Maróczy Jubiläum in Budapest. In September 1942, he took sixth place at the first European Championship in Munich; the event was won by Alexander Alekhine...
, in Diosgyör (Hungarian championship). In 1943, he won in Kolozsvár. In 1943-44, he won the Hungarian correspondence championship.
After the war, he defected
Defection
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...
. He planned to cross the border at East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
with 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...
. Fuster made it across the border, but Benko was apprehended and sent to prison for nearly three years. Fuster made it to Canada in 1953, settling in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Fuster's first success in his new land was winning the Toronto City Championship in 1954; he repeated in 1955, 1956, 1962, 1969, and 1971 (shared) (source: David Cohen's Canadian Chess site).
Fuster played in many Canadian championships. In 1955, he took 6th in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
(Closed Canadian Chess Championship
Canadian Chess Championship
This is the list of all the winners of the Canadian Chess Championship, often referred to as the Canadian Closed Championship to distinguish it from the annual Canadian Open tournament. The winner of the Canadian Closed advances to the next stage of the FIDE World Chess Championship cycle...
). In 1955, he was Canadian Speed Champion. In 1957, he won the U.S. Speed Championship. He took 2nd, behind Povilas Vaitonis
Povilas Vaitonis
Povilas Vaitonis was a Lithuanian–Canadian International Master of chess. He was a five-time Lithuanian champion, and was twice Canadian champion...
, in the 1957 Closed Canadian Championship in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. He played and took last place in the 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 :...
at Portorož
Portorož
- External links :**...
in 1958.
Füster also represented Canada in two Chess Olympiads in 1958 at Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
(8.5/14 on board 4; (+5 =7 -2)), and in 1970 at Siegen
Siegen
Siegen is a city in Germany, in the south Westphalian part of North Rhine-Westphalia.It is located in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein in the Arnsberg region...
(+1 =1 -4) as second reserve (http://www.olimpbase.org/players/kiiycu4c.html).
He was awarded the International Master title in 1969, following his strong performance in the Closed Canadian Chess Championship, held at Pointe-Claire.
In 1979, Bill Goichberg
Bill Goichberg
William "Bill" Goichberg is a rated chess master and is the former President of the United States Chess Federation. He was elected USCF President on August 14, 2005. He is a USCF Life Master and a FIDE Master, National Tournament Director and International Arbiter of FIDE...
invited him to a round-robin norm tournament at the Marshall Chess Club
Marshall Chess Club
The Marshall Chess Club in New York City is one of the oldest chess clubs in the United States, located in Greenwich Village. The club was formed in 1915 by a group of players led by Frank Marshall. It is a non-profit organization.-History:...
because Fuster had the IM title and therefore by beating him other players could get an IM norm. Unfortunately, however, Fuster beat all the aspiring IMs, and so nobody got a norm. He was not invited back.
Füster was a fixture at the YMCA Chess Club and later the Toronto Chess Club. A lover of speed chess, very generous with advice and encouragement to young players, and beloved for his aphorisms. When an opponent played a dubious move he would always say: "When a player is weak I say: 'Will you come again to play tomorrow?'".
He died at Toronto in 1990.