Svetozar Gligorić 1923-2012

There was sad news today for the chess world as a legendary Grandmaster, Svetozar Gligoric passed away aged 89. 

Svetozar Gligoric was born in Belgrade in 1923 and at his peak was a contender for the world chess championship, reaching the Candidates in 1953, 1959 and 1968.

Gilgoric was already the champion of Belgrade Chess Club by 1938, but the start of his professional chess career was delayed by the Second World War, during which time he was a member of Marshall Tito's partisan army fighting the Nazis.

Following the war he worked as a journalist and chess organiser while continuing to improve as a player, winning many major chess tournaments and gaining the Grandmaster title in 1953.

11 times a winner of his national championship, Gligoric represented Yugoslavia at 15 Olympiads between 1950 and 1982, leading them to a team gold medal in 1950 in Dubrovnik. He was also a noted openings expert, especially in the King's Indian defence and was a regular columnist in Chess Review and Chess Life magazines.

Svetozar Gligoric was universally well liked: a popular figure among his peers and chess fans alike, and will be sadly missed. RIP.

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