malthrope: <"There is no kibitzing for this page, yet."> Let's start off with ending that pesky little problem right now, shall we? :))
I was truly honored to have played this gentleman in a ICCF World Cup game back in 1971-72. In fact <brankat> and I are now discussing this fine player in his (brankat's) chessforum - "The Court of Cassia."
Here are the direct links:
My ICCF Master Class game with Anton Preinfalk: brankat chessforum
My follow-up response back to <brankat>: brankat chessforum
Further discussion with <brankat> leading to my kibitz here (from my chessforum - "Mal's place of Chess anecdotes!"): malthrope chessforum
Selected excerpts follow:
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<<~brankat's house~>>
<In light of that please allow me to share with You a CC game with Anton Preinfalk an old Master who played in many of the Yugoslav Championships (back in the late 40's and 50's). He did quite well generally scoring in the mid-range of the field back in the days when the great Gliga played! He was a true gentleman, strong as hell, and a pure delight to correspond with. He wrote me that he was 59 years old at the start of our CC game, residing in Ljubljana, and was a jurist in the economy (that's how he wrote it in English). I was very fortunate to have two main translators when I played in the ICCF Master Class back in the early 70's. Raymond Conway (a former Director of the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club) took care of my German, French, Spanish and Slavic languages and my dear old friend Richard Shorman took care of all my Russian needs. He (Preinfalk) wrote to me mainly in German (although he spoke and wrote a little English too), and he was also an avid stamp collector. He also sent me the most beautiful Chess stamps and the appropriate picture postcards to match. I did my best to do what I could to reciprocate in kind. :) In later years (1978) he was awarded the title of "International Arbiter" by FIDE -- http://www.fide.com/info?task=arbit...
Having tried my best to beat him in a Modern Benoni line (I played Black in the ECO [A61-A65] line). His defense in the final endgame phase was impeccable and we agreed to a draw (per my suggestion) on the 37th move (at the end of the given "If" move series). He wrote me a truly heartfelt letter when our game concluded on just how much he enjoyed our game and his titanic struggle to hold it. :) He was a class act all the way... Always sharing his other games, results and kind thoughts with me. ;)
I just knew that You would know well of him. :) I was immediately impressed by Mr. Anton Preinfalk with his pre-printed "Correspondence Chess" postal cards! He even sent me an introduction picture postcard before our game started to introduce himself! It was apparent that he was a man with no ordinary background. ;) Yes, he played many great Chess players in his day and all those Yugoslav Championships that he played in! :))>
<<~malthrope's house~>>
<malthrope: <brankat: Dear Mal, You should have the honour of being the first poster here :-) Anton Preinfalk
No doubt, a lot of games are missing here, particularly the 1946-53 period, when Mr.Preinfalk must have been in his prime.>
Yes, I was fully aware of this... Many fine games of his are missing mainly from all the Yugoslav Chess Championships. He must have played in at least 5 of them if not as many as 7 or 8. I just recall that it was enough to impress me as to 'whom and what' was the true nature of this man that I'm now corresponding and playing with! :D>
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In due time, I hope to add my player's page and bio to the mix here at <chessgames.com>. When that happens "Mr. Anton Preinfalk" will have one extra game added to his games selection... On that special day <brankat> and I will have really BIG smiles written all over our faces! :D
My Best Always, - Mal