January Smejkal

Career

In the 1970s, he was among the world chess elite. In the 1973 Leningrad --Interzonal tournament he finished fourth, just missing out on qualification for the World Championship Candidates Tournament. Smejkal was born in Lanškroun, Czechoslovakian Republic.

January Smejkal vs Vasily Smyslov, Hastings 1968, Modern Defense: King Pawn Fianchetto (B06), 1-0, Sacrificing an exchange in order to attack the Black King

January Smejkal vs Florin Gheorghiu, Palma de Mallorca 1972, Nimzo-Indian (E41), 1-0, A combination using the Excelsior theme

Lev Polugaevsky vs January Smejkal, Reykjavik (025) 1978, English, Symmetrical (A33), 0–1, Two Rooks more powerful than a Queen

January Smejkal vs Predrag Nikolić, Vršac 1981, Queen"s Gambit Declined Slav (D11), 1-0, Rooks attacking along the Doctorate-file.

Achievements

• He was champion of Czechoslovakia in 1973, 1979 and 1986 and won many international tournaments, including Polanica Zdrój in 1970 and 1972, Smederevska Palanka in 1971, Palma in 1972, Novi Sad in 1976, Vršac in 1977, Leipzig in 1977, Warsaw in 1979, Trenčianské Teplice in 1979, and Baden-Baden in 1985.