Harry Golombek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harry Golombek |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country | England |
| Born | 1 March 1911 Lambeth, London, England |
| Died | 7 January 1995 (aged 83) Lambeth, London, England |
| Title | International Master (1950) Grandmaster (1985, honorary) |
Harry Golombek OBE (born March 1, 1911 – died January 7, 1995) was a very important British chess player, writer, and even a secret codebreaker during World War II. He won the British Chess Championship three times, in 1947, 1949, and 1955. He was known around the world for his chess skills and his many books about the game.
Contents
Harry Golombek's Life
Harry Golombek was born in Lambeth, a part of London, England. His parents were from Poland. He loved chess from a young age.
A Chess Champion
Harry was a fantastic chess player. He won the title of British Chess Champion three times! This made him one of the best players in the country. He also played for England nine times in the Chess Olympiad, which is a big international team chess tournament.
In 1950, he earned the title of International Master. Later, in 1985, he was given the special title of Honorary Grandmaster. This is one of the highest honors in chess! He was also the first British player to qualify for an Interzonal tournament, which is a step towards playing for the World Chess Championship.
Chess Writer and Editor
Harry Golombek was not just a player; he was also a famous chess writer. He worked as the chess correspondent for The Times newspaper for 40 years, from 1945 to 1985. This meant he wrote articles about chess games and events for the newspaper.
He also edited many chess books and was the editor of British Chess Magazine for a few years. He even translated chess books from Russian into English, helping more people learn about chess strategies.
A Wartime Codebreaker
When World War II started in September 1939, Harry Golombek was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, playing chess for Britain in the Chess Olympiad. He and his teammates, C. H. O'D. Alexander and Stuart Milner-Barry, quickly returned to the UK.
They were soon recruited to work at Bletchley Park. This was a top-secret place where brilliant minds worked to break enemy codes during the war. Harry worked in a special section called Hut 8. This team was responsible for solving secret messages sent by the German Navy using their Enigma machine. It was a very important job that helped the Allies win the war.
Helping Others Learn Chess
After the war, Harry lived in a town called Chalfont St Giles. He was known for being very kind and thoughtful. He would carefully reply to letters from people he didn't know, even young schoolboys who wrote to him about chess. He wanted to help everyone who was interested in the game.
In 1966, Harry Golombek was awarded the OBE. This was a special honor given to him for his great contributions to chess. He was the first person to receive such an award for services to the game.
Harry Golombek passed away on January 7, 1995. He left behind a great legacy as a chess champion, a dedicated writer, and a wartime hero.
Harry Golombek's Books
Harry Golombek wrote and edited many books about chess. Here are some of them:
- The World Chess Championship 1948, 1948
- World Chess Championship 1954, 1954
- Reti's Best Games of Chess, 1954
- The Game of Chess, 1980
- The World Chess Championship 1957, 1957
- Instructions to Young Chess Players, 1958
- Modern Opening Chess Strategy, 1959
- 4th Candidates Tournament 1959: Bled, Zagreb, Belgrade, 1960
- Capablanca's Hundred Best Games of Chess, 1947
- Fischer v Spassky: The World Chess Championship 1972, 1973
- Chess: A History, 1976
- Improve Your Chess, 1976
- The Best Games of C.H.O'D. Alexander (co-authored with William Hartston), 1976
- Golombek's Encyclopedia of Chess (as editor-in-chief), 1977
- Beginning Chess, 1981
Images for kids
-
Hoogovens 1949: Golombek playing against Alberic O'Kelly de Galway
