FM Gustav Brejník wins the first Rapid Memorial Tournament in honour of Vlastimil Hort

by ChessBase
10/8/2025 – Who else but Vlastimil Hort would have deserved a memorial tournament? Although it is sad that the Czech chess legend passed away on 12 May this year at the age of 81, it is remarkable that the first memorial tournament in his honour took place just a few months later. The last Sunday in September is set to become a fixed date for this rapid tournament. Brigitte and Daniel Hort attended the premiere. | Photos: Organiser / Teaser photo: André Schulz
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On Sunday, 28 September 2025, the first tournament commemorating Grandmaster Vlastimil Hort took place at the Hotel Don Giovanni in Prague, organised by the Czech Inn Hotel Group. The tournament was not only a sporting competition, but also a fitting tribute to one of the greatest personalities in Czechoslovakian and international chess.

Playing hall | Photo: Organiser

The choice of the Hotel Don Giovanni had personal significance – this Prague hotel was one of Vlastimil Hort's favourite places. The opening speech was given by the Grand Master's wife, Brigitte Hort, who mentioned, among other things, that she had spent ‘37 wonderful years’ with Vlastimil. Moved by the large turnout of players and guests, she thanked everyone who had come to honour the memory of her husband. The solemn nature of the event was also underlined by the presence of Hort's son Daniel.

Brigitte and Daniel Hort came to visit the 1. Vlastimil Hort Memorial | Photos: Organiser

Together with the organisers, Brigitte Hort attended the award ceremony and presented the cash prizes to the winners. During the ceremony, more than thirty players also received a copy of the book My Chess Stories by Vlastimil Hort.

A total of 95 chess players took part in this successful chess day (7 rounds of rapid chess with 2×15 minutes + 10 seconds per move), which was filled with memories of Vlastimil Hort. The winner of the first memorial tournament was FM Gustav Brejník (6.5 points). Second place went to IM Pavel Čech (6 points) and third place to Pavel Postupa (5.5 points).

Brigitte Hort also presented cash prizes to the best players in each category: IM Josef Přibyl won the over-70s category, Miroslav Muroň won the over-60s category, and WIM Olena Žemličková was the best female player. Boris Pogorelsky won the under-15s category.The award ceremony with a picture of Vlastimil Hort in the background (from left): Arbiter Pavel Votruba, organiser Petr Boleslav, runner-up IM Pavel Čech, winner FM Gustav Brejník, third-placed Pavel Postupa and Brigitte Hort (Photo: Organiser)

Final standings after 7 rounds

Rk. Name Pts.  TB1 
1 BREJNÍK, Gustav 6,5 23
2 ČECH, Pavel 6 23,5
3 POSTUPA, Pavel 5,5 23
4 MUROŇ, Miroslav 5,5 21,5
5 POGORELSKIY, Boris 5,5 20
6 FANTAZ, Maksim 5,5 20
7 VACULÍK, Jakub 5 23,5
8 VĚTROVSKÝ, Michal 5 22
9 HONCHAROV, Makar 5 22
10 PŘIBYL, Josef 5 21,5

All results on chess-results.com

The first memorial tournament for Vlastimil Hort confirmed that the great chess master and popular storyteller is far from forgotten and that the chess community is keen to honour his memory. The organisers believe that the tournament will become an annual tradition and carry on the name of Vlastimil Hort.

"We will hold the tournament every year on the last Sunday in September. We have no doubt that it will be a success, both at home and abroad. Vlastimil would be proud of us," said Jaroslav Svoboda, owner of Czech Inn Hotels.

Some of Vlastimil Hort's successes:

  • Best Elo rating: 2620 (January 1978)
  • Best world ranking: 6 (1977)
  • Czechoslovakian runner-up at the age of 13 behind Ludek Pachman
  • Czechoslovakian Junior Champion in 1960 and 1962
  • Six-time Czechoslovakian Champion between 1969 and 1977
  • German champion: 1987, 1989, 1991
  • First participation in a Chess Olympiad in 1960
  • Became IM in 1962 and GM in 1965
  • In 1970, he took part in the match between the "Rest of the World" and the USSR, defeating Lev Polugayevsky 2.5:1.5
  • Hort played in several Candidates Tournaments: in 1986, he lost to Spassky in the quarter-finals of the Candidates Tournament with 7.5:8.5
  • Important tournament victories: Marianske Lazne 1965, Hastings 1968, 1975, 1976, Polanica-Zdrój 1977, Hoogovens 1970, Rovinj/Zagreb 1970, Reykjavik 1972, US Open in New York City 1974, interzonal tournaments in Biel 1976, Dortmund 1982, 1985 and Zagreb 1987, etc.
  • Participation in numerous Olympiads:
  • 1960-1985 with the Czechoslovakian team (silver with the team in 1982, silver on board 1 and best game in 1972) and 1988-1992 with Germany
  • Hort played for the following clubs, among others: ŠK Dům armády Prague (youth), ŠK Slovan Bratislava, SG Porz (German champion 1979, 1982, 1984, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000), Schachfreunde Reichenstein (Swiss champion 2006)
  • Senior World Champion 2006 in Chess960
  • Honorary member of the German Chess Federation 2019 and FIDE 2022

More about Vlastimil Hort...

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Rapid Chess Tournament in Honor of Vlastimil Hort in Prague

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