Géza Füster (February 19, 1910 – December 30, 1990)[1] was a Hungarian-Canadian chess master. A winner of the Hungarian championship, he later represented Canada at Chess Olympiads and at an interzonal tournament for the world chess championship.[2]
Born in Budapest, Füster won the first of his 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, Jozsef Szily and Ludovit Potuček, at a tournament in Trenčianske Teplice.
In September 1941, he took 11th out of 16 competitors at Munich with 6.5/15, but drew his game with World Champion Alexander Alekhine.[3] 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. Füster 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. Füster'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).[2]
Füster 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 at Vancouver. Füster replaced Vaitonis (who declined to go) at the Portorož interzonal tournament in 1958, finishing in last place.[4]
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.[5]
He was awarded the International Master title in 1969, following his strong 3rd-place finish at the Closed Canadian Chess Championship, held at Pointe-Claire.[6][7]
Füster was a fixture at the YMCA Chess Club and later the Toronto Chess Club. He was 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?'"[8]
He died at Toronto in 1990.
Referencesedit
^. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
^ abCohen, David (2018-12-29). "Geza Fuster". Canadian Chess - Biographies. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
géza, füster, native, form, this, personal, name, füstér, géza, this, article, uses, western, name, order, when, mentioning, individuals, february, 1910, december, 1990, hungarian, canadian, chess, master, winner, hungarian, championship, later, represented, c. The native form of this personal name is Fuster Geza This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals Geza Fuster February 19 1910 December 30 1990 1 was a Hungarian Canadian chess master A winner of the Hungarian championship he later represented Canada at Chess Olympiads and at an interzonal tournament for the world chess championship 2 Geza FusterCountry CanadaBorn 1910 02 19 February 19 1910Budapest HungaryDiedDecember 30 1990 1990 12 30 aged 80 Toronto CanadaTitleInternational Master 1969 Biography editBorn in Budapest Fuster won the first of his 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 Jozsef Szily and Ludovit Potucek at a tournament in Trencianske Teplice In September 1941 he took 11th out of 16 competitors at Munich with 6 5 15 but drew his game with World Champion Alexander Alekhine 3 The event was won by Gosta Stoltz In September 1942 he tied for 3rd 5th in Munich Munchen B Qualification Tournament In 1943 he took 2nd behind Gedeon Barcza in Diosgyor Hungarian championship In 1943 he won in Kolozsvar 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 2 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 at Vancouver Fuster replaced Vaitonis who declined to go at the Portoroz interzonal tournament in 1958 finishing in last place 4 Fuster 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 5 He was awarded the International Master title in 1969 following his strong 3rd place finish at the Closed Canadian Chess Championship held at Pointe Claire 6 7 Fuster was a fixture at the YMCA Chess Club and later the Toronto Chess Club He was 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 8 He died at Toronto in 1990 References edit Kanadai Magyar Lexikon in Hungarian Archived from the original on 2014 08 08 Retrieved 2014 07 31 a b Cohen David 2018 12 29 Geza Fuster Canadian Chess Biographies Retrieved 2023 08 10 Munich 1941 Fuster at Portoroz Canadian Chess Chat 1958 Retrieved 2023 08 10 Fuster Geza OlimpBase The Encyclopedia of Team Chess Retrieved 2023 08 10 59th Canadian Championship Pointe Claire 10 23 August 1969 BC Chess History Retrieved 2023 08 10 FIDE Titles Chess Federation of Canada Retrieved 2023 08 08 Chess Canada Tribute to Geza Fuster by Ian Findlay February 1991External links editGeza Fuster player profile and games at Chessgames com Geza Fuster player profile at Chessbase Mikhail Tal vs Geza Fuster Portoroz 1958 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geza Fuster amp oldid 1184485074, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
