Viktors Pupols facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Viktors Pupols |
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Pupols in 2009
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| Country | United States |
| Born | July 31, 1934 Tacoma, Washington |
| Peak rating | 2239 (January 2006) |
Viktors Pūpols (born July 31, 1934) is an American chess master. Many local players call him "Uncle Vik." He often plays at the Tacoma Chess Club. In 1955, he became the Club Champion. You can find some of his games on the club's website. Pupols is married to Deborah Petzal-Pupols.
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Viktors Pupols: A Chess Master
Viktors Pupols is a well-known figure in the world of chess. He has played chess for many years. His skills earned him the title of chess master.
Early Chess Years
Pupols started playing in the Washington State Championship tournament in 1954. He has played in most of these tournaments since then. He won the championship outright in 1961, 1974, and 1989. He also tied for first place in 1978. In 1964, he won the tournament, but another player, Gerald Ronning, took the title in a special match.
Playing Against Bobby Fischer
In 1955, Pupols played in the U.S. Junior Championship Open. This tournament was held in Lincoln, Nebraska. A famous young chess player named Bobby Fischer also played there. Pupols managed to beat Bobby Fischer in one of their games. He used a special opening move called the Latvian Gambit. This was one of only two games that Fischer ever lost because he ran out of time. Bobby Fischer later became the youngest grandmaster in the world, just three years after this game.
Other Tournament Wins
Pupols has won many other chess events. In 1975, he tied for 6th-11th place in a tournament in Vancouver. In 1980, he won the Keres Memorial tournament, also in Vancouver. He also won the Idaho Open three times in a row (1984, 1985, and 1986). In 2005, he won the Eastern Washington Open again. He had first won this tournament way back in 1956 when he was a teenager.
Chess Titles Earned
Viktors Pupols has earned important chess titles. On May 25, 1992, he received the Candidate Master (CM) title. Later, on April 4, 1994, he earned the Life Master (LM) title. These titles show his high level of skill in chess.
About His Biography
A book about Viktors Pupols was written by Larry Parr. It is called Viktors Pupols, American Master. The book was published in 1983. In the book, Viktors shared some fun stories. He talked about playing against a young chess player named Yasser Seirawan. Viktors said he could not even see his opponent. He could only hear a voice from under the table saying, "Check!!"
See also
