LEKO   VS.  ADAMS

5/11/2005 -  Got this press release from Carlsen Hensel, who is Kramnik and Leko's manager. Peter Leko will challenge Michael Adams in a  8 game rapid match. The match will take place in Miskolc, Hungry.  Play will commence on May 31st and end on June 6th.
This should be an exciting match between two of the worlds best players. Both are in the top 10. In late 2004, Peter Leko came within a game of defeating Vladimir Kramnik and becoming the 15th world champion. Early in 2005, Leko took first place in a very tough field at Corus, where he defeated 2nd place finisher Vishy Anand. Michael Adams also had a good 2004. He also came with in a game of defeating Rustam Kasimdzhanov and  winning the 2004 FIDE KO in Libya. Adams also defeated Vishy Anand at Linares this year.  This top ten fight should be exciting. Stay tuned for Hangin the Greek's keys to victory. Here are some of the details below.

The Main Patron of the Match is Mr. Sandor Kali, the Mayor of the City Miskolc.
 
The venue of the Match: Kossuth Cinema.
 
The aim of our programme

 Miskolc is the city of the festivals. The Bartók+… Opera Festival had begun five years ago and became famous not only in Europe but in other parts of the world thanks to the successful performances. After the fashion of this festival, municipality of Miskolc initiates Lékó&… rapid chess serial which high-standard is proved by a world-class International Grandmaster. Michael Adams, who is the 7th on the world ranking list, and who is invited to the Argentinian World Championship by the end of this year such as Péter Lékó, who is the 4th on the FIDE world ranking list. Our city will be given a new opportunity to the European Capital of Culture 2010 respecting the old traditions of heavy industry as well as popularity of culture and sports in city of Miskolc.

The Schedule of the Match
 
31. 05. Arriving day
 

01.06. 6:00 PM Opening Ceremony and drawing of lots. Reception for the invited Guests.

 

02.06  4:00 PM 1st Game

            5:30 PM 2nd Game After the second game 10-15 minutes Press Conference

 

 

03.06.  4:00 PM 3rd Game

             5:30 PM 4th Game After the 4th game 10-15 minutes Press Conference

 

04. 06. 4:00 PM 5th Game

             5:30 PM 6th Game  After the 6th game 10-15 minutes Press Conference

 

05. 06. 4:00 PM 7nd Game

           5:30 PM 8th Game After the 8th game the Press Conference (cca 30 Minutes)

05. 06 8:00 PM Closing Ceremony, Reception for the invited Guests.

 

 The website: www.lekoandadams-miskolc.hu 

(it will be working 4-5 days before the Match)

 

 

The history of Miskolc, the descendants of the ancient settlement which was formed at the foot of the Avas Hill, along the two brooks called Szinva and Pece flowing into the river Sajó, can be traced back to
paleoanthrophic cultures where man's earliest implements were carved from stone and bone. The  Szeleta Cave near by Lillafüred and other caves in the Bükk Mountains have preserved not only the memories, but also traces of the hard life of man in pieces of clothing and finely worked clasps. At the top of the Avas Hill Neolithic tools were found. The region was gradually populated during this period over 10,000 years ago. The grinding implements and the richly ornamented ceramics found in the Bükk Mountains are 5,000 years old. The finds coming from the area of the today's Iron Works refer to a more developed way of life during the Bronze Age.

The first dwellers known in the Miskolc region at the end of the Iron Age were the Cotinus, one of the Celts' tribes. During the period of the Great Migrations, Teutonic, Sarmatian, Hun, and Avar people made their permanent home in this region.

This area was settled by the Ancient Hungarians over a thousand years ago, and the settlement was named after the Miskóc clan. The settlement became the centre of the region from the beginning of 11th
century. A work by Anonymus (ca. 1210) mentions the dwelling place of the Bors-Miskóc clan at the time of the Magyar conquest as terra Miskoucy. This clan founded a St. Benedictine abbey in  Tapolca Valley but the Tartars burnt down the settlement in 1241.

The Bors-Miskóc clan lost their power in 1312 when they stood against Róbert Károly, whose intention was to break the feudal anarchy.

The clan of Miskóc was followed by the Széchy family who laid the foundations of urbanization. They managed to obtain the rights to hold countrywide fairs, and exercise minor jurisdiction, which resulted in
Miskolc, the former village developing into a market town.

At the end of 1364 Lajos I. (the Great) annexed the town of Miskolc to the Diósgyor Royal Estate. The 13th century Diósgyor Royal Castle, which was accomplished and magnificently developed in the 15th
century, became the centre of the Royal Estate including Miskolc. A Pauline Monastery, which was the only one of a Hungarian foundation dating back to the time of the Árpád dynasty, used to stand in Diósgyor.

By the end of the 15th century the townscape had changed a lot and the origins of today's town centre were gradually developing at the foot of the Avas Hill. The town's ancient school (now museum) was established on the side of the Szinva brook near by the church, which still exists built on the side of the Avas Hill.

The first wave of Turkish war reached the town of Miskolc in 1544. The most beautiful buildings fell prey to the first attack of pasha of Buda. The Turks burnt the thatched houses, and carried off all the able- bodied men and drove away all their animals. With the fall of Eger Miskolc too, joined the taxpayers of the Turks but no such devastation as in 1544 reached town ever since, which can be attributed to the foresight and the tactful diplomacy of the town council.

Before chasing the Turks out of the country the Kuruc troops (Hungarian insurrectionists) had taken possession of the Diósgyor Castle in 1674 but it was only in 1687 that Miskolc ceased to be taxpayer to the Turks.

During the Rákóczi war of independence the prince put his headquarters in Miskolc from 18th of January to 15th March in 1704. On 25th of September in 1706 town was sacked and burnt by the imperial
forces.

The town council was formed on 1st January in 1707 and during two short years — with the patronage of the prince, the town of Miskolc was reconstructed.

The most significant buildings of Miskolc were constructed during the great period of prosperity in the 18th century. All denominations started to build their own churches and schools, and presently town
hall and county hall were built.

The first inn of Miskolc with storeys was built in 1570. The rich landlords built mansions one after another: Dory-, Almássy-, Szathmáry-, and Király mansions. Characteristically of a town advancing towards the Enlightenment there was an active Masonic lodge in Miskolc around 1780 which kept in touch with the Hungarian Jacobin people as well. The first stone-built theatre of the country was put up here with the contribution of Miskolc citizens in 1823. When Széchenyi and Kossuth appeared in the country's public life their political programme was followed by Szemere Bertalan and Palóczy László first in Miskolc, and then as representatives in the Parliament. Szemere Bertalan, who was first Home Secretary, later on became the Prime Minister of the First Independent Hungarian Government on the side of the Governor Kossuth after the dethronement of the Hapsburgs.

The population of Miskolc took an active part in the revolution. More than 700 volunteers entered the newly formed militia. Later on the Hungarian Army was set up and all these militiamen went over to it.
During the winter of 1848 Szemere Bertalan organized the Upper-Tisza Army in Miskolc. Jókai Mór in order to evade persecution also hid here in the vast forests of the Bükk.

 
After the Compromise of 1867 the town began developing. This development was based on the railway, which was completed by 1859. In 1868 the Diósgyor Ironworks became the successor of the Hámor metallurgy. Development was interrupted neither by the cholera epidemic in 1873 nor the devastating flood in 1878. This natural catastrophe took 277 human lives away in one hour, destroyed 700 houses and damaged 2182 buildings.
 
After nearly all of the famous vineyards of Miskolc were devastated by the filoxera they were not replanted as the inhabitants now earned their living in industry and trade. Multi-storied houses built at this time gave an urban character to the town. They still can be seen in the streets. The town got municipal rights in 1907. Ferenc József I. granted a crested charter to the town on 11th May in 1909.

The violence of the First World War did not reach the immediate area of the town but indirectly it damaged the inhabitants of the town. More than 5000 people fell victim to the cholera epidemic in the local military hospital and the cholera huts. Two new cemeteries had to be built: the Heroes' cemetery at Tetemvár (Corpsecastle) and another cemetery for those who died of cholera situated beyond the Sajó river.

Following the First World War, a decline occurred in the regime's economy. This situation was made worse by influx of Hungarian refugees arriving from the newly detached parts of the country.

The production level decreased initially because of the economic crisis. However, by the middle of the 1930's an economic upturn occurred due to the development of the military industry making preparations for war.

During the 2nd World War the town first experienced an air attack on 2nd June 1944. For the inhabitants of Miskolc the war came to an end on 3rd December with the arrival of the Soviet Red Army. Miskolc
suffered massively because of the war: 350 houses were destroyed; 7150 damaged and all the bridges were blown up due to the air raids. Wooden headboards were erected in memory of the victims of the 2nd World War in the Szemere-garden.

The town was rebuilt rapidly and became one of the industrial centres of the region. Consequently, huge factories and housing estates were built and the University of Technical Sciences was established here in 1949.

The Miskolc University Youth and the Workers' Council of the Iron Works played an important role in the revolutionary events of 1956. The victims of the revolution are commemorated with plaques in several prominent places in the city.

The number of inhabitants increased significantly due to the industrial developments of the 1960-70's and therefore huge housing estates were built in different parts of the town such as Kilián and Szentpéteri kapu. Besides these the Avas housing estate was built where more than 35 thousands people live at present.

The vast reconstruction of the town centre began in the middle of the 1980's and it is still going on. The principal street of the town called Széchenyi Street was repaved as a part of this redevelopment. The 100 year-old tram network is also being renovated. The commercial life of the city is now growing rapidly. Miskolc in the 90's is a dynamic town developing and changing with the new times.