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Hermanis Mattison

Atputa Nr. 31, 1931 (Latvia)

Most played openings

E11		Bogo-Indian Defense (8 games)
B13		Caro-Kann, Exchange (6 games)
C48		Four Knights (4 games)
C14		French, Classical (4 games)
A46		Queen's Pawn Game (4 games)
D30		Queen's Gambit Declined (3 games)
C70		Ruy Lopez (3 games)
E21		Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights (3 games)
C49		Four Knights (3 games)
C46		Three Knights (2 games)

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HERMANIS MATTISON (born Dec-28-1894, died Nov-16-1932, 37 years old) Latvia [what is this?] Born Hermanis Matisons in Riga, Latvia. He attended the prestigious Riga State Gymnasium No.1, where he became school chess champion in 1911.1 In the same year he composed the first of what was to be many chess problems and endgame studies.1 Matisons would become renowned as a superb chess problemist, but he also showed precocious ability over the board, beating Jose Raul Capablanca at a simultaneous exhibition in Riga 1913 Capablanca vs H K Mattison, 1913 .2 During World War I Matisons served in active combat duty on the Riga line, where he was seriously injured in 1917. He convalesced for six months in a Petrograd hospital, then worked as a manual laborer in Moscow until 1921.1 On his return home to Riga, Matisons immersed himself in chess activities. He composed chess problems, wrote chess articles, and played in many local tournaments- especially blitz tournaments, which were very popular at the time. He joined the Riga Chess Club and won their second club championship in 1923.1 In 1924 Matisons earned the first Latvian master title by winning the inaugural Latvian championship, scoring +10-0=3 ahead of both Fricis Apsenieks and Karl Behting. 3 He had proven himself to be the strongest chess player in Latvia, particularly since fellow Latvian Aron Nimzowitsch had emigrated to Denmark in 1922.4 Nimzowitsch embarked on an international career which peaked with his victory at Karlsbad (1929), ahead of Capablanca, Rudolf Spielmann, Akiba Rubinstein, Max Euwe, and Efim Bogoljubov. He also beat Matisons in their individual encounter at that tournament: H K Mattison vs Nimzowitsch, 1929. On the strength of his victory at the first Latvian championship, Matisons was invited to the international chess tournament associated with the 1924 Paris Olympic games. He finished 1st, ahead of Apsenieks, Edgar Colle, Arpad Vajda, and Euwe, scoring +4-0=3.5 At the Bromley 1925 final, Matisons finished 1st, ahead of Karel Skalicka, Apsenieks, and Karel Hromadka with +2-0=1.6 Matisons posted his first weak international result at Debrecen (1925), where he could only manage a share of last place with Lajos Asztalos, behind winner Hans Kmoch, Savielly Tartakower, Paul F Johner, Ernst Gruenfeld and others.1 In February 1926 Matisons participated in an unusual "incognito" event, a match between veterans of the Riga chess club and students of the Riga University sports club. During the course of each game, neither player knew the identity of his opponent. When the blindfolds were lifted, Matisons discovered that he had conceded a draw to a teenage Vladimirs Petrovs: H K Mattison vs Vladimir Petrov, 1926. Petrovs would go on to become an international grandmaster, a worthy successor to Hermanis Matisons.7 In play Mattison excelled at the endgame and at the Prague Olympiad in 1931 he defeated both Alexander Alekhine and Akiba Rubinstein in the ending. He also composed over 60 excellent studies. He died of tuberculosis in Riga in 1932. 1 Wikipedia article: Hermanis Matisons 2 https://www.365chess.com/view_game.... 3 [ Wikipedia article: 1924. gada Latvijas %C4%8Dempion%C4%81ts %C5%A1ah%C4%81 4 Wikipedia article: Aron Nimzowitsch 5 http://www.olimpbase.org/1924x/1924... 6 Gino Di Felice, "Chess Results 1921-1930" (McFarland 2006), pp. 105-106 7 "Rigas Zinasz" February 25, 1926 p. 4 ================ English Wikipedia article: Hermanis Matisons Last updated: 2020-10-18 21:38:30

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page 1 of 5; games 1-25 of 105  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. Capablanca vs H Mattison 0-1 58 1913 Simul, 28b C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense 2. V Svensons vs H Mattison   ½-½ 54 1915 Riga Chess Club C54 Giuoco Piano 3. F Apsenieks vs H Mattison   0-1 60 1924 1st Latvian congress E11 Bogo-Indian Defense 4. M Golmayo vs H Mattison   0-1 31 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad B03 Alekhine's Defense 5. H Mattison vs K Havasi   1-0 35 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad D13 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation 6. D Reca vs H Mattison ½-½ 69 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad E11 Bogo-Indian Defense 7. H Mattison vs L Palau   1-0 39 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad C14 French, Classical 8. H Mattison vs K Sterk   ½-½ 17 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad B15 Caro-Kann 9. F Jonet vs H Mattison   0-1 36 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad E11 Bogo-Indian Defense 10. Colle vs H Mattison   ½-½ 45 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad D90 Grunfeld 11. H Mattison vs E M Holloway   1-0 59 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad C49 Four Knights 12. Hromadka vs H Mattison   0-1 60 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad C29 Vienna Gambit 13. F Apsenieks vs H Mattison   ½-½ 35 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad C48 Four Knights 14. H Mattison vs A Vajda   ½-½ 46 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad C68 Ruy Lopez, Exchange 15. H Mattison vs Euwe 0-1 50 1924 Paris Unofficial Olympiad D10 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav 16. H Mattison vs G Wright 1-0 30 1925 Bromley prel-A C14 French, Classical 17. O Mueller vs H Mattison   ½-½ 69 1925 Bromley prel-A E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights 18. H Mattison vs M Romi   1-0 29 1925 Bromley prel-A C49 Four Knights 19. K Skalicka vs H Mattison   ½-½ 43 1925 Bromley Premier-A Final E11 Bogo-Indian Defense 20. H Mattison vs Hromadka   1-0 35 1925 Bromley Premier-A Final D14 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation 21. F Apsenieks vs H Mattison   0-1 31 1925 Bromley Premier-A Final C55 Two Knights Defense 22. P Johner vs H Mattison 0-1 35 1925 Debrecen E11 Bogo-Indian Defense 23. H Mattison vs G Nagy 0-1 23 1925 Debrecen C15 French, Winawer 24. L Prokes vs H Mattison   1-0 64 1925 Debrecen B10 Caro-Kann 25. H Mattison vs J A Seitz   1-0 56 1925 Debrecen B28 Sicilian, O'Kelly Variation  page 1 of 5; games 1-25 of 105

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< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing> Oct-12-05    Gypsy: Chessmetrics Player Profile: Hermanis Matisons (*1894, +1932). Highest Rating: 2631, September 1929 rating list, #12 in world, age 34y9m. Best Individual Performance: 2669 in Prague ol (Men), 1931. I find Mattison's play tenacious -- no umbrela theory to yield profound game concepts, but lots of natural tallent to find good moves. It seems that Mattison was capable of beating just about anybody: M-Rubinstein +1 -1; M-Alekhine +1; M-Tartakover +2 -1; M-Maroczy +1, M-Saemish +1, M-Gruenfend +1 =1, M-Colle +1. This and drawing reccords with Bogolubov, Vidmar, Spielmann, are then offset by losing records in M-Capablanca -1, M-Euwe -2 =1, and M-Nimzowich -1. Though Mattison did not realy distinguish himself from yourneymen IM/GMs (he had a losing score against Sultan Khan, K. Treybal, Prokes, Becker, Kmoch, Carls, Canal, Gilg), quite impressive overall reccord for the amateur WC! Dec-02-05    Eatman: Sadly he lived in poverty (as many chess pros tended and still tend to do) and died from TB (no penicillin had been found yet). Jul-09-07    sanyas: He lost two brilliancies in the same tournament! Very lucky... or not. Aug-26-08    whiteshark: Hermann Mattison (in Latvian Hermanis Mattisons) lived but a short life - he died of consumption when he was only 37 years old - but he has written his name into chess history both as practical player and as a study composer. During the best years of his chess career, following the turmoil of WWI and upto his death in 1932, he was Latvia's leading player. Even internationally he gained a considerable reputation on account of his results in individual and team tournaments. These included - Paris 1924, first in the world amateur championship; - Bad Bartfeld 1926, first equal with Tartakower in a field of 13; - The Hague 1928, third in the world amateur championship, behind Euwe and Przepiorka; - Carlsbad 1929, tenth equal with canal, ahead of Colle, Maroczy and tartakower in a strong field of 22; - Prague Olympiad 1931; seven points out of 14 on Latvia's top board, with wins against Alekhin, Rubinstein and Vidmar. Mattison made his debut as study composer in 1911, and over the years he produced some 60 studies. Oct-13-09    whiteshark: Photo: http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/... source: http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/... (--> 4078. ‘Thornton castling trap’) Dec-28-09    BIDMONFA: Hermanis Karlovich Mattison MATTISON, Hermanis http://www.bidmonfa.com/mattison_he... _ Dec-28-09    capanegra: Happy birthday Mr. Mattison, creator of some very nice studies. The following (not my favourite, but the only one I have now disposable) was composed in 1921. White to play and win. click for larger view Dec-29-09    capanegra: SOLUTION: It starts with a Knight crusade: 1.Nf4+ (1.Be4? Ke5) Ke4 (the ♔ must permanently guard the e4 square) 2.Ng6+ Kd5 3.Ne7+ Ke5 4.Nc6+ Kd5 5.Nxb4+ (first phase which is to eliminate the b4 ♙ is completed) Ke5 6.Nc6+ Kd5 7.Ne7+ Ke5 8.Ng6+ Kd5 9.Ba6! Kc6 10.Be2! h1=Q 11.Bf3+ Qxf3 12.Ne5+ Kd5 13.Nxf3 Ke4 14.Kd2 Kxf3 15.Kd3 and wins. Feb-09-10    offramp: <sanyas: He lost two brilliancies in the same tournament! Very lucky... or not.> Try saying Mattison without saying Mmmm... Feb-11-10    capanegra: Another beautiful study by Mattison, from "Latvia Sport" 1924. I like this especially because at first glance looks like White is totally lost. The solution is rather straight forward, though of course there is a key move. White to play and draw. click for larger view Jul-05-10    GrahamClayton: A biography, games and studies can be found at: http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kibit... Dec-28-12    Kikoman: Rest In Peace Sir Hermanis Karlovich Mattison. Dec-28-12    gars: To win endgames from Alekhine and Rubinstein is far from trivial! Mattison earns our praise with flying colours! Mar-07-14    offramp: I have tried saying Mattisons without saying Mmmm but I have so far been unsuccessful. Sep-23-14    Amarande: Another victim of 1932 ... Terrible, terrible year for chess genius. Sep-23-14    MissScarlett: Was it? You need to give us some more. Sep-23-14    whiteshark: such as Daniel Noteboom and Edgar Colle Sep-23-14    Fusilli: <capanegra> never provided the solution to that endgame problem. I looked at it for a little bit and didn't figure it out. Laziness, had I probed one more move or one more minute... ;) So, I asked Stockfish. click for larger view 1.Kd5 Kd7 2.a4 a5 3.Kc4 Kc6 4.Nc7!! (I missed this) Kxc7 5.Kb5 Bb6 6.Ka6 and black has to chose between letting the a-pawn go or stalemating white with 6...Kc6. What a beauty. Jan-01-16    john barleycorn: One of Mattison's finest. white to move. draw click for larger view the idea to draw for white is not obvious at all Dec-28-16    TheFocus: Happy birthday, Hermanis Mattison. Apr-21-18    Sally Simpson: The game Mattison (or Mattisons) won a few days before his 19th birthday against Capablanca in a simultaneous display at Riga in 1913 is not here. Hooper & Brandreth confirm Capa gave two simuls in Riga December 1913 (see 'Unknown Capablanca'.) 25th December W.21 L.1 D.6. 26th December W 18 L.1 D4 Tim Harding supplied further details and the full score of the game in the 'The Best of ChessCafe.com 1996-2001' (page 210) And the game was posted in full here in 2014. Capablanca vs H K Mattison, 1929 (kibitz #26) Harding uses 'Mattisons' claiming it is correct way to spell the name adding all Latvian masculine names end in 'S'. Aug-22-18    jessicafischerqueen: <Sally Simpson> <Harding uses <<<'Mattisons'>>> claiming it is correct way to spell the name adding all Latvian masculine names end in 'S'.> No. Harding uses the correct form 'Matisons' as you can see from his actual text: <The Kibitzer by Tim Harding "He could have been a contender..." I VISITED RIGA, home town of Mikhail Tal, in September for the annual Congress of ICCF, the International Correspondence Chess Federation. While I was there I learned a lot about some of the great Latvian players who helped to build up the tradition from which Tal benefitted. I was especially pleased to receive as a present the handsome little book "Pari Savam Laikmetam" (by V. Kirilovs, published by Sahs of Riga in 1994). This deals with the tragically short career of <<<Hermanis K. Matisons,>>> the first FIDE Champion who died of tuberculosis in 1932, shortly before his 38th birthday.> Aug-22-18    Sally Simpson: Just the one 't' Matisons and not Mattisons. OK. Nov-02-18    Jean Defuse: ... An outstanding research on Mattison: <Hermanis Matisons, a great Latvian master> https://www.chess.com/blog/introubl... <Two instructive twin endgame studies by Matisons> https://www.chess.com/blog/introubl... ... Dec-14-18    Jean Defuse: ... . <'Chess is a small but independent republic.'> Hermanis Matisons ... [Event "Casual Game"] [Site "Riga Chess Club"] [Date "1913.11.16"] [White "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Black "Matisons, Hermanis"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Be7 5. Nc3 d6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Nde2 O-O 9. Ng3 Re8 10. Re1 Bf8 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. Qh5 g6 15. Qd1 Bg7 16. c3 Ne5 17. Bxd7 Nxd7 18. f4 c6 19. Ne3 Nc5 20. Nc4 d5 21. exd5 Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 cxd5 23. Ne5 Qb6 24. Qf2 Re8 25. Nf3 Qb5 26. Re1 Nd3 27. Rxe8+ Qxe8 28. Qd2 Qb5 29. b4 Qb6+ 30. Kf1 Qb5 31. Ne2 a5 32. bxa5 Qb1+ 33. Ne1 Nxe1 34. Qxe1 Qxa2 35. Nd4 Bxd4 36. cxd4 Qc4+ 37. Kf2 Qxd4+ 38. Qe3 Qb2+ 39. Kg3 d4 40. Qe8+ Kg7 41. Qe5+ Kh7 42. f5 Qb3+ 43. Kg4 Qd1+ 44. Kh4 Qh5+ 45. Kg3 d3 46. Qd5 Qxf5 47. Qxf5 gxf5 48. Kf2 f4 49. Ke1 Kg6 50. Kd2 Kf5 51. Kxd3 Kg4 52. Kc4 h5 53. Kb5 h4 54. Kb6 h3 55. gxh3+ Kxh3 56. Kxb7 f3 57. a6 f2 58. a7 f1=Q 0-1 ... search thread:    < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>

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