How the Early Soviet State Turned Chess Into a Tool
A look inside the origins of Soviet chess culture. These articles trace how early USSR institutions and political leaders transformed chess into a tool for education, discipline, and national development, setting the foundation for decades of dominance in world chess.
Portorož Interzonal of 1958
The 1958 Portorož Interzonal brought Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, Svetozar Gligorić, David Bronstein, Pál Benko, Friðrik Ólafsson, and fifteen-year-old Bobby Fischer into one decisive world championship qualifier. Tal overtook Petrosian to win, and a dramatic final round completed the six-player Candidates field.
Svetozar Gligoric
Svetozar Gligorić was Yugoslavia’s leading postwar grandmaster, an eleven-time national champion, and a three-time World Championship Candidate. This researched profile examines his life, Olympiad record, playing style, theoretical work, journalism, international influence, and lasting chess legacy.