Provisional study award of Problem Paradise 2024
judged by Martin Minski.
(See also at the Japanse website: https://problem-paradise.com/#li)
His report first (you can find his comments also in the studies for replay):
There were 32 studies from 15 authors from 11 countries.
I was surprised at the high level in an informal tournament.
That's why almost 50% made it into the award.
Here is my selection:
1st prize
Jan Timman
E271 (Ke1/Ka5,+)
Take a good scheme from Zakhodyakin and combine it with a kamikaze rook like in the game Steinitz - von Bardeleben 1895, then add some "salt" (Bishop sacrifices by White and Black) and “pepper” (the logical elimination of the white pawn on a2). A master like Jan Timman comes up with such great ideas! At 7.Ka1! it is by no means obvious that the white pawn has to disappear. By far the best and most profound study of the tournament.
2nd prize
Michael Pasman
E265 (Kh8/Kd6,=)
Actually, White only prevents a typical Bishop mate through the right sacrifices of a “Siegfried” rook (no capture possible because of stalemate). Michael Pasman perhaps has the best technical ability at the moment to develop a good and economical story from it and to clearly justify the order of the individual sacrifices.
3rd prize
Beat Neuenschwander
E249 (Kh7/Kh5,=)
An “endgame” with 20 pieces? Oh my God! But have you ever seen such a positional draw?
4th prize
Jan Timman
E250 (Kh8/Kc7,=)
A good and natural introduction leads to a (hopefully original) stalemate scheme. The question is whether the additional pawn pair h4/h5 has its justification for later Qf7! to enable. I think I would have preferred to leave this pawn out.
special prize
Peter Krug
E258 (Kg1/Kg8,+)
A romantic study with a bizarre initial position. The white pieces occupy the "magic square" e6-e7-f7-f6 and suddenly 9.Kf2!! is the match winner. In the end, the new black queen can be defeated using a battery. I like the try 9.Ba2? along with 11...Be4!
1st hm
Michael Pasman
E267 (Kd4/Kh8,+)
Another example of how the author manages to turn a simple threat f8Q into an exciting game between White and Black. The captures of 2 technical pawns and the "lazy" black pawn on d3 reduce the overall impression somewhat.
2nd hm
Michael Pasman
E266 (Kf7/Kh6,+)
A good introduction leads to the spectacular 8.Bg4!! The logical try seems a bit artificial and the forced ending seems difficult for a human.
3rd hm
Peter Krug
E247 (Kg5/Ke5,+)
In a fairly static position (see Bf1 for example) the black king is driven into a mate net and cannot really defend itself against it. There are 4 echo mates with self-blocks.
special hm
Vladislav Tarasiuk
E270 (Ka1/Kh8,+)
A well-known systematic maneuver by Gorgiev in 1937 is combined with switchback motifs.
1st commendation
Peter Krug
E255 (Ka7/Kh1,+)
The natural introduction leads to an original reciprocal zugzwang with a thematic try. Unfortunately, there are a lot of forced captures in the end.
2nd commendation
Jan Timman
E246 (Kd8/Ka6,+)
The well-known mate is prepared with three fine sacrifices.
3rd commendation
Beat Neuenschwander
E269 (Kb6/Ka8,+)
Who would have found the first two pawns sacrifices in this rook endgame?
4th commendation
Thomas Niessen
E264 (Kd1/Kd3,=)
9.Nb3! is nice!
special commendation
Toshiji Kawagoe
E251 (Ke1/Kg6,+)
A new Valladao task as a study.
The awarded studies for replay: