Aleksandar Matanović facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aleksandar Matanović |
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Matanović during the "Peter Stuyvesant" chess tournament in Zevenaar, Netherlands (1961)
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| Full name | Aleksandar Matanović |
| Country | Serbia |
| Born | 23 May 1930 Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
| Died | 9 August 2023 (aged 93) |
| Title | Grandmaster (1955) |
| FIDE rating | 2490 (June 2025) |
| Peak rating | 2525 (January 1976) |
Aleksandar Matanović (Serbo-Croatian Cyrillic: Александар Матановић) was a famous Serbian chess player. He was born on May 23, 1930, and passed away on August 9, 2023. He earned the highest title in chess, becoming a Grandmaster. Matanović was also very important for chess education. He was the person who started and led Chess Informant, a well-known publication that helps chess players learn and improve.
Contents
His Amazing Chess Journey
Becoming a Chess Grandmaster
Aleksandar Matanović started his chess career with great success. In 1948, he won the junior championship of Yugoslavia. This showed everyone his strong talent for the game. He was given the prestigious Grandmaster title in 1955. This is one of the highest honors a chess player can achieve.
Winning National Titles
Matanović became the Yugoslav national champion three times. He won in 1962 (sharing the title with Minić), 1969, and 1978. He also finished second in the championship several other times. These wins proved he was one of the best players in his country.
Top Tournament Results
He achieved many impressive results in international tournaments. He placed first at Opatija in 1953 and at Hamburg in 1955. He also won tournaments in Beverwijk in 1957 and Zevenaar in 1961. In 1961, he tied for first place in Buenos Aires. These victories showed his skill against top players from around the world.
A Special Chess Connection
Matanović had an Elo rating of 2490, which is a very high score for a chess player. He was also one of the few living players with a "Morphy Number 3." This means he played against someone who played against someone who played against the famous chess legend Paul Morphy. After another grandmaster, Yuri Averbakh, passed away in 2022, Matanović became the oldest living grandmaster in the world.
Beyond the Chessboard
A Leader in Chess Publishing
Besides playing, Matanović made huge contributions to chess education. He wrote many leading chess encyclopedias. These books are like dictionaries for chess, helping players understand different strategies. In 1966, he started Chess Informant, a special magazine for chess players. He was its first editor-in-chief, guiding its content for many years. This publication is famous for its Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings.
A Voice on the Radio
Aleksandar Matanović also worked as a radio announcer and producer. This allowed him to share his knowledge and passion for chess with an even wider audience.
His Final Years
Aleksandar Matanović passed away on August 9, 2023. He was 93 years old. He left behind a great legacy in the world of chess, both as a player and as a publisher.
See also
In Spanish: Aleksandar Matanović para niños
