Ilmar Raud facts for kids
Ilmar Raud (born April 30, 1913 – died July 13, 1941) was a talented Estonian chess master. A chess master is a very skilled player who has achieved a high level of play in the game of chess. Ilmar Raud was known for his strong play in both Estonian and international chess tournaments.
Early Life and Chess Journey
Ilmar Raud was born in Viljandi, which was then part of the Russian Empire but is now in Estonia. He showed great promise in chess from a young age.
He competed many times in the Estonian Chess Championships, which are big tournaments held in Tallinn to find the best chess player in Estonia.
- In 1933, he finished tied for 3rd place in the 5th Estonian Championship.
- A year later, in 1934, he won the 6th Estonian Championship, becoming the national champion!
- He continued to do well, taking 3rd place in 1936 and 2nd place in 1937.
- In 1939, Ilmar Raud won the 10th Estonian Championship, proving his skill once again.
Playing for Estonia: The Chess Olympiads
Ilmar Raud also represented his home country, Estonia, in several important international chess tournaments called the Chess Olympiads. These are like the Olympic Games for chess, where teams from different countries compete against each other.
He played for Estonia in:
- The 6th Chess Olympiad in Warsaw in 1935.
- The 3rd unofficial Olympiad in Munich in 1936.
- The 7th Chess Olympiad in Stockholm in 1937.
- The 8th Chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1939.
At the 8th Chess Olympiad in 1939, the Estonian team, which included famous players like Paul Keres and Ilmar Raud, achieved a fantastic result. They won the bronze medal, finishing in 3rd place! This was a big achievement for Estonia in the world of chess.
Life in Argentina and Later Years
The 8th Chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires took place just as World War II began in September 1939. Because of the war, many chess players, including Ilmar Raud, decided it was safer to stay in Argentina rather than return to their home countries.
Ilmar Raud continued to play chess in Argentina. He competed in the Mar del Plata 1941 chess tournament, a strong international event. Sadly, Ilmar Raud passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 13, 1941, when he was only 28 years old.
