Thomas Life and Games: Hero of Hastings
George Thomas was one of England’s strongest chess players in the 1930s, and also achieved success at both badminton and tennis. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Polygoon Hollands Nieuws, Public Domain, via WIkimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life George Thomas was born in 1881 near Istanbul in Turkey. As a […]
Grünfeld Life and Games: Theoretician and Author
Ernst Grünfeld was one of the world’s leading players of the 1920s, and one of the leading opening theoreticians of his time. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Ernst Grünfeld was born in 1893 in Vienna into a family who struggled financially. […]
Breyer Life and Games: Hero of Berlin 1920
Gyula Breyer was the winner of the strong international tournament held in Berlin in 1920, and set a new world record for blindfold simultaneous exhibitions. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Gyula Breyer was born in 1893 in Budapest, Austria-Hungary. He became […]
Flohr Life and Games: Hero of Hastings
Salomon Flohr was one of the strongest players of the 1930s and won the traditional Hastings tournament four times in four years. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Salomon Flohr was born in 1908 in Gorodenka, which today is in Ukraine. Flohr […]
Sämisch Life and Games: Hero of Dortmund 1928
Friedrich Sämisch was the winner of Dortmund 1928 and one of the world’s strongest players during the 1920s. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Friedrich Sämisch was born in 1896 in Charlottenburg, which would later become a part of Berlin. The start […]
Anderssen Life and Games: Hero of London 1851
Adolf Anderssen was one of the strongest players of his time, and the winner of London 1851, the first international chess tournament. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Cleveland Public Library, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Adolf Anderssen was born in 1818 in Breslau, Germany. He learned […]
Morphy Life and Games: Unofficial World Champion
Paul Morphy was the strongest player in the world in his time, and is remembered as an unofficial world champion. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Paul Morphy was born in 1837 in New Orleans. He was born into a wealthy family, […]
Paulsen Life and Games: Hero of Leipzig 1877
Louis Paulsen was one of the world’s strongest players in the 1860s and 1870s, and the winner of Leipzig 1877. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Cleveland Public Library, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Louis Paulsen was born in 1833 in Germany. There were very few opportunities […]
Duras Life and Games: Hero of Prague
Oldrich Duras was one of the world’s strongest players from 1905 to 1914, and shared 1st place at strong tournaments in Vienna and Prague in 1908. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Oldrich Duras was born in 1882 in Prague, Austria-Hungary, although […]
Vidmar Life and Games: Champion of Yugoslavia
Milan Vidmar was one of the world’s strongest players in the 1910s and 1920s, and became Yugoslavia’s first grandmaster. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Veličan Bešter, Digital Library of Slovenia, [XNFNI48W], Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Milan Vidmar was born in 1885 in Ljubljana, Austria-Hungary, although […]