Teodor Regedziński

Teodor (Theodor, Theodore) Regedziński (Regedzinski, Reger) (28 April 1894 – 2 August 1954) a Polish chess master.

Biography

Born Polish (near Lodz), Teodor Regedziński was of German origin as his father, named Reger. He had lived in Lodz since 1908 enrolling in the Lodz Association of Devotees of the Game of Chess. In 1912, he took 2nd, behind Gersz Salwe, in an unofficial city championship. During World War I he was temporarily detained by the Austrians but was released in 1916. In 1917 he took 3rd in the club championship. However already in 1918 and 1919 he won, in the absence of Rubinstein though.

He participated in all four pre-war editions of exceptionally tough Polish Chess Championship. In 1926, he tied for 3rd-7th, behind Dawid Przepiórka, and Paulin Frydman, at Warsaw (1st POL–ch). In 1927, he took 4th, behind Rubinstein, Ksawery Tartakower, and Kazimierz Makarczyk, at Lodz (2nd POL–ch). In 1927, he won at Kecskemét. In 1930, Regedzinski lost a match against Makarczyk (+2 –3 =3) at Łódź. In 1930, he tied for 2nd-3rd, with Jakub Kolski, behind Izaak Appel, at Lodz. In 1930, he took 8th at Štubnianské Teplice. The event was won by Andor Lilienthal, but Regedzinski beat him in their individual game. In 1933, he won at a Polish pre-Olympic tournament. In 1935, he tied for 8th-9th at Łódź. In 1935, he tied for 10th-11th in the 3rd Polish Championship at Warsaw. In 1937, he tied for 7th-8th in the 4th Polish Championship, which was an open tournament, at Jurata. The event was won by Tartakower, ahead of Gideon Stahlberg, and Mieczysław Najdorf. In 1938, he took 13th at Lodz. In 1939, he won a Pomeranian championship.

Regedziński was a member of Polish team at four Chess Olympiads (1928, 1933, 1937, 1939) and at 3rd unofficial Chess Olympiad at Munich 1936. At the 2nd Chess Olympiad in The Hague 1928, he scored 10/13 (+8 –1 =4) receiving third prize for best individual result (no board order was known those days). In 1933, he played at third board (+2 –1 =4) at 5th Olympiad in Folkestone. At the unofficial Olympiad in Munich 1936, where Polish team took silver medal, he played at third board (+9 –2 =7). In 1937, he reached his all-time peak scoring marvellous 11/13 (+10 –1 =2) to win second prize for best result at reserve board and third best overall result at the 7th Olympiad in Stockholm. In 1939, he played at fourth board winning individual bronze medal (+6 –3 =4) at the 8th Olympiad in Buenos Aires. Summary, he won six Olympic medals (three individual – one silver, two bronze, and three team medals – one silver in 1939, two bronze in 1928 and 1937). [ [http://www.olimpbase.org/ OlimpBase :: the encyclopaedia of team chess ] ]

During the World War II, he had played - as Theodore Reger - in a number of chess tournaments, including the 7th German Chess Championship at Bad Oeynhausen 1940, where he finished 10th. In October 1941 he took 6th at the 2nd General Government chess tournament in Krakow/Warsaw (Alexander Alekhine and Paul Felix Schmidt won). Because of his linguistic skills (he spoke Polish, German, Russian, English and French), he was appointed by the German Army as an interpreter.

After the end of the WWII he came back to Lodz, and was arrested by the newly appointed communist authorities and sentenced for collaboration with the fascist regime to serve four years in a labour camp. Years spent in prison broke his health and his life. In late 1940s he came back to become active chess player once again, notwithstanding with the fact the he devoted most of his time spent on chess for work as a chess activist. In 1952 he managed to win the championship of Lodz once again and took 5th in the 10th Polish Championship at Katowice.

Notable chess games

* [http://www.chesslive.de/scripts/server.dll?setplayer?white&Regedzinski,Teodor Teodor Regedziński vs Akiba Rubinstein, Łódź 1917, Ruy Lopez, Open, Tarrasch Defense, C80, 1-0]
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1280159 Teodor Regedziński vs Samuel Factor (USA), The Hague 1928, 2nd Olympiad, English Opening, A13, 1-0]
* [http://www.chesslive.de/scripts/server.dll?setplayer?white&Regedzinski,Teodor Teodor Regedziński vs Andor Lilienthal, Štubnianske Teplice 1930, English, Symmetrical, Double Fianchetto, A30, 1-0]
* [http://www.chesslive.de/scripts/server.dll?setplayer?white&Regedzinski,Teodor Teodor Regedziński vs Emil Zinner (CSR), Munich (ol) 1936, Queen’s Gambit Accepted, Classical Main Line, D28, 1-0]
* [http://www.olimpbase.org/1937/1937in.html Teodor Regedziński vs Inge Jonsson (SWE), Stockholm 1937, 7th Olympiad, Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defense, D17, 1-0] Unique surge of White pawns attacking Black Kingside.
* [http://www.chesslive.de/scripts/server.dll?setplayer?white&Regedzinski,Teodor Teodor Regedziński vs Isaias Pleci (ARG), Buenos Aires 1939, 8th Olympiad, Queen’s Gambit Declined, Exchange Variation, D36, 1-0]
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1273091 Teodor Regedziński vs Josef Lokvenc, Krakow/Warsaw 1941, 2nd GG–ch, Caro-Kann, Panov Attack, B14, 1-0]

References