In the 5th century there lived a warrior of mythic proportions: Attila, king of the Huns. Historians say he was born in Mongolia, where he organized a huge army that conquered a vast number of territories. His empire ran from central Europe to the Black Sea and from the Danube to the Baltic Sea. The “Scourge of Europe” invaded Rome twice and became the darkest nightmare of the Oriental and Occidental Roman Empire.

Legend states Attila was so powerful that wherever his horse stepped, the grass would never grow again.

The myth has returned in the personage of 17‑year‑old, Berlin player for chess club SC Kreuzberg, Atila Gajo Figura. This modern Atila became German Champion in the Under‑18 category in 2002. In 2004 he won the Qualifications Tournament of Berlin and this weekend took the spoils of victory in the 2006 Unicorn Open.

This tournament, played from May 24‑28 in Berlin, counted 154 participants. Among them were Grand Master Sergey Kalinitschev, International Master Ulf von Herman, Women International Master Anne Czääczine and eight FIDE‑Masters.

Atila’s horse does not run through the Euro‑Asiatic fields like the one of the storied homonymic king, but over the chess boards of Germany. Due to his youth, Atila has claimed no international titles, and to many it seemed he entered the tournament to reconnoiter the chess landscape where he will soon wage battle in earnest. Yet opponents should be advised that his youthfulness doesn’t make him any less dangerous.

Today we present a good example of our warning. It is Atila’s last game of the tournament, the game that raised him  to victory. After seeing him play, we can easily say that we may be witnessing a future Grand Master who can conquer the world.