Florencio Campomanes Dies Aged 83

The former FIDE President Florencio Campomanes has died aged 83. 

Campomanes achieved National Master status as a player, and represented the Philippines at five Olympiads in the 1950's and 60's (wikipedia entry here).  But it for his dedicated work for the world chess governing body FIDE, that he will be best remembered.

As the national FIDE delegate for the Philippines, he helped bring the 1978 world chess championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi to Baguio City.

Campomanes was elected FIDE president in 1982 and held the office until 1995, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

Campomanes aimed to expand FIDE around the world and he succeeded in making the chess governing body a truly global organisation.  Although he was not personally a rich man, he raised large prize funds for the world championships held during his reign. 

However, Campomanes reign was also marred by the controversial abandonment of the first Karpov v Kasparov match, and the damaging schism in 1993.

In 2007, Campomanes was seriously injured in a car accident in Turkey, and was fortunate to survive.

Florencio Campomanes died on 3 May 2010.  Rest In Peace.