
Milan Mrdja (1954-2024)
Legends never dieMilan Mrdja was born on 3th of December in Ljubljana, Slovenia, but grew up in Zagreb (Croatia), where he spent almost his entire life. He was introduced to chess in his school years and even then showed exceptional talent. It can be said that he is a self-taught chess player, since he never had a permanent coach. Mrki considered his most valuable achievements to be the three championship titles of Yugoslavia for juniors under 20. Milan was a true chess legend, loved by everyone for his cheerful and positive character, he was a true chess cosmopolitan.Throughout his life, Milan lived with chess, for chess and from chess. He travelled constantly around the world, participated in all possible tournaments, cheerful person with an exceptional sense of humour, Milan Mrdja, called by his friends Mrki, was the soul of every company, a hopeless optimist who never got discouraged and knew how to see the positive even in the most difficult moments. He easily created contacts and friendships and thanks to them he helped an incredible number of chess players organize their participation in various tournaments. Milan was a born competitor and fighter, he was ready for chess battles at any time of the day or night. He reached a high level – International Master, and in addition to this title he had three norms for the highest title – GM, but he lacked the rating to be established. He was not a top chess player, but he was a top personality who left a bright mark on the lives of many people, including mine. However, he did not suffer for this absence, since the game itself was important to him. I was fortunate to be close to him for over 20 years. Together we travelled to dozens of cities (mostly in Italy and Spain), where we played numerous tournaments, met many chess players, and made many friendships. Communicating with him taught me to believe in a good future, not to be discouraged by difficulties. Milan was unwaveringly confident that after every loss and failure, victories and successes would follow. Milan transmitted this faith and optimism to those around him, and this was one of the reasons for his immense popularity among chess players and fans. It can certainly be said that Milan Mrdja was the most popular ex-Yugoslav chess player in Italy - a true chess legend. I am infinitely sad that Milan is no longer among the living, but I am happy that we met and our lives intertwined and that we were able to experience unforgettable and exciting moments together. You will remain forever in my heart. Rest in peace, dear Mrkica!
Here are the memories of one of his best friends, Maurizio Caposciuti:
"When I met Milan Mrdja in tournaments on the French Riviera, circumnavigating the fateful year 2000, around the age of thirty, I always had a little adrenaline rush. With him you were immediately updated on all the news and the tournament calendar.
A human Google, with the advantage of always receiving a smile, a joke, a piece of advice. It was he who, after having often seen me attend the Nice Open, summer and winter, introduced me to the President of l’Echiquier Nicoise Thierry Foissez to play in the French team championship. For me, who twenty-five years ago was running away from Tuscan tournaments because I didn’t like the environment and players, it was a panacea. I immediately fit in wonderfully in the team composed of 9 elements and they were carefree and very beautiful years that I remember with a bit of nostalgia. The Croatian International Master was famous, in addition to his remarkable strength with White, also for taking on endless journeys laden with the famous suitcases full of books, above all he was the one who, from Belgrade and Zagreb, brought to Italy, France and in general to Western Europe, the famous Chess Informant, the object of desire of all tournament players. And so when you saw him enter the tournament hall at the time of registration confirmation, you only thought about buying the latest informant, leafing through it immediately avidly in search of theoretical novelties in your favorite openings. Once, we were at the Open in Cannes, he had just arrived and asked me if I was in the car and if I could accompany him to the train station where he had placed two bags full of chess books in an automatic locker. I said that I would certainly help him. We went and when he opened the cabinet and I saw the two bags I immediately offered to take one, but when I went to lift it I only moved it a few centimeters! That episode disconcerted me and forced me to reflect on the effort he made, sometimes together with other Slavic colleagues, to carry around Europe those incredibly heavy suitcases. Chess books are sacred to many players. I heard of a Grand Master who went around with a bag of books and that in the evening he made them sleep in his bed while he rested on the floor. In that same tournament, one evening, an episode occurred that was disconcerting to me: Milan's request to accompany him down the Croisette to discover the backgammon business, tric trac. As we walked, we stopped at a place where he picked up a special box of cigars that he was going to sell to a participant inthe tournament. And then off to the Hotel Martinez, at the end of the Croisette, in whose underground hall backgammon players from all over the world challenged each other in high stakes games! I had never suspected such an environment. I asked if I could be the polite corner-keeper, then after an hour, having studied and catalogued the fauna present, which did not excite me as much as their game, we left and everything went smoothly. Once, again at one of the Cannes Opens, we were staying like manychess players at Pierre Vacance, a nice village above Cannes full of residences. The tournament was going quite well, but that afternoon I was playing with the Greek Grand Master Skembris. I told Milan that I would be sorry to lose... and he said to me: “Do you have White?” “Yes” “What’s the problem then? Make 10 strong moves and offer a draw, he’ll be scared, he’ll accept”. No sooner said than done! Not the best from a sporting point of view but goal achieved. During the 2001 Nice Open, in the halls of the then Hotel Plaza in Place Massena, walking during the games (cheating was not even imaginable at the time) he came up to me and with disarming naturalness said: “Maurizio, isn’t that Andreotti?” “Yes, it’s him” I replied, surprised. Giulio Andreotti had entered the tournament area accompanied by the journalist Adolivio Capece. He was there quietly without an escort, Capece introduced him to me and we exchanged a few words about the game of chess. The chess and extra-chess adventures with Milan Mrdja do not end here, these are some indelible memories but there would be many more."
Here are five bold, beautiful, and fantasy-filled examples of his play:
Milan Mrdja - Gawain Jones, Montecatini Terme (ITA), 2003
Milan Mrdja - Vladislav Nevednichy, Cappelle la Grande (FRA), 1996
Milan Mrdja - Igors Rausis, Porto San Giorgio (ITA), 2000
Milan Mrdja - Anthony C Kosten, Asti (ITA), 1994
Milan Mrdja – Victor Korchnoj, Lugano (Suisse) 1984