
ÁRPÁD CSABA
1948-2016
Árpád Csaba was born the on 24th March 1948 in Bakonypölöske, a small town in Veszprém county.
He learned the basics of chess from his mother at the age of four. He was interested in various sports during his youth, he was a great football player and athletics athlete. His active sports carrier was ripped away from him due to a serious injury at the age of 16. He started to become more involved with chess after that. His first club was Padrag Bányász, then during his years in the army he was in MERESZJEV SE. He thrived in this club, his greatest success was winning the Veszprém County Chess Championship in 1972, which was considered a particularly high achievement at the time due to the level of players. After completing his mandatory military service, following a short detour in Veszprém he started playing in the chess department of Bányász SK in Ajka, where he continued to play until the end of his life. His highest live score was 2305.
Besides chess- which essentially spanned his whole life- he started working as a chess coach from the 80s, first holding afternoon sessions in Ajka for children in Ajka and its close vicinity, later on due to his success he had pupils from further places. The results of his work were based on him „speaking the kids’ language”: instead of trying to change t children’s personality he adapted chess to his pupils and managed to realize the potential of young people who each had their unique characteristics. His prominent pupils Károly Kozma, Zsolt Koczka and András Nagy were all youth champions and medallists. Over the course of his coaching carrier he kept saying that not everyone has to become a professional chess player as chess is an excellent character building activity from which children can profit later on, at the age of 14-20, and even as adults.
Following the change of regime, he embarked on another chess journey , first by taking over the reigns of the Ajka Bányász SK chess department then by becoming the Executive Director of Ajka Bányász SK between 1995 and 2012, keeping up the family tradition ( his father was Head of the football department during the 60s) As a club and department leader he led the team of Ajka Bányász SK from the county championships to the top league. At the time Ajka saw players like Uzbek Olympic silver medallist Valery Loginov and Argentinian Grand Master Gerardo Barbero. His leadership deserves even more respect considering the fact that he was able to ensure the continuous development of the chess department even though funding of the club was abruptly cut after the change of regime.
It is also worth noting that starting from the 90s he began organizing chess tournaments as well, bringing high profile youth and adult, individual and team events to the city of Ajka. Among these tournaments the first National RAPID Chess Championship stands out, which was won by Judit Polgár against extremely strong rivals.
After his death the Municipal Government of the city of Ajka bestowed him a posthumus „Ajka Lifepath” award for his prominent role in the city’s chess life.