Miguel Najdorf

Born on 15 April 1910 in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland, into a Jewish family.

Learned chess at age 12 and quickly became one of Poland's strongest young players.

His early life was marked by poverty and the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Europe.

Studied at the University of Warsaw, though his studies were interrupted by his chess career.

He was largely self-taught as a chess player, developing his skills in the vibrant café chess culture of Warsaw.

One of the strongest players in the world from the 1940s through the 1960s, and a World Championship Candidate in 1950.

Represented Argentina in eleven Chess Olympiads, winning multiple team and individual medals.

Seven-time Argentine Champion.

Known for his brilliant tactical play and his deep opening preparation; the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6) is one of the most popular and extensively analyzed openings in chess history.

Survived the Holocaust after fleeing Poland in 1939; most of his family perished in the Holocaust. He once played a blindfold simultaneous exhibition against 45 opponents in 1947, winning 39, drawing 4, and losing 2 — a world record at the time.

Najdorf's escape from Europe in 1939 saved his life; he settled in Argentina and became a national hero there.

He was known for his larger-than-life personality, his love of cigars, and his fierce competitive spirit.

His blindfold exhibition was a tribute to his lost family and a demonstration of his incredible memory and concentration.

He remained active in chess until his death in 1997, and the Najdorf Variation remains one of the most played openings at all levels.

"I am a chess player, not a politician. But I am also a Jew, and I remember."

Najdorf: Life and Games by Alexander Beliavsky — a comprehensive biography and game collection.

The Najdorf Sicilian — a theoretical work on his eponymous opening.