Judge Jan Rusinek: “This time foreign authors sent fewer very good studies, but fortunately our composers filled the gap by presenting valuable works. I am particularly pleased there are less experienced authors among them. I consider the level very high, the awarded studies are real gems.
I decided not to award studies where I did not see any idea or content valuable for the theory of endings, their only values being correctness and non-obvious solution. I also did not distinguish studies based on incomprehensible positions taken from the computer”.
The 1/2 prize by Kwiatkowski combines the ideas of two studies. But the result of this synthesis is awful.
https://eg.org.ua/chessgame/didukhs-4301-11f5a5-v/ (4 queens zz with BTM and WTM)
https://eg.org.ua/chessgame/timmanj-0443-33g6g3/ (a knight’s pawn excelsior)
The 3/4 prize by a Polish-Ukrainian trio is fully anticipated.
https://eg.org.ua/chessgame/joitsap-0042-02c5h3-u1/ (K-triangulation in BN vs BP)
Special prize by Minski is a cut version of an earlier study.
https://eg.org.ua/chessgame/didukhs-4140-11g8b2/ (mutual Q-sacrifices followed by a Reti and skewer)
Of course, a special prize by Jasik is worse than other studies with model mates.
https://eg.org.ua/chessgame/bazlovy-1644-00h6d5/ (a mate with 4 active blocks)
I liked only the winner of this tourney. The idea to place obstacles-pieces in the knight’s way is funny and original. Kamikaze checkers! If pieces could talk, we’d probably hear them sing:
We don’t wanna be alive,
We just wanna die!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zokn4WDPcHE (at 3.10)
A more economical version of the study by Costeff.
The final award of the Polish tourney in PDF.
Two special prizes by Minski and Jasik have been removed from the award because of anticipations.
3/4 prize by Gigola and Piliczewski downgraded to a special hm.
All 11 studies in the database:
https://eg.org.ua//?s=polish+2023