Albin Planinc

pgn of Planinc    pgn of Vidmar Memorial (1969-77)

Albin Planinc was born in the Slovenian Brise on 18 iv 1944. There he lived with his mother in a small apartment. Planinc learned chess at the age of seven. He won the Slovenian youth championship in 1962. Albin was a simple metalworker and laboured in a bicycle factory. As a chess player he was a natural. When he was successful at grandmaster level, he became a professional. 

A great victory became the first Vidmar Memorial, Ljubljana 1969. The local hero was Bruno Parma, a former world champion of the youth. But the little known Planinc dominated the event by uncompromising chess. He became the sole winner in front of Gligoric and scored a grandmaster result. However, he only got the master rank as an untitled player. The grandmaster title was bestowed on him in 1972. 

Planinc had a well-prepared opening’s repertoire. He chose openings fitting his aggressive style. His preference for gambits was remarkable. Many times he brought a pawn sacrifice as novelty.

It took four years until the second Vidmar Memorial happened. The event occurred in the city of Ljubljana and the seaside resort of Portoroz in 1973. A great achievement became Amsterdam 1973. He shared the victory with Petrosian. Planinc played at the fourth board of Yugoslavia in the Olympiad, Nice 1974. The team won the silver medal. 

The third Vidmar Memorial happened in vi 1975. It became a biannual tradition. Planinc partook in the Vidmar Memorial 1977 for the fourth and last time. Later, he lacked the required concentration. Probably, Albin was handicapped by depressions. 
Dutch journalists noticed his eccentric behaviour when he excelled in Amsterdam 1973. He behaved timidly and went to his hotel room quickly after the game, while he looked at the floor. When Velimirovic teased him, he had no answer. These are symptoms of melancholy. Medication was insufficient in those days. When his disease became too severe, he became a trainer for years. He served the Yugoslav federation, but forgot to collect his salary. Eventually, Planinc entered a psychiatric institution in Ljubljana for his mental illness. He died on 20 xii 2008. 
He was forgotten because he did not even write for the Sahovski Informator about his spectacular games. 

Main tournaments by Albin Planinc            Score   Place

1965 Novi Sad           Yugoslav Champ. 20   10/19   7/9