Svetozar Gligorić

Born on 2 February 1923 in Belgrade, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (now Serbia).

Learned chess at age 11 from a board left behind by a Russian émigré.

His childhood was marked by the hardships of the Great Depression and the turmoil of the Balkans, but chess became his escape and his passion.

Studied at the University of Belgrade, though his studies were interrupted by World War II.

During the war, he was a member of the Yugoslav Partisans and played chess in between battles, including a famous game against a German officer.

The leading Yugoslav grandmaster for decades and one of the strongest players in the world from the 1950s through the 1970s.

Twelve-time Yugoslav Champion (the record).

World Championship Candidate on multiple occasions, reaching the Candidates in 1953, 1959, and 1968.

Defeated many of the world's top players, including Bobby Fischer in their first encounter (1961).

Known for his solid, positional style and his deep understanding of the Ruy Lopez, to which he contributed the Gligorić Variation.

Also a prolific and beloved chess writer and journalist, spreading the game throughout Yugoslavia and beyond.

Gligorić was a national hero in Yugoslavia, not only for his chess but for his wartime service with the Partisans.

He was one of the first Eastern Bloc players to compete regularly in the West, helping to bridge the chess divide during the Cold War.

His book I Play Against Pieces is a classic memoir that reveals his humanistic approach to the game.

He was known for his warmth, wit, and generosity, and remained a beloved ambassador for chess until his death in 2012.

"I play against pieces, not against people."

I Play Against Pieces — his memoir and game collection.

The Chess of Gligorić — a collection of his best games.

Sicilian Defence: Dragon Variation — a theoretical work.