For history of our chess very important is 1877 which is recorded on an emblem of the Georgian Chess Federation. In September, 1877 in Tbilisi 6 chess players based a circle of fans of chess. On a condition they once a week gathered at each of them on the apartment. These data are received from the Chess Leaf magazine (1878 No. 1.)
Most likely, one of founders - Alexander Smiten, the member of Tbilisi city court, then the chairman, the highest civil rank.
The creation fact in Tbilisi of a chess amateur circle was known long ago. However the special attention to it wasn't paid as it was known nothing of its work.
Recently by us has been found materials about the tournaments and matches held in the XIX century in Tbilisi, which give the chance to assume that this circle laid the foundation of modern chess life in Tbilisi. Tournaments were held by organizing committee, according to Regulations, with use of hours and record of parties. Of course, the professional relation to business gradually evolved.
In 19 century even in the large chess centers the organization of tournaments was connected with many difficulties. It was much easier to play a match. Apparently carrying out in Tbilisi in 1878 of a match between Andria Dadiani and Alexander Smiten is connected with this circle.
In 1877 to Tbilisi there arrived to treatment at that time the strongest Moscow chess player Alexander Solovtsov. The history kept exact statistical data of chess fights between Smiten and Solovtsov. Solovtsov won 57 parties and lost 20. Only four parties ended in a draw. In some parties Solovtsov played without quality. (Smiten began parties a horse of B1, and Solovtsov with the course A8 castle). Professor of the Moscow conservatory Alexander Solovtsov showed the serious resistance to Mikhail Chigorin. Behind a chessboard they met with each other 32 times. Three parties ended in a draw, Solovtsov won in 14, and Chigorin in 15.
Alexander Solovtsov played and with Andria Dadiani also. Now records of two parties are known. Dadiani won both. The first took place in 1878 in Tbilisi, and the second in Moscow in 1885.
The second match between Andria Dadiani and Alexander Smiten carried out in 1888 on June 5-23 also should be included in an asset of a circle of fans of chess. The match ended with account 8.5 – 3.5 in favor of Dadiani. Peripheries of this match were described by Tengiz Giorgadze in the book "Andria Dadiani plays" – 1972.
The greatest merit a circle of chess fans is organization of official tournaments. Holding these tournaments became possible in view of Erdel's moving from Ukraine to Tbilisi.
The first tournament began in Tbilisi on January 14, 1892. In it 23 participants registered. In the Chess Review magazine 1892. No. 7 was noted that four strong local chess players couldn't participate in a tournament. Competitions in Tbilisi were held in club of actors. Owners of club free of charge allocated to chess players the hall and assumed costs of lighting. The payment for participation was 3 rubles. Games were held in a week three times. Each chess player had to play two games with the rival. The organization of a tournament is connected with a name of Erdel who was allocated in tournaments of Kiev and Kharkov. "The chess review" in No. 8-9 and 11 tells about this tournament. It should be noted also that interest which was shown by the audience to this tournament. Also lists of participants are specified: princes Andronikov, Ardzhevanidze, Machabeli, Chavchavadze, Cholokashvili (in the magazine it is written Cholokayev). Except them Tetradze, Alikhanov, Shutenko, Dimo, Petrov, the Nadir Beck, Edigarov, Kovac, Trees, Korochevsky, the Wolf, Petronovich, Hoshchinsky, Khlebnikov, Shimshinov, Szymanowski, Ter-Asaturov and V. A. Erdel played.
Function of the head of a tournament was executed by Ter-Asaturov, and the secretary Szymanowski. For participants of a tournament Erdel gave lecture on the theory of debuts and end-games. On a tournament were 5 prizes are founded. As expected the first place was won by Erdel. He won all parties. V. N. Dimo got the second prize. The third prize was won by Ter-Asaturov. From the Georgian chess players the best result showed Machabeli, he deserved the fourth prize. To the fifth place there was F. A. Szymanowski. After closing of a tournament the friendly dinner took place.
On June 24 the same year in Tbilisi one more tournament took place. In it played 8 chess players. There was a summer than and the small number of participants speaks. But right there it should be noted that almost all famous chess players of that time participated in a tournament. Erdel, Ter-Asaturov, Dimo and Szymanowski was added to prize-winners of the first tournament Smiten. In a tournament also Tetradze, Khlebnikov and Hoshinsky played.
Fight for the first place, as expected, was developed between Erdel and Smiten. Erdel came forward, but in view of an illness left a tournament. Naturally, all results of the parties played by it were cancelled.
After Erdel left a tournament, the competition to Smiten wasn't and it won easily first place. The second prize was won by Ter-Asaturov. On closing of a tournament was start date of the following tournament – is declared on December 8. As reports "A chess review" (1893 No. 20-21) this tournament planned for winter didn't take place. Erdel's illness was the main cause. It left for treatment to the south of France. The truth 12 fans registered, they held even the first meeting, agreed on points of Regulations. But the majority didn't come to the second meeting.
In 1893 in Tbilisi it was succeeded to organize two more tournaments. Unfortunately because of an illness Erdel didn't participate in them (in 1896 on March 20 he died.). Without it Smiten was considered as the favourite, but this time the officer N. K. Ivanov was ahead of him. Living in bad conditions it interrupted chess career soon. To us its double-thread task is known. The second place in a tournament was taken by Smiten. In information it is noted that the circle wrote out Staunton’s chess.
By this time the circle of fans of chess functions at "Artistic club". On December 1, 1893 the next tournament ended. From 14 participants N.P.Golovashkin was the best. L. I. Prigar was the second. For both winners Erdel founded prizes. The winner received a silver product and pocket chess. The second prize-winner received a cigarette case. As well as in other Tbilisi tournaments opponents played among themselves on two parties. The most extensive information we have it is information on a tournament which began in Tbilisi on January 9 and ended on February 20, 1901.
There is a table of this tournament. Among 11 participants played 2 Georgians: the prince Gruzinskii and Ardzhevanidze. Having gathered 14.5 of 20 possible Smiten won. Was one point less at Asaturov who lost both games to the winner of a tournament. With 12.5 points the third place was taken by Szymanowski, the 4th place was taken Georgian having scored 12 points. With 11 points the fifth place took a chess player with initials G. Z. Heinrich Zisserman was the lawyer, held important posts, it made very beautiful tasks. For today very solid collection of its tasks is stored in my archive. Ardzhevanidze finished a tournament with 8 points. Its surname appears among participants of a tournament of 1922. Besides in memoirs of the famous artist Mikhail Vodbolsky which concern chess life of Tbilisi of the 20th years of the XX century, it is told: "the old general Ardzhevanidze".
It should be noted that in "A chess review" of 1901 it is mentioned a tournament which took place in Tbilisi 35 years ago and in which played 4 participants. Other data on this tournament already then were lost.
At the beginning of the XX century Smiten got over to live to St. Petersburg. Allegedly it gave information to chess magazines.
Except the listed tournaments and matches there were also other actions of a circle: sessions of simultaneous game and game blindly.
The chess circle continued work till 1917.
Chess life of Tbilisi of the 20th years of the XX century was natural further work of this circle. Very important role for history of the Georgian chess was played by the Tbilisi circle of chess fans founded in 1877. Since 1877 professional chess of Georgia originates.
David Gurgenidze
The International Grandmaster on chess composition
