Romanian Grandmaster (1979) who the national championship eight times between 1952 and 1979.
Best results: Winner at Sofia 1962, Reggio Emilia 1966/67 and 1968/69, Tunis 1973, Dortmund 1974, Bucharest 1975, Santu Mare 1979 and Val Thorens in 1981.
A participant in eleven Olympiads between 1956 and 1982. He was one of the few who defeated Bobby Fischer (1962 at Varna).
Ciocaltea died at the chess table, while playing 4th round game at Manresa tournament. Since then he has a memorial tournament regularly organized.
Romanian Grandmaster (1979) who the national championship eight times between 1952 and 1979.