Happened Today in the Chess World - Apr 15, 2024

THE AUTUMN OF THE PATRIARCH

Lone Pine Open 1976: Miguel Najdorf vs Jeremy Silman
Photo: J.Donaldson - Source: edyetmaniii.substack.com

Today, we remember Grandmaster Miguel Najdorn, born in Grodzisk Madzowiecki, Poland, on April 15, 1910.
A Polish Jew, Najdorf, decided to establish himself in Argentina during the 1936 Buenos Aires Olympiads when WWII started. Najdorf was an eigth-time Argentinian champion.
The Polish GM participated in 14 Olympiads with Poland, winning two silver and two bronze medals with the team and one individual gold.
With Argentina, always playing on the first board, Najdorf won three memorable silver and one bronze medal with the team, as well as two gold and a silver medal individually.
Najdorf was a record man, too: In 1947, he played a simultaneous exhibition - blindfolded - against 45 people (a record that resisted until 2011!).
Najdorf was a candidate for the world title and was part of the "Rest of the World " Team that challenged Russia in 1970, where he drew his match against Michael Tal.
Najdorf's name is indissolubly tied to the most popular variation of the Sicilian Defense.
His legendary career is full of anecdotes and episodes that make chess history.

Miguel Najdorf-Samuel Schweber, Buenos Aires (Argentina: Seniores-Juniores) 1968
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