Flear Glenn Curtis (12.02.1959)

English Grandmaster (1987) and coach. Flear’s major victory was his unexpected performance at the Super London 1986 (XIII) ahead of the top players at the time. He was then invited to be a member of the English Olympiad team 1986.  Married to the French Women’s Champion, Christine Leroy, he decided to move to Montpellier in France.

Berclaz Philippe (1963)

Swiss Correspondence Grandmaster (2005). Among his best results Berclaz finished third in the Gillman Memorial in 1999 and in the Christoffel Memorial in 2002. In 2005 he had an CC ELO of 2569.    

Fiske Daniel Willard (11.11.1831 – 17.09.1904)

American author, editor, chess collector and philanthropist. Fiske’s work in 1857 brought about the First American Chess Congress, the advent of Paul Morphy as well as the American Chess Monthly.  This very fine magazine lasted for nearly four and a half years and its end was hastened by the civil war (1857-1860). In 1861 Fiske

Filippov Anton (06.12.1986)

Uzbek Grandmaster. Filippov was the Asian U18 Champion 2004 and Uzbek Champion in 2005 and 2007. Best results: the Uzbek Championship in 2003, 2nd-3rd; the Parsvnath International Open 2005, 3rd; the Zonal 3.6 in 2007, 1st-2nd; Agzamov Memorial 2008, 1st-3rd; Mumbai Major Cup 2008, 1st-7th and YM Twente 2008, 1st; Kolkata Open 2009, 2nd; President Gloria

Finkel Alexander (01.01.1975)

Israeli Grandmaster (1995) born in Ukraine.  Finkel graduated in Law and he is working as a lawyer.  Israeli Champion U20, Israeli Rapid Champion 1999, Israeli blitz Champion 2000. Best results: winner or shared first at Beer-Sheva 1994, Dutch Open 1997, Cap d Agde Open 1998 and Israeli Grand Prix 2001. Peak rating: 2505 in 2005.

Faragó Iván (01.04.1946)

Hungarian Grandmaster (1976) graduated in Economics.  Farago was joint Hungarian Champion in 1981 with Lajos Portisch and Open Hungarian Champion in 1998. Best results: first or shared first at IBM Master in Amsterdam 1975, Halle 1978, Kecskemet 1979, Svenborg 1981, Albena 1983, Budapest Noviki 1987, Budapest Texta 1988, Silkeborg 1988, Wuerzburg Open 1991, Giessen Open 1991,

Durand Philippe Ambroise (1799-11.02.1880)

French abbé and chess writer. One of the few French writers who has left a name in the annals of chess of the 19th century. Durand was a professor of Rhetoric then instructor of Philosophy. He was part author of the popular La stratégie raisonnée: 1- des ouvertures; 2- des parties à avantage and 3- des

Dizdarevic Emir (02.04.1958)

Bosnian Grandmaster (1988) born in Croatia. FIDE Trainer (2005). Bosnian Champion in 2010. Best results: won or shared first at Albana and Sumen in 1982, Pleven 1987, Sarajevo 1988, Sibenik 1989, Suhr 1990, Ptuj 1991, Solin 1993, Kastel Stari 1997, Croatia Zonal 2000, Vienna Open 2003, Subasic Memorial in 2005, Zenica 2010; Bajro Isakovic Memorial 2011;

Dizdar Goran (04.12.1958)

Croatian Grandmaster (1991). Croatian Champion in 1995. Best results: won or shared first at Linz 1982, Oberwart Open 1983, Vonkovci 1986, Lichtenstein Open 1988 and Makarska 1996. Also 2nd at Hornicky Kahanec 1980, Tulza 1983,  Makarska 1994, Zadar Open 1996, A participant at the Olympiads between 1994 and 2006 and at the 1999 World Championship.

Chess Fact 27

Less known Immortal Game but as much spectacular was produced in 1931 by Efim Korchmar and named ‘the Ukraine Immortal’ …