Do you remember?
Arturo Pomar,the famous chess player and child prodigy
that amazed the Spain of 1946.
The child who gets off the plane victorious was the Spain`s adult chess champion
at the age of fourteen.
His extraordinary talent for chess made him soon become the idol child of post-war
Franco´s Regime made Pomar one of the symbols of the new Spain.
So Arturo dovoted all of his time to the tournament play and chess exibitions.
Here you were a bit older.
This is in Argentina.
Nowdays,along with his son,Arturo pomar takes a look at
the memories of a life devoted to chess.
But the regime deserted him in the crucial moment of his chess career
when he tried to classify for the Chess World Championship.
He had to play all by himself with the help of no trainer or second.
Even though,he managed to draw with the North American master Robert Fischer.
How long did the game with Fischer last?
About nine hours.
I analized very well and I knew I would draw.
Do you think that chess is a sport?
yes , it is but I think it is also a science too.
Fischer came by Spain just before disputing an historic
chess match during cold-war times
His victory over the Russian Spassky in 1972 was
was seen by some as the triumph of Capitalism over Comunism.
With the fall of Berlin`s Wall,the old and new Russia also
confronted their differences over a chess board.
I have arguments to claim that this is the greatest
chess rivalry among all sports, but of course, into an unrepeatable political scenery.
Karpov was the symbol of Kremling´s old guard,
and Kasparov was the symbol of the "Perestroika" right
when Former Soviet Union was falling all apart.
That´s not going to repeat anymore.
Apart from Politic issues,Chess is today a very healthy
sport in Spain.
You have to evaluate every piece exchange and also
their pros and cons.
Sabrina Vega and Ivan salgado are young International Masters.
The Arturos Pomar of the moment.
They both look upon chess not only as a game,but also as
a way toward personal learning
Self discipline,sacrifice, respect for your opponent and for everyone else.
The hability to concentrate you need in a chess game
is also useful for schollard education.
Now we olnly hope that anyone of them becomes
the Fernando Alonso or the "Rafa" Nadal of chess so that they can raise the same expectations Arturito did in the Spain of the 40`s