The chess games of Ortvin Sarapu

ORTVIN SARAPU
(born Jan-22-1924, died Apr-13-1999, 75 years old) Estonia (federation/nationality New Zealand)

Ortvin Sarapu was born in Narva, Estonia. He learnt to play chess at eight and took up the game seriously a few years later in the wake of the successes of Paul Keres. By the age of eleven he was able to play four games of simultaneous blindfold chess. Later in his career he played many ten to twelve board displays of this type. In 1940 he won the Estonian Junior Championship, but his chess development was interrupted by the Second World War. In 1943 he made his way via Finland to Sweden where he was interned for the rest of the war.

During Oldenburg (1949) Sarapu met New Zealander Robert Graham Wade, which led to his emigration to New Zealand in 1950. Sarapu won or co-won the New Zealand Championship 20 times, at the time the world record for any national chess championship. He also won the Australian title in the late 1950's, and tied the Sarapu - Purdy Australasian Championship (1952) (+4 =2 -4). He played in the Olympiads 10 times.

In 1966 Sarapu won the Zone 10 Zonal tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. As a result he was awarded the IM title and a qualification spot in the Interzonal tournament at Sousse, Tunisia in 1967. For his services to chess he was awarded an MBE in 1980.

Sarapu retired from international play at the beginning of 1998. His contribution to New Zealand chess and chessplayers cannot be overstated.

Wikipedia article: Ortvin Sarapu

Last updated: 2021-07-29 05:50:38

page 1 of 29; games 1-25 of 714

Game	Result	Moves	Year	Event/Locale	Opening
1. J Rebane vs O Sarapu	1-0	9	1940	Estonian Junior Ch	A22 English
2. J Tornerup vs O Sarapu	0-1	33	1947	Esbjerg, Denmark	E34 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Noa Variation
3. O Sarapu vs H Matthai	1-0	20	1948	Hanover	B18 Caro-Kann, Classical
4. A Selezniev vs O Sarapu	0-1	57	1948	Oldenburg	A92 Dutch
5. O Sarapu vs A Rankis	1-0	65	1948	Oldenburg	C83 Ruy Lopez, Open
6. O Sarapu vs W Kuppe	1-0	52	1948	Oldenburg	B80 Sicilian, Scheveningen
7. Laudowicz vs O Sarapu	1-0	34	1948	Oldenburg	C86 Ruy Lopez, Worrall Attack
8. O Sarapu vs C Toerber	0-1	52	1948	Oldenburg	C78 Ruy Lopez
9. Doggett vs O Sarapu	0-1	38	1948	Oldenburg	E37 Nimzo-Indian, Classical
10. O Sarapu vs V Secula	1-0	25	1949	Hanover, Germany	C09 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line
11. P Tautvaisas vs O Sarapu	1-0	64	1949	Oldenburg	C48 Four Knights
12. O Sarapu vs L Rellstab	½-½	26	1949	Oldenburg	C77 Ruy Lopez
13. Rossolimo vs O Sarapu	½-½	31	1949	Oldenburg	C56 Two Knights
14. O Sarapu vs O'Kelly	1-0	43	1949	Oldenburg	C78 Ruy Lopez
15. O Sarapu vs J Enevoldsen	1-0	18	1949	Oldenburg	C77 Ruy Lopez
16. H Heemsoth vs O Sarapu	½-½	52	1949	Oldenburg	A14 English
17. H Heinicke vs O Sarapu	1-0	56	1949	Oldenburg	E11 Bogo-Indian Defense
18. O Sarapu vs B H Wood	1-0	44	1949	Oldenburg	B20 Sicilian
19. E Walther vs O Sarapu	0-1	60	1949	Oldenburg	C92 Ruy Lopez, Closed
20. O Sarapu vs Saemisch	1-0	77	1949	Oldenburg	C75 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
21. Bogoljubov vs O Sarapu	0-1	39	1949	Oldenburg	E11 Bogo-Indian Defense
22. E Zemgalis vs O Sarapu	½-½	46	1949	Oldenburg	A15 English
23. O Sarapu vs Unzicker	½-½	52	1949	Oldenburg	C78 Ruy Lopez
24. R G Wade vs O Sarapu	1-0	25	1949	Oldenburg	C48 Four Knights
25. O Sarapu vs W Kuppe	1-0	22	1949	Oldenburg	E15 Queen's Indian


page 1 of 29; games 1-25 of 714

REFINE SEARCH: White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Sarapu wins | Sarapu loses