Rolf Martens - Chess Genius - Maoist - Rebel

In 1967, 25-year-old Rolf Martens won the Swedish Championshipplaying faster than anyone before. In the Student World Championshiphe defeated one of the world's ten best players, and at the end of theyear he became the first Swede to make an IM-norm. Efim Geller said:"If Martens comes to Moscow, he will become one of the best playersin the world."A few years later, he had quit playing to pursue political activism onthe far left. It became his vocation for the rest of his life.When Martens' desire for chess returned, it was as an analyst. Hefounded the Ultra Hypermodern Counter Attack School and hasproduced more openings than perhaps any other player in history.Rolf Martens - Chess genius, Maoist and rebel is his life story, but alsoabook for anyone who wants to use his openings.

Atle Grønn (Dag og Tid): This Swedish biography is probably the best I’ve seen in thegenre. Smith has done a great job with the book. The photos are fantastic and worth themoney alone
Skakbladet (Jan Løfberg): A superb biography of the Swedish champion. Wonderfulreading. One of the best chess reading experiences I have had. (...) There are certainsimilarities with Bobby Fischer. Politically, Martens ended up with a one-man army ofobsessive-compulsive players, but like Bobby, he was a gift to chess. We can benefit fromthat in this book, which deserves to be read by a large audience.”
Library service (Mikael Huss): Rolf Martens’ unusual life has earned him a bit of a cultstatus in chess circles, which is why this book is very welcome. All the better that it iswell researched and contains plenty of interesting details about Martens’ life from avariety of sources. (…) For those of us in Sweden who have that interest, this is simplyan indispensable book. Overall rating: 5.
Tidskrift för Schack (Henrik Lindberg): The book is written with a lot of knowledgeabout, feeling for and love for Martens – and that’s certainly not a bad starting point!Few people in Swedish chess have had such a mythological status as the man of rebellionor resistance, Rolf Martens. (...) Martens’ life is really made for being documentet, andthis well-written and well-researched book illustrates his many sides and peculiarities,both on and off the chessboard.
Chess History & Literature Society (Claes Løfgren): With their new book, the authorshave managed to create a worthy monument for this unusual man and player

Axel Smith was born 1986 in Lund. being a Grandmaster, Swedishblitz champion 2021 and Nordic champion2013. Smith has written five chess books andbeen editor of Tidskrift för Schack since 2014.Chairman of LASK 2004-07. Dumpster diver andmarathon runner at 2:28.Corresponded with Rolf Martens in 2005-08, andbecame one of the adepts in the UHCA school.Responsible for text, editing, chess and design. Frederik Danelius was born 1962 in Stockholm, being a Master of Laws, notarypublic, researcher and teacher at Lund and OsloUniversities. Editor of the Nordic Journal ofInternational Law and the Vällingby SS clubmagazine Schackmattadåren. Author of threecollections of sonnets. Co-founder of the dronecompany Propellerpågarna.Has written mainly The One-Man Party andThe Final Word, as well as parts of Rødberg andMalmö, Private Life and The Last Years. Calle Erlandsson was born 1942 in Växjö, being the General Secretary of LUGIfor 30 years, then Financial Officer in Malmö.Member of LASK since 1963 and club mate withRolf Martens for 45 years. Honorary chairman ofLASK, initiator of Lund Chess Academy and RolfMartens minnesfond.Chess historian with an extensive picturearchive and Scandinavia’s largest chess library.Responsible for photographs and game index.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.