Those who’d like to put their chess skills to the test, or just watch a memorable chess display, will have the ultimate opportunity this Sunday, November 18, when chess grand master Boris Gulko from Fair Lawn will again take on up to 20 challengers simultaneously. The event will take place at 8:45 a.m. at Shomrei Torah in Fair Lawn.

Sponsored by the Naftali Aron Torah Enrichment Program (NATEP), the “Last Man Standing” will win a $100 gift certificate. If the performance is anything like last year’s, there will be plenty of excitement. At that event, Gulko stood between two long tables, each surrounded by about 10 chairs, chess boards and anxious challengers. Slowly winding his way around, he often needed no more than a few seconds to make his move before turning his attention to the next player and board. Meanwhile, each challenger had the luxury of contemplating his or her next decision until Gulko had fully circled the tables.

It didn’t matter. One-by-one, the matches ended and competitors bid their farewells. When only top-tier players remained, Gulko was forced to slow his pace and contemplate moves more carefully. In fact, the last challenger remaining was good enough to force him to finally take a seat. Although Gulko emerged victorious, the match was quite competitive for a while.

So what are Boris Gulko’s credentials? In short, he is the only chess player to have ever held both the American and Soviet championship titles. A former Soviet Union refusenik, he became an international chess master in 1975 at the age of 28, grandmaster the following year and USSR Chess Championship co-winner in 1977. When he and his wife, Anna (a women’s grandmaster!), applied to leave the country, not only weren’t they granted their wish, but Gulko was barred from top-level competition in his country for seven years.

Eventually he made his way to the United States where he won the U.S. Chess Championship in both 1994 and 1999. If those credentials aren’t impressive enough, Gulko is the only challenger to have a positive record against Soviet Grandmaster Garry Kasparov. During an incredible stretch from 1986 to 2005, Kasparov was ranked number one in the world for 225 out of 228 months. That’s 20 years of near total domination. So what was Gulko’s record against Kasparov? Of their eight matches, there were four draws, with Gulko winning three of the four matches that involved a decision.

The event will begin with a delicious breakfast and a short dvar Torah by Rabbi Benjamin Yudin. In keeping with the occasion, the talk is entitled “Laban and Yaakov, the Ultimate Chess Match.” As with all NATEP programs, the goal is to enhance a physical event by including words of Torah.

To sign up to play (only a few slots remain) or make a reservation to watch the event, contact Mendy Aron at [email protected]. Admission to the event, which includes breakfast, is $15. The charge for participants is $25. Players must supply their own chess boards.

By Robert Isler

Robert Isler is a marketing researcher and a freelance writer who lives in Fair Lawn. He can be reached at [email protected].