Emil Semm-Skrzypecki

31/10/1918 – 17/9/2005

Emil joined Redhill and GLC chess clubs about 35 years ago and made an immediate impact. Chess players are supposed to be dull, cautious individuals. A lot of them conform to this stereotype and play well-documented systems without taking risks. They treat higher–rated players with respect and lose gracefully. It soon became apparent that Emil didn’t subscribe to any of these theories. He played aggressively in every game, only aiming for a draw if it were quite impossible to try for a win. He didn’t bother with theoretical lines, just playing what he wanted, and he had the admirable attitude that you take turns to move and why shouldn’t the opponent make a mistake before he did? I well remember a match 25 years ago against Streatham, then the leading club in Surrey. They had an immensely strong team, and when Emil shook hands with his opponent after only an hour, we assumed he had got the expected loss. We should have known better, he had won of course, indeed he was the only Redhill winner that night. The down side was that there were times when he lost to people he should have beaten easily. But you soon learned he just loved the game, and that was much more important than the result. This is not to say he was a weak player – he won the Redhill club championship, the lightning tournament, and the award for the best performance against other clubs. Added to this, he was a four-time winner of the Handicap tournament, which favours good results against the supposedly stronger players. This suited his style. He also served as a committee member for several years. Last year he played for Redhill II (who won their league), Redhill III (second in theirs), and GLCC (who won theirs.)

He was always eager to pass on his enthusiasm to others. In the last couple of years, he was coaching children at Langshott infant school. When some of them moved on to the next school, they were sorry that Emil would no longer be teaching them chess. He helped others as well and was keen to explain to people that it was important that they enjoy the game. I always remember that and every time results are depressing, I try to follow his good example. When I was ill a few years ago, he rushed round to explain how to heal myself more quickly.

Three years ago, I decided to play in a speed chess event in Poland. When Emil found out, he immediately decided to play as well. He and his nephew showed me round Warsaw, and introduced me to the local food and drink. He was the oldest player in the tournament by some distance, but the legendary Victor Korchnoi was also there, one of the best players ever, and still an amazingly good player in his 70s. Many chess players think it’s wrong to talk to stronger players for some reason, but Emil walked up to Korchnoi at lunch and said, “I can’t understand why you’re a better player than me, I was playing before you were born.” Victor laughed. We played again in Warsaw last Christmas, and Emil put in a great performance. Speed chess is supposed to be a young man’s game and 13 games in two days is hard work for anyone, but he didn’t seem bothered. He also played the youngest player in the tournament, some 80 years younger than him, and was very pleased that their interview with Polish Television was broadcast at the end of the news that night.

He was an ever present at Redhill chess club, and converted several members to the virtues of honey. Every time he finished a game, whatever the result, he wanted to set the pieces up and play again. We played each other more than 50 times competitively and thousands of times in friendly games and his enthusiasm shone through all the time. The club will be a quieter, duller place without him.

Kevin Thurlow