GM Thomas Luther

In the recent chessbase article on the European Union Championship , I found an interesting fact about one of German GM – Thomas Luther. He was born as a Thalidomide handicap.

Thalidomide is a sedative-hypnotic, and multiple myeloma medication. The drug is a potent teratogen in rats, rabbits, and primates including humans: this means that severe birth defects may result if the drug is taken during pregnancy – source Wikipedia

However, this handicap doesn’t stop him to excell in chess and achieve a GM title in 1994. He also won the German championships 3 times - 1993, 2002, and 2006.

Below is his last round win against the new British Champion - GM Stuart Conquest

GM Thomas Luther (2570) – GM Stuart Conquest (2536) [B07]

EU Championship 4th Liverpool (10.11), 18.09.2008

White has a better game but the win is far from clear, however Conquest made it easier for white with....

40...Bg6?? 40...Qf6 is the correct move and black can still play 41.Be4! and black resign because white threatening mates seems unstoppable for eg. 41...Be8 [41...Bxe4 42.Qf7+ Kh8 43.Qf8#; 41...Bh5 42.Bxh7+ Kh8 43.Qf8#] 42.Bxh7+ Kh8 43.Qf8# 1–0

photo from thomas luther site