Banner Breakout Minkina - Prosman

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Minkina - Prosman

Author: Ronald Schalley
15-03-2025

It is always difficult to attribute a particular playing style to a player, and the same applies to Ndiaga Samb. To me, the Senegalese was above all a player who often sat at the board with a fighting spirit. His historic—and above all, heroic—battles with former world champion Alexander Schwarzman stand out, sometimes even with physical intensity. These encounters often did not end in his favor.

I would like to share a personal memory of Samb. In the summer of 1992, the Brunssum tournament consisted of an elite group of ten players who played a round-robin tournament, as well as an open tournament with nine rounds following the Swiss system. That year, I shared a small tent with Erno Prosman at the Hitjesvijver campsite, which had long been the traditional lodging for draughts players participating in Brunssum. Coincidentally, Erno played in the first round against my future wife, Ewa Schalley (who at the time still bore the name Minkina). The game ended in a draw, but I still clearly remember that at one point, both Auke Scholma and Samb were leaning over the board.

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Ewa Minkina - Erno Prosman (07-08-1992)

After the move played, 15.34-29...
Prosman continued with 15...18-23, a move that was met with disapproval by both players after the game. Samb then conjured up the following line of play in just a few seconds. 15....8-13!?16.29x2015x24After that, he asked Prosman why he hadn't played this way. Prosman responded that he found 17.39-34...problematic, to which Samb immediately played 17....22-27!(while Scholma watched and visibly enjoyed the moment). 18.37-32?...
The best option seems to be 18.37-31, but even then, Black gains the upper hand after 18....27-32!19.38x2721x2320.34-2923x3421.40x20The same applies to the line of play 18.34-292-8!19.29x2027-3220.38x2721x23The core idea behind 22-27, of course, is that 37-32? is not allowed due to 18....17-22!!19.26x83x1220.28x827-31!21.36x2724-3022.35x2419x4623.8x1046x5A striking conclusion.

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