Gerald Sladek

Gerald Werner Sladek (* Linz, 05.09.1931 -  † 18.07.2022)

Important Austrian chess composer of orthodox moremover problems (direct mate)

His compositional style: Sladek cultivated an epigrammatic-calligraphic, enigmatic style and was attached to the logical chess problem.
This means few white pieces and preferably no white pawns. The idea of his chess problems was usually very hidden and often associated with sacrifice and chess provocation.

Words by Grandmaster Camillo Gamnitzer translated into English by Peter Siegfried Krug:                                                Seven weeks before his 91st birthday, the doyen and doyen of Linz problem solvers, an important Austrian exponent of the logical new German multi-move game, was called away from this world. Having lived in Linz since childhood, the native of Ybbs an der Donau had early contact with the royal game and discovered the fascination of the chess problem in 1955. In the two decades that followed, he created the bulk of a qualitatively significant oeuvre with around one hundred compositions of captivating strategic depth and beauty of form. At the same time, as a member of the Linz SK-VOEST chess club, he made a good name for himself as a tournament player. Gerald Sladek earned special merits not least for his journalistic propagation of the solid art of direct mating; for almost half a century he was in charge of the problem section of the "Oberösterreichische Nachrichten" with great commitment and enthusiasm, which Werner Schmoll has meritoriously continued since 2012. In 1991, at the friendly suggestion of (GM) Camillo Gamnitzer and Werner Schmoll, Gerald Sladek started a comeback as a composer, the results of which round off his oeuvre in a worthy manner.

With Camillo Gamnitzer (GM), whom he had won over to the profession in 1970/71, he had, among other things, a pronounced close relationship to music, especially that of Anton Bruckner, and the doyen was also an avowed lover of contemporary visual art. The artist Gerald Sladek will live on in his creations. He will be remembered by many beyond the borders of his homeland.

    Family/occupation:

Until his retirement in the mid-1980s, the married father of one son, Wolfgang Sladek was employed at the Voestalpine plant in Linz - initially as a materials inspector, later as a magazine manager. He is survived by his wife Maria Sladek. He also had a daughter-in-law called Brigitte.

His wife Maria Sladek said: "We shared so many interests - whether it was fine art, music or the history of Linz: my husband was passionate about so many things. Most of all, of course, for chess."

"When the strength ran out, it wasn't a death, but redemption from the chess player, chess composer, editor and father Gerald Sladek."

     Cemetery:

St Barbara's Cemetery in Linz

Burial: On Friday, 29 July 2022 at 13.00 noon at St. Barbara Cemetery in Linz.

     About him 

"Gerald Sladek, the composer of many wonderful problems, mainly moremovers, passed away on 18 July 2022."  Richard Dobiáš

Source: Kunstschach in Oberösterreich (problemschach.at)