by GM Alex Baburin http://www.chesstoday.net/
Today Serbian GM Svetozar Gligoric celebrates his 85th birthday. In the 1950s and 1960s Gligoric was one of the world’s leading chess players. He won the Yugoslav championship 12 times. Gligoric made a considerable contribution to opening theory, in particular in the King’s Indian Defence and the Nimzo-Indian Defence. Gligoric wrote several books – the best known of them is I play Against Pieces. He also served as an arbiter at some high profile chess events.
This picture was sent by FM Goran Tomic (Zelenika, Herceg Novi, Montenegro)
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
He’s truly a legend. He held his own against the Soviet players.
Now that Fischer has passed, it would be good for Gligoric to describe for the public what went into his decision to author Gligoric’s 2003 book “Shall We Play Fischerandom Chess?”.
Did Bobby ask his friend to write a book on FRC?
I think Gligoric kinda sorta held the position of the best non-Soviet chess player until Fischer came along.
GeneM
CastleLong.com , for FRC-chess960
Gligoric was of course a legendary player, but I wonder if he was the best non-Soviet player before Fischer.
For example, Gligoric had losing lifetime records against Portisch and Larsen, both of whom could be considered his chess contemporaries.
I really like his games. I learned a lot about the KID from them. I think Larsen was the better player in terms of creativity, but Gligoric was steadier.
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Portisch and Larsen, both of whom could be considered his chess contemporaries.
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not really. Gliga fought in WWII (Larsen was 4 when Denmark got occupied). They belong to different generations. in 1953 Gliga already played in Zurich candidates tournament. but at that time, Reschevsky Naidorf and Scabo were stronger then Gligorich.