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Zdenko Kozul
Z Kozul 
Photo credit: www.chessdom.com  

Number of games in database: 1,989
Years covered: 1981 to 2025
Last FIDE rating: 2506 (2484 rapid, 2526 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2640
Overall record: +822 -449 =621 (59.9%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 97 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Queen's Pawn Game (108) 
    E10 E00 D02 A41 A46
 King's Indian (102) 
    E94 E98 E99 E91 E71
 Catalan (97) 
    E04 E06 E01 E09 E08
 Slav (85) 
    D10 D12 D11 D15 D18
 Queen's Indian (75) 
    E12 E17 E15 E16 E14
 Grunfeld (73) 
    D97 D85 D90 D94 D99
With the Black pieces:
 Sicilian (445) 
    B67 B22 B57 B56 B52
 King's Indian (260) 
    E94 E92 E60 E77 E90
 Sicilian Richter-Rauser (153) 
    B67 B63 B62 B61 B60
 Grunfeld (64) 
    D78 D76 D85 D79 D73
 English (50) 
    A15 A16 A10 A12
 Queen's Pawn Game (39) 
    A45 A40 D02 A41 A46
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Z Kozul vs Rublevsky, 2004 1-0
   Benjamin vs Z Kozul, 1997 0-1
   A Jadrijevic vs Z Kozul, 2011 0-1
   Z Kozul vs A Berescu, 2006 1-0
   A Soltis vs Z Kozul, 1989 0-1
   V Kovacevic vs Z Kozul, 1993 0-1
   D Krajina vs Z Kozul, 1989 0-1
   Z Kozul vs G Barbero, 1990 1-0
   Rublevsky vs Z Kozul, 2004 0-1
   O Jovanic vs Z Kozul, 2011 0-1

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: [what is this?]
   FIDE World Championship Knockout Tournament (2004)

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   Yugoslav Championship (1989)
   Zagreb Zonal (1993)
   Ljubljana Open (1993)
   European Championship (2006)
   Krunoslav Hulak Memorial (2016)
   Yugoslav Championship (1990)
   Croatian Championship (2006)
   Novi Sad Olympiad (1990)
   Sarajevo (1988)
   European Junior Championship 1984/85 (1984)
   Yugoslav Championship 1992 (1991)
   Yugoslav Championship (1985)
   Calvia Olympiad (2004)
   Biel Interzonal (1993)
   European Championship (2003)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   Kozul plays Suicide Variation by Deceptor
   SMITH-MORRA GAMBIT DECLINED GTM by gambitfan
   8. Sicilian 2.c3 by Xmas elf

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 Austrian Bundesliga
   Z Kozul vs A Brkic (Apr-03-25) 1/2-1/2
   Z Kozul vs M Voigt (Mar-23-25) 1/2-1/2
   J Reuker vs Z Kozul (Mar-22-25) 0-1
   Z Kozul vs Bologan (Feb-02-25) 1/2-1/2
   J Roseneck vs Z Kozul (Feb-01-25) 0-1

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Zdenko Kozul
Search Google for Zdenko Kozul
FIDE player card for Zdenko Kozul

ZDENKO KOZUL
(born May-21-1966, 58 years old) Croatia

[what is this?]

Zdenko Kozul was born in Bihac, (now part of Bosnia) in former Yugoslavia. He became an International Master in 1986 and a Grandmaster in 1989. In 1989 and 1990 he won the Yugoslav Championship.

Kozul has lived in Croatia since 1993 and led the Croatian team on five Olympiads. Kozul also played on the Sarajevo Bosnia team that won European Clubs Cup in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

Other tournament achievements include equal first at the Sibenik Open in 1988, and winning the European Championship (2006) in Kusadasi, the Open 'Mediterranean 2017' Rijeka (CRO) 2009, the Zagreb Open-A (2012) and the Karpos Open 2013 in Macedonia. Croatian Champion in 2015.

Wikipedia article: Zdenko Kožul

Last updated: 2024-02-14 15:56:25

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 80; games 1-25 of 1,990  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. S Zakic vs Z Kozul  1-0491981Yugoslav First LeagueB08 Pirc, Classical
2. Z Kozul vs E Grivas  1-0451982Paris opD03 Torre Attack (Tartakower Variation)
3. Z Kozul vs Z Z Jovanovic  ½-½131982Yugoslav First LeagueA04 Reti Opening
4. M Franic vs Z Kozul  1-0411983Yugoslav Semifinal WestE94 King's Indian, Orthodox
5. D Radocaj vs Z Kozul  0-1281983Yugoslav First LeagueE96 King's Indian, Orthodox, 7...Nbd7, Main line
6. Z Kozul vs I Curik  1-0221983Yugoslav First LeagueA46 Queen's Pawn Game
7. V S Stevanovic vs Z Kozul  0-1331983Yugoslav First LeagueE88 King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 7.d5 c6
8. Z Kozul vs V M Stevanovic  ½-½941983Yugoslav First LeagueE06 Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3
9. G Terzic vs Z Kozul  1-0261983Yugoslav First LeagueB22 Sicilian, Alapin
10. D Jokovic vs Z Kozul  0-1411983Yugoslav First LeagueE80 King's Indian, Samisch Variation
11. Z Kozul vs G Nikolic  1-0371983Yugoslav First LeagueE11 Bogo-Indian Defense
12. D Milanovic vs Z Kozul  0-1401983Yugoslav First LeagueB50 Sicilian
13. Z Kozul vs E Burnazovic  ½-½81983Yugoslav First LeagueA48 King's Indian
14. J Gallagher vs Z Kozul  1-0401984Oakham Young MastersB76 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack
15. Z Kozul vs S Conquest  0-1371984Oakham Young MastersD02 Queen's Pawn Game
16. S Lalic vs Z Kozul  0-1391984Oakham Young MastersB22 Sicilian, Alapin
17. Z Kozul vs B Ostenstad  1-0321984Oakham Young MastersD00 Queen's Pawn Game
18. J Howell vs Z Kozul  0-1471984Oakham Young MastersB67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 8...Bd7
19. Z Kozul vs Short 0-1291984Oakham Young MastersA45 Queen's Pawn Game
20. C R Dawson vs Z Kozul  0-1261984Oakham Young MastersE75 King's Indian, Averbakh, Main line
21. Z Kozul vs C D'Amore  0-1541984Oakham Young MastersD02 Queen's Pawn Game
22. Z Kozul vs G Crawley  1-0201984Oakham Young MastersD02 Queen's Pawn Game
23. Z Kozul vs G Moser  1-0411984European Junior Championship 1984/85D00 Queen's Pawn Game
24. Z Kozul vs C Horvath  0-1431984European Junior Championship 1984/85A70 Benoni, Classical with 7.Nf3
25. F Pereira vs Z Kozul  0-1291984European Junior Championship 1984/85E88 King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 7.d5 c6
 page 1 of 80; games 1-25 of 1,990  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Kozul wins | Kozul loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 4 OF 5 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Apr-16-06  samikd: I am too materialistic to beleive that against proper Black play, Kozul would get away with sacrificing a whole Rook
Apr-16-06  stanleys: Congratulations from me too.Well-deserved victory for GM Kozul.
Apr-17-06  jperr75108: Congradulations to Grandmaster Zdenko Kozul. (although I was rooting for Ivanchuk)
Apr-17-06  Mameluk: Congratulations to famous war veteran for this completely unexpected victory. Can´t wait for Topalov-Kozul match next year.
Apr-17-06  Prugno: There are two noteworthy things about the new European champion which I want to mention: 1) Relatively low percentage of draws, most of them hard-fought anyway. 2) Narrow opening repertoire, in which he is however a great expert, constantly enriching the same lines with new ideas and refinements (just check the New in Chess Yearbooks to see what I mean). Both these factors point to a non-routine player who really enjoys chess. His incostancy is probably due to insufficient practice in top events more than anything else, but on a good day he can beat more or less anyone, as he just showed in the Eurochamp.
Apr-17-06  Bobak Zahmat: Check his round 7 game against Ivanchuk, Z Kozul vs Ivanchuk, 2006, really amazing how he turns the game into a draw when his Knight is out of play for half of the game.
Apr-17-06  MeatGrinder: <Mameluk: Congratulations to famous war veteran for this completely unexpected victory. Can´t wait for Topalov-Kozul match next year.>

They already played a mini match in Lybia - search "Topalov Kozul"

Apr-17-06  Ivan23: Of course, it's going to be a Kramnik-Kozul match next year :)
Apr-17-06  Bobak Zahmat: Or Topalov - Kozul :)
Apr-18-06  EmperorAtahualpa: An article in Dutch about Zdenko Kozul by GM Hans Ree:

"ZDENKO KOZUL ALS ZELFMOORDVARIANT

Door Hans Ree

,,Iedere opening is speelbaar als zijn reputatie maar slecht genoeg is,'' schreef de grote schaakgeleerde Savielly Tartakower (1887-1956). Tartakower formuleerde zijn inzichten graag als paradoxen en nam het daarmee voor lief dat ze minder ernstig werden genomen dan ze verdienden.

Bent Larsen was een verwante geest en werd in de jaren zestig van de vorige eeuw 'de beste van het Westen' (tot Bobby Fischer hem verdrong) en 'de wereldkampioen van het toernooischaak' door openingen te spelen die zo'n slechte reputatie hadden dat niemand zich er serieus in had verdiept.

Het kampioenschap van Europa in de Turkse badstad Kusadasi werd eind vorige week gewonnen door de Kroaat Zdenko Kozul. De favoriet Vasili Ivantsjoek werd tweede en daarna volgde een grote groep die de derde plaats deelde. Onder hen was de Bosnische Nederlander Predrag Nikolic.

Kozul was in rating slechts de 17de van de deelnemers en zijn overwinning was dus een grote verrassing, die hij dankte aan een openingsvariant met een slechte reputatie.

Kort geleden verscheen het zeer lezenswaardige boek The Classical Sicilian van de Amerikaanse grootmeester Alex Yermolinsky. Het gaat over de varianten na 1. e4 c5 2. Pf3 Pc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Pxd4 Pf6 5. Pc3 d6. Een van die varianten noemt Yermolinsky 'The Kozul Suicide Variation'.

Kozul kreeg in Kusadasi die variant met zwart drie keer op het bord en hij won alle drie de partijen. Zonder zijn zelfmoordvariant was hij geen kampioen van Europa geworden.

Nieuws verspreidt zich tegenwoordig snel in de schaakwereld. De komende maanden zullen veel schakers, geïnspireerd door het succes van Kozul, zijn zelfmoordvariant op hun repertoire nemen en misschien is er nu al iemand bezig met een boek dat straks Winning with Kozul's Suicide Variation zal heten. Als dat boek verschijnt is de aardigheid er af en zal Kozul een nieuwe zelfmoordvariant moeten bedenken."

Source: http://www.nrc.nl/rubrieken/schaken... (registration required)

(the link also contains Hans Ree's analysis of Kozul's game against Sergey Erenburg.)

Apr-22-06  Ivan23: Chessbase interview with Kozul
http://www.fritzserver.biz/European...
Apr-28-06  alexandrovm: Kozul is a strong chess player, I hope to see more games of him at the top level...
May-25-06  Bobak Zahmat: <EA> This is a great article!
May-25-06  Cro: Quite a bad start for a new European champ in the Olympiad going 0.5/2 against lower rated opposition. Kozul has Black against Navara today, could be an interesting game.
May-21-08  brankat: Happy Birthday Zdenko!
May-21-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Stonehenge: Sretan ti rodjendan :)
May-21-09  WhiteRook48: Happy birthday!
Dec-05-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: He won today the Open 'Mediterranean 2017' Rijeka (Croatia) 2009:

http://www.chess-results.com/tnr236..., congratulations!

Mar-04-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: The Zagreb Open (Croatia) ended today, with Kozul in 4th place:

http://www.chess-results.com/tnr305...

May-21-10  wordfunph: Sretan ti rodjendan :)
Dec-29-10  nummerzwei: From Krajina-Kozul, Vinkovci 1989


click for larger view

Here, Kozul's opponent played 12.0-0-0!. At first glance, it now seems as if black, undeveloped as he is, could win an exchange with 12...Bg4, and perhaps Kozul had even intended this from afar. However, after 13.hxBg4 hxg4 White has an immediate win in


click for larger view

14.Qxd5!!

- 14...RxRh1 15.Qxc6+
- 14...cxQd5 15.Bb5+
- 14...QxQd5 15.NxQd5 cxNd5(15...RxRh1 16.Nc7 mate)16.RxRh8

- 14...Qc7/c8 15.Bb5!

In the game, Black therefore contented himself with (12. 0-0-0 )e6, but after 13.Ba6 Ba3 (!!, Jacob Aagaard)


click for larger view

the game still became spectacular!

The rest of the game was: 14.bxBa3 (14.Qe2 Qa5 15.Nb5! unclear, Aagaard)...Qa5 15.g4 hxg4 16.hxg4 RxRh1 17.RxRh1 Bxg4 18.QxBg4 QxNc3 19.Bg1 (19.Qh3!, Aagaard)...Qxa3+ 20.Kd1 Qxa6 21.Rh8 0-0-0 22.Rh7 d4 23.Rxf7 Qc4 24.Rxa7 Kb8 25.Ra3 Ne7 26.Qh3 Nd5 0-1

Aagaard's notes are quoted from the preface to 'Excelling at Chess Calculation'.

Mar-14-11  Maatalkko: This guy is crazy experienced at the Classical Sicillian.
Mar-19-12  Calar: Recently he won open tournament in Zagreb:

Zagreb op-A (2012)

May-21-12  brankat: Happy Birthday GM Kozul!
May-21-12  lost in space: Happy birthday GM Kozul. Your games were my pathfinder through the Richter-Rauser system in the world-cc game vs. GM A. Nickel
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