Genrikh Kasparyan

He was awarded the titles of International Judge of Chess Compositions in 1956 and International Grandmaster of Chess Composition in 1972, the first composer to receive this title from FIDE. Kasparyan was also a very strong chess player, winning the Armenian championship ten times (from 1934 to 1956, including two ties with future world champion Tigran Petrosian) and the Tiflis championship three times (1931, 1937, 1945). He reached the USSR Championship finals four times (1931, 1937, 1947, 1952), but never finished higher than tenth place. Kasparyan is best known for his compositions. He started with chess problems, mainly three-movers, but soon discovered that his best field was in endgame studies. He wrote several books and collections and composed about 600 studies, many on the theme of domination, winning 57 first prizes. He won the USSR Composing Championship several times.

Genrikh Kasparyan studied at Georgian Technical University. The recorded working language is Armenian. Distinctions recorded are Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class, Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945", Medal "For Labour Valour" and Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR.

• Name — Genrikh Kasparyan • Birth Name — Genrikh Moiseyevich Kasparyan • Country — Armenia Soviet Union Russian Empire • Born — 27 February 1910 • Birthplace — Tbilisi, Georgia, Russian Empire • Died — 27 December 1995 • Place of death — Yerevan, Armenia • Title — * International Master (1950) • International Judge of Chess Compositions (1956) • Grandmaster of Chess Composition (1972)

Irving Chernev included five of Kasparyan's compositions in his book 200 Brilliant Endgames. This study uses a "model mate" in the middle of the board.

Apart from being a prolific composer of chess problems Kasparyan was, as mentioned above, an excellent tournament player. One of his games, Genrikh Kasparyan–Koryun Manvelyan, Armenian Championship, Yerevan 1938, has found its way into countless books on chess tactics: 1.d4 g6 2.b3 Bg7 3.Bb2 d6 4.e4 f5 5.exf5 Bxf5 6.g3 Nc6 7.Bg2 Qd7 8.f4 0-0-0 9.Nf3 a5 10.Nc3 Nf6 11.Qd2 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.a4 Rhe8 14.Bc3 b6 15.0-0-0 Kb7 16.Rhe1 Bd5 17.Re2 e5 18.Rde1 exf4 19.Rxe8 Rxe8 20.Qxf4 Ka6 21.Qh4 Rh8 22.Rd1 Qc8 23.Rd3 Be6 24.d5 Bxc3 25.Rxc3 Bxd5 (diagram) 26.Rxc6 Bxc6 27.Qc4+ Kb7 28.Qxc6+ Kxc6 29.Ne5 Kc5 30.Nd3+ Kd4 31.Kd2!! Black cannot prevent 32.c3#, which will be a pure mate if Black plays any move other than 31...d5 or 31...c5.

• Vitaly Chekhover vs. Genrikh Kasparian, Erevan, Match 1936, King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Fianchetto (E67), 0–1 • Genrikh Kasparian vs. David Bronstein, Ch URS 1947, Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack (B23), 1–0 • Genrikh Kasparian vs. Anatoly Ufimtsev, Ch URS 1947, Reti Opening: Anglo-Slav, Bogoljubow Variation Stonewall Line (A12), 1–0

Genrikh Kasparyan is recorded with the occupation chess composer. Recorded as chess player, chess composer and writer. Recognition and collections. Kasparyan received Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class, Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945", Medal "For Labour Valour" and Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR.