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Mat Plus #2-96
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#2-98/99
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Mat Plus Informal Tourney: Selfmates 1998/99
Judge: Marjan Kovačević

There were 15 selfmates, none of which below usually high level of originals in the magazine. However, Selfmate Art has developed much since 1998 and many works look less original and intensive today.

Luckily enough, the winner seem as surviving passing time and gives important quality to this Award. My selection is following:
 

Milivoj S. Nešić
1.Pr Mat Plus 1998/99
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s#3* 10+12
1st Prize: No.503 by Milivoj S. Nešić (Yugoslavia).
Reciprocally changed second white moves with all four different mating moves. The two long shots by front piece of white battery fulfill different aims: control of distant flights (Set) and Siers-effects (Solution). Finally, the threat is much more than a technical introduction for the main theme. The second move of the threat completes reconstruction of the white battery in the solution, since Qh5, as well as Bg5, performs individual checking action. The third move of threat completes reciprocal change of active and passive functions of Rc7 and Sa5 between set and actual play.The fact that mating moves are executed on five adjacent squares, from b3 to b7, makes only a part of highly artistic presentation. Construction is skilful and picturesque, the key is both thematically reach and elegant, and there is a pretty little detail in how Sa5 spreads (and changes) his influence to all four available squares. A great selfmate that could have won many other tourneys! 1... d3 2.Bd2:+(A) Kd4: 3.Sb3+ Rb3:#, 1... d5 2.Bd8+(B) Kd6 3.Sb7+ Rb7:#; 1.Rb7! ~ 2.Qh2+ Kd5 3.Rb5+ Rb5:#, 1... d3 2.Bd8+(A) Kd4: 3.Bb6+ Rb6:#, 1... d5 2.Bd2:+(B) Kd6: 3.Bb4+ Rb4:#.

Vukota Nikoletić
2.Pr Mat Plus 1998/99
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s#3 10+9
2nd Prize: No.501 by Vukota Nikoletić (Yugoslavia).
A study of white battery play with four different purposes: unpinning (2.Sf3), interference (2.Sf7), Siers-effect (2.Sc4) and avoiding negative effects (2.Sd3). The 1Rg4 line only partially defends the threat, but it adds spontaneously to the completely selfmate-strategy. The construction is light and pleasant. 1.Sc7! ~ 2.Sf3+ Sd4: 3.Sd5+ Rd5:#, 1... Rg4 2.Sd3+ Rd4:+ 3.Sd5+ Rd5:#, 1... Rg6: 2.Sc4+ Kf7 3.Sd6+ Rd6:#, 1... Re8 2.Sf7+ Re5 3.Se8+ Qe8:#.

Waldemar Tura
1.HM Mat Plus 1998/99
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s#6 4+4
1st Hon. Mention: No.509 by Waldemar Tura (Poland).
A nice Miniature (according to Nenad Petrović's extension for selfmates) for the "Kings & Pawns" collection. Two Chameleon-Echo mates with interesting WQ maneuvres. 1.f8Q! (~), 1... Kg3 2.Qf1 h3 3.Qf6 h2+ 4.Kh1 Kh3 5.Qf2 g3 6.Qf4 g2#, 1... g3 2.Qf4 g2 3.e4! de4 4.Qe4: Kg3 5.Qf5 h3 6.Qe4 h2#.

Aleksandr Azhusin
2.HM Mat Plus 1998/99
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s#4 10+13
2nd Hon. Mention: No.507 by Aleksandr Azhusin (Russia).
Creation of three different white batteries. The use of Novotny interference leaves somewhat confusing feeling and a whish there was a fourth variation to connect two pairs. 1.g5! ~ 2.Rc6+/Bb6+, 1... Bg5: 2.Rc6+ Kd5 3.Re6+ Kc5 4.Re5+ Re5:#, 1... Rg5: 2.Bb6+ Kd6 3.Bd8+ Kc5 4.Be7+ Re7:#, 1... Sc4 2.Sb7+! Kd5 3.Sd6+ Kc5 4.Se4+ Re4:#.

Vladan Vučković
1.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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s#4v 5+4
1st Com.: No.505 by Vladan Vučković (Yugoslavia).
A lovely little logical combination: sacrifice to prevent the castle, followed by unpinning execution. Charming! 1.Kh8? ~ 2.Qe7+, 1... Kd8 2.Qd7+, 1... 0-0-0+!; 1.Re6+! Kd8 2.Re8+ Ke8: 3.Kh8!.

Vukota Nikoletić
2.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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s#4 14+6
2nd Com.: No.506 by Vukota Nikoletić (Yugoslavia).
Triple unpinning of Sd4 as a common motive for typically selfmate play. Pity that Sc1 and Bh5 take part in only one variation each. 1.Qb2! ~ 2.Qe2+ Se2: 3.Bf4+ Sf4: 4.Sd3+ Sd3:#, 1... Rd8 2.Bf6+ Kf5 3.Rg5+ Kf4 4.Se6+ Se6:#, 1... Ra2 2.f4+ Ke4 3.Bg6+ Sf5 4.Qc2+ Rc2:#.

Aleksandr Pankratyev
2.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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s#3* 9+11
3rd Com.: No.502 by Aleksandr Pankratyev (Russia).
Reciprocal second white moves, as in the 1. Prize. However, the difference is huge, for the main question is not "What" but "How". Here we see only two different mating moves, with much simpler effects. 1... Sef5: 2.Sg6+ Ke4 3.Qd3+ Bd3:#, 1... Shf5: 2.Sf7+ Ke4 3.Qd3+ Bd3:#; 1.Qd3! ~ 2.Qe3+ Qe4 3.Qe4+ Be4:#, 1... Sef5: 2.Sf7+ Sf7: 3.Qf5:+ Bf5:#, 1... Shf5: 2.Sg6+ Sg6: 3.Qf5:+ Bf5:#.

Miomir Nedeljković
Spec. Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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s#2 8+5
Spec. Com.: No.500 by Miomir Nedeljković (Yugoslavia) - Dedicated to Dr. T. Petrović.
With only 13 pieces on the board there are three variations following e.p. Key after a stalemate strategy. 1.fg6! ep (~), 1... e6 2.Qd6 hg6#, 1... e5 2.Qd7: hg6#, 1... d6 2.Be6 hg6#.

Zemun, 12.06.2006.
Marjan Kovačević


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