Sadly Mihai Suba has passed away in the night.
I’ll say more later…
Mihai Suba
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John Upham
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Re: Mihai Suba
Mihai Suba (1st June 1947 - 26th October 2025) 
- Mihai Suba (1st June 1947 - 26th October 2025)
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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Mihai Suba
Had been ill for a long time, according to reliable accounts.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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James Plaskett
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John Upham
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Re: Mihai Suba
Mihai Suba (1st June 1947 - 26th October 2025)
- Mihai Suba (1st June 1947 - 26th October 2025)
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Alex McFarlane
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Re: Mihai Suba
The 1990 British was held in Eastbourne shortly after the murder of the local MP, Ian Gow, by the Provisional IRA. Because of this and the number of Irish participants there was a Special Brach (or similar) presence at the event. Suba was participating in the Championship.
I was one of the arbiters on the team for the Championship itself. About an hour before the start of one of the rounds we got the message that Suba had been arrested in the venue. Obviously after the initial doubt the thought was "How does this affect the draw?" Further investigation revealed that someone had been arrested by a plain clothes policeman for shop lifting from the 'canteen'. The story was that this person could indeed have been Suba. As there was nothing we could do we waited to see if Mihai turned up. Fortunately, at the start of play Suba was present and his game started without incident. Later it was established that the thief had been someone off the street who had come in to use the facilities and had been caught by one of the police officers there to 'supervise' the Irish contingent. Apparently the arrested person did bare a passing resemblance to Suba. I can't help thinking how unlucky that shoplifter was to be caught in the way that he was. There cannot be many criminals effectively caught by accident and even fewer who may look like a GM.
I was one of the arbiters on the team for the Championship itself. About an hour before the start of one of the rounds we got the message that Suba had been arrested in the venue. Obviously after the initial doubt the thought was "How does this affect the draw?" Further investigation revealed that someone had been arrested by a plain clothes policeman for shop lifting from the 'canteen'. The story was that this person could indeed have been Suba. As there was nothing we could do we waited to see if Mihai turned up. Fortunately, at the start of play Suba was present and his game started without incident. Later it was established that the thief had been someone off the street who had come in to use the facilities and had been caught by one of the police officers there to 'supervise' the Irish contingent. Apparently the arrested person did bare a passing resemblance to Suba. I can't help thinking how unlucky that shoplifter was to be caught in the way that he was. There cannot be many criminals effectively caught by accident and even fewer who may look like a GM.
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James Plaskett
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Re: Mihai Suba
He defeated Chris Ward in the last round of that event n a quite superb game.
His best games, many from the 1970s to the mid 1990s, were little short of masterpieces. He beat Timman at the 1982 Interzonal and, when black Vs the GOAT, Kasparov, at the 1984 Olympiad, had a winning position there too.
His best games, many from the 1970s to the mid 1990s, were little short of masterpieces. He beat Timman at the 1982 Interzonal and, when black Vs the GOAT, Kasparov, at the 1984 Olympiad, had a winning position there too.
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John Upham
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Re: Mihai Suba
What does a GM typically look like? Are there FIDE guidelines?
J.
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John Upham
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Re: Mihai Suba
Mihai Suba and friends (1st June 1947 - 26th October 2025)
You should notice MS with Jonathan S., Mark D., Bernard C. and Jonathan Manley (thanks JR)
Not sure who that is standing above MS.
You should notice MS with Jonathan S., Mark D., Bernard C. and Jonathan Manley (thanks JR)
Not sure who that is standing above MS.
- Mihai Suba and friends (1st June 1947 - 26th October 2025)
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Last edited by John Upham on Tue Oct 28, 2025 10:28 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Jonathan Rogers
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Re: Mihai Suba
Don't chess publishers recognise each other?! (Jonathan Manley)
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Jonathan Rogers
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Re: Mihai Suba
Suba was a genuine chess lover, would talk to anyone about the game, etc. I played blitz with him in one of those evenings at Eastbourne 1990, and I kept expecting him to get up and say that he really had to be going now, but not a bit of it! His win over Miles in the 1984 Olympiad might be included too.
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John Upham
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Re: Mihai Suba
Ooops! We only venture out at night and avoid any limelight.Jonathan Rogers wrote: ↑Tue Oct 28, 2025 9:43 amDon't chess publishers recognise each other?! (Jonathan Manley)
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Keith Arkell
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Re: Mihai Suba
I learnt a lot of quite deep positional concepts from Mihai, and some subtle stuff about move orders in the opening.
He talked passionately, freely and generously about chess with anyone at hand, irrespective of their playing level.
He drew good games with Black v both Karpov and Kasparov.
I played him 10 times, and the score was 5 : 5 - just a couple of draws.
Game 1 in 'Arkell's Endings' went my way: 109 moves, the last 51 being R+R+ g-pawn v R+R. The game took 11 hours and had to be adjourned to make way for the Watson Farley & Williams GM tournament prize-giving.
Suba's enthusiasm for the game stayed with him despite his declining health and rating. His last game of chess took place 2 years ago in round 4 of Cap Negret Senior (65+). He had to be helped to the board, and had lost his first 3 games. Afterwards we caught sight of each other. There was a glint in his eye: ''I finally opened my account!'' He had drawn with an unrated opponent. He wasn't well enough to complete the tournament.
He talked passionately, freely and generously about chess with anyone at hand, irrespective of their playing level.
He drew good games with Black v both Karpov and Kasparov.
I played him 10 times, and the score was 5 : 5 - just a couple of draws.
Game 1 in 'Arkell's Endings' went my way: 109 moves, the last 51 being R+R+ g-pawn v R+R. The game took 11 hours and had to be adjourned to make way for the Watson Farley & Williams GM tournament prize-giving.
Suba's enthusiasm for the game stayed with him despite his declining health and rating. His last game of chess took place 2 years ago in round 4 of Cap Negret Senior (65+). He had to be helped to the board, and had lost his first 3 games. Afterwards we caught sight of each other. There was a glint in his eye: ''I finally opened my account!'' He had drawn with an unrated opponent. He wasn't well enough to complete the tournament.