Ossip Bernstein

Born on 20 September 1882 in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire, into a wealthy Jewish family .

Received a privileged upbringing that allowed him to pursue both law and chess.

Studied law and became a lawyer, practicing in Moscow and later in Paris .

One of the inaugural recipients of the Grandmaster title in 1950 .

A leading player in the early 20th century, his chess career lasted over half a century .

Made and lost three fortunes: in the 1917 Russian Revolution, in the 1929 Wall Street crash, and in 1940 when the Germans took Paris .

After the Communist revolution, he left Russia and settled in France .

At age 72, he was still playing strong chess; he passed away in 1962 at age 80 .

Bernstein was one of the game's larger-than-life characters, known for his forceful personality and creative play .

He was reportedly arrested by the Bolsheviks and sentenced to death, but was spared when a Bolshevik officer recognized him as a famous chess player and challenged him to a game for his life — Bernstein won and was released.

He was a mentor to many younger players and a beloved figure in the chess world.

(No famous personal quotes widely documented; his life story is his legacy.)

Bernstein did not author major books, but his games have been collected in various volumes.