Boris Markovich Verlinsky was a Ukrainian-Russian International Master of chess. He was one of the top Soviet players of the 1920s. Verlinsky was deaf as a result of Meningitis as a youngster.
Biography
In 1909, Verlinsky tied for 10th-11th in St. Petersburg, the All-Russian Amateur Tournament. The event was won by Alexander Alekhine. In 1910, he won in Odessa. In 1911, he tied for 6-8th in St. Petersburg. In 1912, he won the Odessa Championship. In 1913, he took 3rd in St. Petersburg behind winner Alexander Evenson. After World War I, Verlinsky moved from Ukraine to Russia. In 1923, he tied for 1st with Kutuzov in Petrograd. In 1923, he took 2nd, behind Sergeev, in Petrograd. In 1924, he tied for 10-11th in Moscow. The event was won by Efim Bogoljubow. In 1924, he took 2nd, behind Grigoriev, in Moscow. In 1925, he tied for 2nd-3rd, behind Sergeev, in Moscow. In August–September 1925, he took 4th in Leningrad – Bogoljubow won. In November–December 1925, he tied for 12th-14th in Moscow – the winner was Bogoljubow. But in this event, Verlinsky scored many beautiful wins over strong players, with perhaps the most impressive being his victory over World ChampionJosé Raúl Capablanca with the Black pieces in a dazzling tactical display. In 1926, Verlinsky tied for 1st with Marsky in Odessa. In 1926, he tied for 8th-9th in Moscow – Abram Rabinovich won. In 1928, he won the 9th Moscow City Championship. In 1929, Boris Verlinsky won the 6th Soviet Championship in Odessa, at the time earning the title of Grandmaster. The title was removed in 1931. It has been argued that this was done in order to make Mikhail Botvinnik the first Soviet GM. According to the site chessmetrics.com, Verlinsky was rated at 2627 in May 1926, and this placed him 16th in the world at that time. Chessmetrics provides historical ratings for players and events throughout chess history. Official ratings were introduced by FIDE only in 1970. In 1930, Verlinsky took 7th in Moscow. In November 1931, he tied for 3rd-6th in Moscow, with a solid score of 10/17 – Botvinnik won. In February 1933, he took 2nd, behind Fedor Bogatyrchuk, in Moscow. In 1933/34, he took 12th in Moscow. Verlinsky was less active at chess in his later life, but could still provide a competitive test for strong masters. After many years away from top competition, he attempted to qualify for the Soviet Championship final in 1945, at age 53, but could only manage 4.5/15 in the semi-final, and did not advance. But he defeated rising star Bronstein in this event. Verlinsky's last major competitive event was the 1945 Moscow Championship, where he scored 5/16. Verlinsky was awarded the International Master title in 1950, the same year he died at age 62.
Style and legacy
Verlinsky was exceptionally strong in the classical openings with both colours. At his peak, he was a formidable tactician who could provide a stiff battle for the very best players, as his wins over Alexander Alekhine, José Raúl Capablanca, Efim Bogolyubov, Grigory Levenfish, Akiba Rubinstein, Rudolf Spielmann, and David Bronstein, among others, attest. His physical disability of being a deaf mute, and success at overcoming this in chess, is impressive. He was Jewish. Verlinsky never got a chance to compete outside the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union.
It was exceptionally rare for Capablanca to lose to anyone, and virtually unheard of for him to be beaten up in this sort of tactical slugfest. Likely Verlinsky's best game, and one of the top games of the century.
Two skilled tacticians battle it out, and Verlinsky emerges on top.
Verlinsky takes a shot with the hypermodern Reti, departing from his classical style, and scores a hard-fought win in a beautiful game.
Verlinsky defeats Bogolyubov, the winner of the Moscow 1925 International tournament.
The two Ukrainians, both of whom would be unfairly denied the Grandmaster title, showcase their classical chess prowess.
Konstantinopolsky was one of the rising stars of that time, a five-time Kiev champion of the 1930s.
Bronstein would go on to challenge for the world title six years later.
