BIRTHS

Louis Malpers (1893), a Belgian chess problemist.
Efim Geller (1925-17.11.1998), a Ukrainian Grandmaster, author and coach who won the Soviet Championship twice and was a Candidate for the World Championship on six occasions.
Vasha Neidze (1937), a Georgian International Master for composition.
Lexy Ortega (1960), Italian Grandmaster born in Cuba who was Italian  Champion in 2009.
Bogdan Lalic (1964), a Croatian Grandmaster and author living in England.
Alexy Kuzmin (1963) a Russian Grandmaster and coach living in Qatar who worked for Karpov and Morozevich.

DEATHS

Jose R. Capablanca (19.11.1888-1942), a Cuban Master, author, and diplomate who was the World Chess Champion from 1921 to 1927.
Paul Lipke (30.06.1870-1955), a German Master who won the 7th DSB-Kongress in 1892.
Elisaveta Bykova (04.11.1913-1989), a Soviet International Master and Women Grandmaster who became the third and fifth Women’s World Chess Champion, from 1953 until 1956, and again from 1958 to 1962.
Prof. Lim Kok Ann (1920-2003), A Singaporean player who was the FIDE General Secretary for many years.

CHESS EVENTS

1999 The FIDE President Ilyumzhinov signed an application for membership at the IOC for chess to be recognized as a sport.

WORLD EVENTS

1702 Queen Anne, the younger sister of Mary II, becomes Queen regnant of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
1702 William III of Orange (51), Dutch King of England (1689-1702), died after falling from his horse1817 – The New York Stock Exchange is founded.
1844 King Oscar I ascends to the thrones of Sweden and Norway.
1886 Edward Kendall, chemist, isolated cortisone (Nobel 1950), was born.
1917 International Women’s Day protests in St. Petersburg mark the beginning of the February Revolution (February 23rd in the Julian).
1920 The Arab Kingdom of Syria, the first modern Arab state to come into existence, is established.
1921 Spanish Prime Minister Eduardo Dato Iradier is assassinated while exiting the parliament building in Madrid.
1930 Mahatma Gandhi started civil disobedience in India.
1936 Daytona Beach and Road Course holds its first oval stock car race.
1937 Spanish Civil War: The Battle of Guadalajara begins.
1942 Japanese captured Rangoon, Burma, during World War II.
1949 President of France Vincent Auriol and ex-emperor of Annam Bảo Đại sign the Élysée Accords, giving Vietnam greater independence from France.
1957 Ghana joins the United Nations.
1974 Charles the Gaulle Airport (aka Roissy I) opened outside of Paris.
1983 IBM released PC DOS version 2.0.
2001 In Afghanistan the giant Buddha at Bamiyan was destroyed.
(Source: Wikipedia-Timeline)

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