"Skill, Not Brain Power" Counts In Chess

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31230, 30 November 1966, Page 15

"Skill, Not Brain Power" Counts In Chess

’THE fact that he is certain at some stage to meet the international grandmaster, Y. L. Averbahkh, is not all that will make O. Sarapu one of the attractions of the Canterbury Chess club's centennial tournament. Sarapu is a personality and international chessmaster in himself and a champion of no mean accomplishment. His sue-

cesses in New Zealand started in 1952, when he won the first of four consecutive New Zealand titles, and in 1960, 1961 and 1966 he won or was first equal. Earlier this year, Sarapu won the South-east Asia

zonal tournament for the world championship, till now the largest and most important chess tournament to be held in New Zealand.

Sarapu’s most notable successes, since coming to New Zealand about 15 years ago, have been a win in the 1957 Australian championship, and third equal placing in the 1963 zonal tournament in Jakarta—only half a game behind the winners. Sarapu was born 42 years ago in Narva, Estonia and learnt to play chess at the age of eight. Five years later, he won the town’s championship, and at 16, the junior championship of Estonia.

The war, and the enforced moving, resulted in Sarapu playing professionally in Copenhagen and in 1949 he moved to West Germany. That year, in Oldenburg, he finished only one point behind the great Ukranian master, E. Bogolyubov—whom he had beaten earlier. At the same international tournament, he met R- G. Wade, the New Zealand professional, who influenced Sarapu’s decision to emigrate to New Zealand. Sarapu’s views of chess are interesting if not perhaps completely original. He feels that by playing chess “you really get to know your opponent as a person; in life it takes years to know someone as well. “His personal character

cannot be covered up over the chess board. His choice of openings, his plans, his ideas, the way he makes his moves, all show his real personality.” Sarapu finds that “the skill of the game plays the major part in the results, not brain power” and likes to quote the grand-master, Dr. Tarrasch: “Chess, like music and love makes people happy.” Sarapu thinks Dr. Tarrasch left money out on purpose.

Sai'apu practises about 10 hours a week but does . not believe in too much studying: “You need a fresh mind to be able to form plans. Physical fitness is important, too. If you are tired, you make routine plans and moves.” Winning is not paramount with Sarapu. He feels a person “should play to enjoy, to create, not for statistical results.” He says he would rather lose a brilliant game than win by a mistake.

Sarapu has been married 16 years and started his seven-year-old son, Peter, playing chess when he was 3|. But he will not force chess on him “It must come from himself—you can’t make a chess player.” He thinks learning chess is easier than learning to read.

This is the fourth tn a series of profiles on players who will be taking part in the Canterbury Chess Club's centennial tournament starting on December 26.