I mention Gedevani because there are a couple of guys at the Town Hall CC who apparently have never of him! And no doubt there are still many more, especially the young guys, who also might have never heard of one of the strongest players in this country.
Well, this much we know: Gedevani has 4 IM norms and, according to Cathy Chua in her book "Australian Chess at the Top", was a former champion of Georgia. Yes, that's the ex-Soviet state of Georgia, not the US version. He came to Australia in 1988.
I used to see him in weekenders as well as big events. In 1995, he participated in the Australian Championships (the one that IM West won). Here's a nice game from that tournament.
1995 Cepacol AUS ch
Gedevani, Dmitry
Dinh Duc Trong
B08
1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Be2 Nf6 5. Nc3 c6 6. O-O O-O 7. h3 Nbd7 8. Bf4 Qa5 9. Nd2 Qc7 10. a4 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Be3 Rd8 13. Bg4 Nxg4 14. Qxg4 Nf8 15. Qh4 Ne6 16. Nf3 Nd4 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Bf4 Qd7 19. Rad1 Qe8 20. Bg5 Rd7 21. Ne2 b6 22. Rfe1 Ba6 23. Ng3 c5 24. Nf5
Position after 24. Nf524...gxf5 25. exf5 Qc8 26. f6 Bf8 27. Re5 Bb7 28. Rde1 Kh8 29. Bh6 Qc6 30. Rg5 Qxf6 31. Bxf8 Rxf8 32. Rg8+ Kxg8 33. Qxf6 Rd5 34. Re4 Bc8 35. Re7 Bf5 36. Qg5+ Kh8 37. g4 Be6 38. Qf6+ Kg8 39. Rxe6 1-0
As far back as 1970, he fell victim to a certain Tal! Again involving a pesky knight.
1970 GEO-ch
Tal, Mihail
Gedevanishvili, Dmitry
B02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 Nxc3 5. bxc3 d6 6. f4 c5 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. cxd4 dxe5 9. fxe5 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Qa5 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. O-O Bxd2 13. Nxd2 Qc3 14. Rf4 O-O 15. Kh1 Ne7 16. Ne4 Qb2 17. Rb1 Qxa2
Position after 17...Qxa218. Nf6+ gxf6 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Rh4 Kg7 21. Qc1 Ng8 22. Bxg8 1-0
So there you have it, just a few tidbits about FM Dmitry Gedevanishvili. Another one who dropped off the scene, sadly a talent lost to our game. I'm sure there are good reasons.
I have no idea where he is today. Last I heard, he was driving taxis around Sydney.
2 comments:
Gedevani is a legend of Sydney chess and has been missed. He was easily IM strength and the sad part is that if he had not disappeared his 4 IM norms would be valid under new FIDE laws to become an IM. I remember when he used to give lectures at Chess Discount Sales. He was always quick to give useful advice. I remember Gedevani turned up 58 mins late for a one hour game and as true professional he played the game with just 2mins on his clock and lost. True professional and always had a good story to tell.
A strong player and a great sport, seems that driving taxis pays better than chess, like pretty much everything else :)
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