GM Lilienthal has been a dear friend of my family since I was about 4 years old. I once asked him about his secret to a long life.
He gave me 2 answers: The first was taking alternate hot and cold showers. The second I cannot repeat publicly 🙂
Here is his brief biography:
Andor (Andre, Andrea) Arnoldovich Lilienthal (born May 5, 1911) is a Hungarian chess Grandmaster. In his long career, he played against ten world champions, beating Emanuel Lasker, José Raúl Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine, Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik, and Vasily Smyslov. Lilienthal, who celebrated his 98th birthday on May 5, 2009, is still active, in good health, driving his car, and writing articles for chess magazines. As of 2009[update] he is the oldest living Grandmaster.
Lilienthal was born in Moscow to Hungarian Jewish parents and moved to Hungary at age two. He played for Hungary in three Chess Olympiads, 1933, 1935, and 1937. Emigrating to the Soviet Union in 1935, he became a Soviet citizen in 1939. Lilienthal played in the USSR Chess Championship eight times, with his best result being a first place tie with Igor Bondarevsky in 1940. He qualified for the Candidates Tournament once, in 1948.
From 1951 until 1960 he was Tigran Petrosian’s trainer. Lilienthal began a friendship with Vasily Smyslov in 1938, and was Smyslov’s second in his world championship matches against Botvinnik. He retired from tournament play in 1965 and returned to Hungary in 1976.
Source: Wikipedia
Special thanks to IM Ken Regan for sending us a reminder.
man…I remember reading about him like 30 years ago in this old book I have..”The Soviet School of Chess” I still have this dog eared book. It sort of seemed like he was someone from the past if you read their remarks….and that was in 61!!!!!! I believe he was a good friend of fischers….and a greatly under appreciated chess influence in the 20th..now 21st century! Happy Birthday Andras!
Mike Magnan
Being able to follow the second advice past 70 is an achievement in itself!!!
It was National Public Radio that provided the reminder—I was listening at the “Top of the Hour” of their “Morning Edition” news programme on the strike of 9am (EDT), when they commonly note the birthday of one or two celebrities. I was pleasantly amazed to hear “Chess Grandmaster Andor Lilienthal celebrates his 99th birthday today” as the only one mentioned!
I wonder what Hungarians say in place of “Sto Lat!”—which is pretty much universally understood in cities like Buffalo with a large Polish culture. And, is it still good to wish someone that when they’re already in their 100th year?
Susan, Um gunna have to get some real info outta this man some kinda way ,i think he got some ideas that hes not verbalizing Susan, ive been studying the history of chess and the greats always leave signs of whats to come Susan, ya know? oh Susan just read Regan’s Blog ,Thomas Olszway introduced me to Rodney Williams back in 89 or 90 at the St. Kolbe Chess Club thats one reason the top guys seein GHOSTS!
Susan you can repeat it publicly. We will still like you. In fact we will like you even more, as you will be giving us advice that will enable us to live long.
You can also email your response to multipurpose_123@hotmail.com
I’m a dead man.
Happy Birthday GM Lilienthal
To MiddleofNoWhere
She doesn’t want to make a comment inappropriate for children.
I know the secret thing he does to stay young!
He exercises daily and eats healthy.
Is he cendrier(GM) on ICC?
Happy Birthday Andor!
“The Soviet School O Chess” I too have this book,a wonderful look in to the soviet life. It was won of my first chess books. Many interesting pictures and stories. Good for ” Lilienthal ” happy B-Day !!. MIKE.
The second advice is to play a lot of chess with appropriate opponentS :)))))))
How sad……just a few days after his birthday He passed away…..