Pantelis Martoudis (1925 - 2004)

Pantelis Martoudis was born in Nicossia, Cyprus in 1925. He was an amateur chess player for years, until he met Byron Zappas in Cypros when the latter was appointed there as a school head master. He learned the basics of chess composition from Byron, who was at that time the mentor of the few Cyprian problemists (Stavrinides, Sphicas, Papadopoulos). When Byron returned to Greece early in the 70's, Pantelis apparently lost his driving force and he was devoted to his profession as surgeon dentist. In the late 70's, after the invasion of Turks in Cyprus, he decided to move to Greece and start a new life there. Byron grabbed the chance and he invited his old friend to the regular meetings of the few active problemists in Athens. Pantelis felt in love, almost with the first sight, with helpmates and he soon specialized in the three-movers, in particular featuring cyclic white play. Despite that he had started composing so late, he evolved rapidly and produced some very fine works during his career, which were highly appreciated. We quote 9 of his problems and we invite you to enjoy them, as much as we did while selecting them. He had 10 points in the FIDE Albums.

In the recent 3-4 years, he decided to spend more time on painting, his second hobby, and he used to compose only occasionally mainly for the WCCT's. We will always remember Pantelis for his modest, low-profile character and his impeccable style of a "true gentleman"; our heart-felt condolences to his wife and two daughters.

Pantelis Martoudis
 Olympic Tourney 1982-83
1 Prize
Pantelis Martoudis
 Suomen Tehtäväniekat 1987
1 Prize (50 Jub Ty)
Pantelis Martoudis
Byron Zappas
The Problemist 1988
3 Prize
H#3
311111
(4+10)
 H#3
311111
(8+13)
H#3
b) pd3 <=> pd6
(6+11)

1st Prize Olympic Tourney 1982-83
1.Dd3+ Ke7+ (A) 2.Ke4 Sc2 (B) 3.Lf6+ Sxf6# (C)
1.Lf6 Sc2 (B) 2.Lg5 Sf6 (C) 3.De7+ Kxe7# (A)
1.De2 Sf6 (C) 2.Ke3 Ke7 (A) 3.Sd3 Sc2# (B)
Cyclic white moves, with king as one of the thematic pieces, in excellent construction.

1st Prize Suomen Tehtäväniekat 50 Jubilee Tourney 1987
1.h1=L Lxa3 (A) 2.Le4 Sf3 (B) 3.Tb2 c4# (C)
1.Ta4 Sf3 (B) 2.Td4 c4+ (C) 3.Kd6 Lxa3# (A)
1.Ke5 c4 (C) 2.Sc3 Lxa3 (A) 3.Se4 Sf3# (B)
Again cyclic white moves, this time with the thematic pieces in 1/3-pin setup.

3rd Prize The Problemist 1988
a) 1.Txd3 Txd6 2.Th3 Tf6 3.Lg3 Le2#
b) 1.Lxd6 Lxd3 2.Lh2 Lg6 3.Tg3 Txd4#
Clever twin to yield mutual gate openings between the pairs of black and white rooks/bishops, blended with critical play and black Grimshaw. We guess this would give the Greek team some valuable points if we could submit it in the recent WCCT...

Pantelis Martoudis
Harry Fougiaxis
feenschach 1991
5 Prize
Pantelis Martoudis
Byron Zappas
Probleemblad 1991
2 Prize
Pantelis Martoudis
Byron Zappas
Probleemblad 1993
3 Prize
H#3
b) pe7 => f7
(4+14)
H#3
311111
(7+13)
H#3
211111
(6+8)

5th Prize feenschach 1991
a) 1.Sd4 Tg2 2.Ld6 Te2+ 3.De5 Lc4#
b) 1.Sf4 Lc2 2.Td6 Lb3+ 3.Dd5 Te3#
Anticipatory closings of the black lines d2-d5 / h2-e5 by the black knight, displacement of the white pieces to shut-off the f1-c4 / a3-e3 lines, changed selfblocks on d6, model pin-mates.

2nd Prize Probleemblad 1991
1.f6 Lg6 2.Kf4 Lxf5 3.Kxf5 Txf6#
1.Dxc2 Tc6 2.Kd3 Txc4 3.Kxc4 Se5#
1.De5 Sb6 2.Ke4 Sxd5 3.Kxd5 Lc6#
Cyclic Zilahi with active sacrifices (the theme of our Internet tourney!) and model mates.

3rd Prize Probleemblad 1993
1.Te3 Lc8 2.Ld7 Lb7 3.Lxf5 Td7#
1.Tf3 Td8 2.Td7 Te8 3.Txd4 Ld7#
Focal play around d7 with pericritical white moves and reciprocal battery shut-off mates. Strong orthogonal / diagonal echo and excellent construction.

Pantelis Martoudis
U.S. Problem Bulletin 1995
1-3 Hon. Mention
Pantelis Martoudis
Probleemblad 1996
Commendation
Pantelis Martoudis
Byron Zappas
diagrammes 1996
Special Prize
H#3
b) Kb5 => d5
c) Kb5 => e2
(4+11)
H#3
b) Dc6 => c1
(4+11)
H#3
b) Kd2 => c4
c)+ Kc4<=>Tg4
(8+13)

1-3 Honourable Mention U.S. Problem Bulletin 1995
a) 1.Sa6 Lc3 (A) 2.Sd5 Sd1 (B) 3.Kc4 Sa3# (C)
b) 1.Kd4 Sd1 (B) 2.Th5 Sa3 (C) 3.Td5 Lc3# (A)
c) 1.Df3 Sa3 (C) 2.Ke3 Lc3 (A) 3.Te2 Sd1# (B)
Another example of cyclic white moves, here presented with self-unpins also in cyclic fashion.

Commendation Probleemblad 1996
a) 1.Te6 Sg6 2.Df3 Td3+ 3.Ke4 Td2#
b) 1.e2 Ld3 2.Df4 Sf3+ 3.Ke3 Lc4#
Black gate openings and follow-my-leader moves, accompanied by white Grimshaw with reciprocal battery shut-off mates, in charming position.

Special Prize diagrammes 1996
a) 1.Lxc2 e4 (A) 2.Te1 Sb3+ (B) 3.Kd1 Sf2# (C)
b) 1.Kc5 Sf2 (C) 2.Tc4 e4 (A) 3.c6 Sb3# (B)
c) 1.Tf4 Sb3 (B) 2.Tf6 Sf2+ (C) 3.Kf5 e4# (A)
A truly rare achievement: cyclic white moves, each one of them being a pure tempo in each solution! The awkward twinning makes evident the constructional difficulties that the two friends had to cope with, which kept them busy for nearly 3 months...