Heberla is winner of the traditional International Chess Torunament at <Banja Luka> in 2008 (9th edition), ahead of V. Korchnoi (runner-up and previous winner in 2007, after the tournament faced a 20-years break), S. Volkov (Russian Champion 2000), N.G. Gopal from India, Z. Ilincic, and M. Vukic (winner of the inaugural edition of Banja Luka in 1974):

< Albo d' Oro Banja Luka:
# 1974 Vukic
# 1976 Hort
# 1979 Kasparov
# 1981 Tseshkovsky
# 1983 Hulak, Adorjan, Speelman
# 1985 Chiburdanidze
# 1987 Ekström, Hulak
# 2007 Korchnoi, Ilincic
# 2008 Heberla >
(if shared wins, first on tie-break is mentioned first)

This major recurring, but in unregular intervals played international tournament is most famous for <Garry (Garik) Kasparov's> clear first as a non-titled player, aged 16 (and celebrating his birthday during that event!) in 1979.

Then <Maia Chiburdanidze's> win ahead of bunch of male grandmasters: she was surpassing eight male grandmasters and reminded within 13 rounds (round robin) unbeaten, winning among others against the two Brits Short and Plaskett.

And finally - it's never too late, <Viktor Korchnoi's> success, like Garry and Maia, he took Banja Luka at his very first participation (he already was invited in 1979 but could not particpate because of the soviet tournament boycott against him), 76 years young :)

Lessons learned: it doesn't depend whether your are entering at age 16 or age 76 an international tournament, as long as you <believe in good moves> :))) with credits to Bobby

A portrait of the city:
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banja_..., for <a survey of all winners> at Banja Luka from <Vukic> to <Heberla>, click on this polish page above: Banja Luka (turniej szachowy)

*****

Victory!