chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing

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

Number of games in database: 1,701
Years covered: 1984 to 2023
Last FIDE rating: 2597 (2481 rapid, 2543 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2640
Overall record: +686 -406 =523 (58.7%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 86 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 King's Indian (92) 
    E94 E98 E99 E91 E77
 Queen's Pawn Game (87) 
    E10 D02 E00 A41 A46
 Catalan (77) 
    E06 E04 E01 E09 E08
 Slav (71) 
    D10 D12 D11 D18 D15
 Queen's Indian (67) 
    E12 E17 E15 E16 E18
 Grunfeld (65) 
    D97 D85 D94 D98 D90
With the Black pieces:
 Sicilian (374) 
    B67 B22 B57 B56 B52
 King's Indian (224) 
    E94 E92 E60 E77 E61
 Sicilian Richter-Rauser (132) 
    B67 B62 B63 B60 B61
 Grunfeld (60) 
    D78 D85 D76 D79 D73
 English (45) 
    A15 A16 A10 A12
 Queen's Pawn Game (31) 
    A45 A40 D02 A46 A41
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 M 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
   Shirov vs Z Kozul, 2007 0-1

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

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   Zagreb Zonal (1993)
   Yugoslav Championship (1990)
   European Championship (2006)
   Yugoslav Championship (1989)
   Velden Open (1994)
   Sarajevo (1988)
   Karpos Open (2015)
   European Junior Championship 1984/85 (1984)
   Novi Sad Olympiad (1990)
   Yugoslav Championship 1992 (1991)
   Tromso Olympiad (2014)
   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

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 FIDE World Cup
   V Sanal vs Z Kozul (Aug-01-23) 1-0, rapid
   Z Kozul vs V Sanal (Aug-01-23) 1-0, rapid
   V Sanal vs Z Kozul (Aug-01-23) 1-0, blitz
   Z Kozul vs V Sanal (Aug-01-23) 1-0, rapid
   V Sanal vs Z Kozul (Aug-01-23) 1-0, rapid

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


ZDENKO KOZUL
(born May-21-1966, 57 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 op-A (2012) and the Karpos Open 2013 in Macedonia. Croatian Champion in 2015. Kozul is also a FIDE Trainer (2005).

Wikipedia article: Zdenko Kožul; photo: http://www.bidmonfa.com/kozul_zdenk...

Last updated: 2022-12-26 12:30:55

 page 1 of 69; games 1-25 of 1,701  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. J Gallagher vs Z Kozul  1-0401984Oakham Young MastersB76 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack
2. Z Kozul vs S Conquest  0-1371984Oakham Young MastersD02 Queen's Pawn Game
3. S Lalic vs Z Kozul  0-1391984Oakham Young MastersB22 Sicilian, Alapin
4. Z Kozul vs B Ostenstad  1-0321984Oakham Young MastersD00 Queen's Pawn Game
5. J Howell vs Z Kozul  0-1471984Oakham Young MastersB67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 8...Bd7
6. Z Kozul vs Short 0-1291984Oakham Young MastersA45 Queen's Pawn Game
7. C R Dawson vs Z Kozul  0-1261984Oakham Young MastersE75 King's Indian, Averbakh, Main line
8. Z Kozul vs C D'Amore  0-1541984Oakham Young MastersD02 Queen's Pawn Game
9. Z Kozul vs G Crawley  1-0201984Oakham Young MastersD02 Queen's Pawn Game
10. Z Kozul vs G Moser  1-0411984European Junior Championship 1984/85D00 Queen's Pawn Game
11. Z Kozul vs C Horvath  0-1431984European Junior Championship 1984/85A70 Benoni, Classical with 7.Nf3
12. F Pereira vs Z Kozul  0-1291984European Junior Championship 1984/85E88 King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 7.d5 c6
13. Z Kozul vs J Bogaerts  1-0271984European Junior Championship 1984/85A41 Queen's Pawn Game (with ...d6)
14. J Howell vs Z Kozul  ½-½641984European Junior Championship 1984/85B22 Sicilian, Alapin
15. K Thorsteins vs Z Kozul  1-0401984European Junior Championship 1984/85E86 King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 7.Nge2 c6
16. Z Kozul vs N Dobrev  1-0621984European Junior Championship 1984/85D02 Queen's Pawn Game
17. Z Kozul vs G Rechlis  1-0431984European Junior Championship 1984/85A70 Benoni, Classical with 7.Nf3
18. A Romero Holmes vs Z Kozul  1-0411984European Junior Championship 1984/85B67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 8...Bd7
19. Oll vs Z Kozul 1-0331984European Junior Championship 1984/85E80 King's Indian, Samisch Variation
20. Z Kozul vs Blatny  1-0721984European Junior Championship 1984/85D02 Queen's Pawn Game
21. Z Kozul vs J de Wit  1-0381985European Junior Championship 1984/85A48 King's Indian
22. F Hellers vs Z Kozul  ½-½531985European Junior Championship 1984/85B67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 8...Bd7
23. D Barlov vs Z Kozul  ½-½411985Yugoslav ChampionshipA15 English
24. Z Kozul vs Z Nikolic  0-1581985Yugoslav ChampionshipD02 Queen's Pawn Game
25. B Filipovic vs Z Kozul  0-1561985Yugoslav ChampionshipB31 Sicilian, Rossolimo Variation
 page 1 of 69; games 1-25 of 1,701  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 5 OF 5 ·  Later Kibitzing>
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
May-21-12  lost in space: .. and what has this strange picture to do with GM Kozul? Looks like a bowling alley?!
Mar-19-13  waustad: Here is a decent pic from an article where he won (on tie breaks) a tournament in Skopje: http://de.chessbase.com/portals/3/f...
Apr-17-13  waustad: Coming in equal last in the Croatian Championship this year was not a good result for the highest rated player: http://www.365chess.com/tournaments...
May-21-13  brankat: Happy Birthday Zdenko!
Sep-23-13  waustad: After winning the Austrian Bundesliga 2 Mitte last year, his team SV Wolfsberg will be in the main Bundesliga. First board this year will be more of a challenge, since he'll be facing a lot more higher rated players. He is 15th highest rated this year, compared to 2nd last year.
Nov-12-14  waustad: Congratulations on winning the Durres Open 2014. http://chess-results.com/tnr150333....
Nov-21-14  waustad: SV Wolfsberg won its first round match 4-2 but lost the second 2-4 in the Austrian Bundesliga 1. For the first two rounds they used 5 Croatian players along with Erich Steflitsch. There are two more rounds this weekend and perhaps we'll see Eva Moser on board 4, which would bring up the overall elo slightly. Sparkasse Jenbach seems to be the team to beat here and Schachclub MPĂ– Maria Saal has been the most disappointing so far.

http://chess-results.com/tnr134964....

Dec-20-14  waustad: There is a line in the Sicilian Richter-Rauser called the Kozul variation. He's even written a book on it: http://shop.chess.co.uk/The-Richter...
Jun-01-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Congrats to 3rd Zdenko Kozul (2620) for still remaining perfect at the Bosna Open. He cruisied through the first 4 rounds with ease, and in R5, will face the other perfect player - 5th GM Hrvoje Stevic (2596).
Jun-05-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: And the 3rd seed would win the Bosna Open with 7/9 (+5,-0,=4). He won his first 4 games, then drew the next 4, and beat 12th seed Miodrag Savic with black in the final round to secure it.

Kozul would actually finish in a 5-way tie for 1st, but edged out compatriot Stevic (50.5-50) 6th seed Mladen Palac (2561), 15th seed Dusan Popovic (2492) and 4th seed Predrag Nikolic (2618) on tiebreaks.

For his 2666 TPR, he gained a modest 8.1 points to move from 2620 to 2633.1 (rated 2625 on the June list), just 7 points behind Croatian #1, Ivan Saric.

May-14-16  waustad: A week from today he'll be eligible to play in the younger versions of senior tournaments. Since he is still quite active, it will be interesting to see if he starts playing in these.
May-21-16  waustad: The software that chooses POTD really should put a preference for players with landmark birthdays. Happy 50th birthday to a former European Champion!
May-21-16  siggemannen: Happy Birthday! The best game for me is the game against Rublevsky a few years ago, where he sacked the house to win
Apr-06-18  waustad: He is now playing a match with Nikola Dukic. They've split the first two games. I suspect that there has been a transliteration problem, but I only see him as a Serbian unrated player: http://ratings.fide.com/card.phtml?... Is he related to Sandra Djukic
Apr-07-18  nummerzwei: This looks more like it:

https://ratings.fide.com/card.phtml...

May-21-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Jimmy720: An opening pioneer
Dec-10-21  SkySports: Croatian Champion 2021!

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-t...

Dec-12-21  Albertan: Kozul wins 2021 Croatian Chess Championship:

https://www.fide.com/news/1475

Apr-08-22  Deceptor: Kozul still going strong at age 56 -- he just qualified for the next World Cup with a solid 19th place (7.5/11) showing at the EICC in Slovenia. Also, it seems like he's had the same 2620 ELO for last 25 years. A remarkably consistent player.
Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 5)
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 5 OF 5 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific player only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

Spot an error? Please suggest your correction and help us eliminate database mistakes!
Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2023, Chessgames Services LLC