Forgotten Genius - The Life and Games of Grandmaster Dragoljub Velimirovic - Vol 2

'This book is primarily for chess enthusiasts! For those who love the game of chess, sacrifices come flying, and before you know it, two hours have passed. It reads like a novel, and the analyses are accessible. But even the eternal student can make use of it. Personally, I've learned a bit more about the Dragon. It's not a one hundred percent study book, of course; you understand that too. This is primarily a biography with many instructive games. Thinkers Publishing House puts itself back on the map and can compete with publishers like Everyman Chess, Russell Enterprises, New in Chess, Quality Chess, in short, they're on the map and rightfully so. I am proud of this Belgian publishing house, and we can expect much more from them in the future! Then some more good news.This book is Volume 1, so a second volume is in the works. And God knows how far he would have gone in a friendlier environment. We'll never know. Furthermore, I understand that this book is only available in hardcover? It doesn't matter; it's worth every penny, and I eagerly await Volume 2.' —Dutch chess journalist Oliver De Hert, Schaaksite, March 2024. 'Reading Forgotten Genius: The Life and Games of Dragoljub Velimirovic one might be surprised to learn that Velimirovic was a fine endgame player and that his skill as an analyst was not just confined to inventing opening variations. He was great at analyzing adjourned games making him a popular second (he had a long relationship with Gligoric in this capacity) and coach (he helped a number of promising young players become Grandmasters). Whether playing or coaching, Velimirovic had a real passion for the game as this book makes abundantly clear. Many photos, numerous indices (including one on his sacrifices!) and a crisp layout round out this handsome hardback book that traces the life of a true chess afficionado in the pre-computer days.' —IM John Donaldson, 04.2024, Berkeley, USA 'I would call this book, or rather this series about Drasko, a feel-good experience. It features some of the most beautiful games with spectacular sacrifices. Squares like b5, e6, d5, and especially f5 were frequently sacrificed by Drasko. Being a pawn down was never an issue for him. Drasko would often say, "Why worry about losing a pawn when I have eight of them?" Grandmasters who deliberately avoided playing the Sicilian against Drasko, like Hort who preferred the Caro-Kann, add to the narrative. It's a feel-good series also because it's a combination of reading about Drasko and his many anecdotes, alongside games that Georg Mohr, and for that I am grateful, hasn't ruined with tedious, extensive analyses. Much of his analysis is easy to visualize in your head. In short, it's a collection of beautiful stories and remarkable games. My conclusion is that this series is an ideal addition to your summer vacation reading! 5 Stars! —Oliver De Hert, www.schaaksite.be, 06.07.2024 'The latest book in the Forgotten Genius series by Thinkers Publishing,The Life and Games of Dragoljub Velimirovic (Volume 2) by Georg Mohr and Ana Velimirovic-Zorira. Picking up immediately after the end of the first volume, this time we have games, stories and photographs all the way from 1976 to 2010. It is good to be able to read and enjoy many anecdotes from those who knew the player who, despite his extremely impressive attacking flair, never quite managed to push his way up to the highest levels of chess. According to Vlastimil Hort, Velimirovic was known to him and his Czechoslovakian teammates – in the chess Olympiads of old – as the ‘Yugoslavian Tal’. In their team meetings, it was spelled out that whoever had to face him in the team matches ‘was forbidden to play the Sicilian Defence’ due, of course, to Velimirovic’s habitual devastating attacks after 1 e4 c5. Even Garry Kasparov – on his way to the (eventually) winning the World Chess Championship, a route paved with several ferocious Sicilian battles against Anatoly Karpov, avoided the issue in the 1982 Interzonal Tournament, when he played the Caro-Kann Defense against Velimirovic instead. This book – just like the first volume – is highly recommended to those who like to see swashbuckling chess in action.' —Sean Marsh, Summer 2024, Forward Chess