Wolfgang Heidenfeld facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wolfgang Heidenfeld |
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| Full name | Wolfgang Heidenfeld |
| Country | Germany, South Africa, Ireland |
| Born | 29 May 1911 Berlin, German Empire |
| Died | 3 August 1981 (aged 70) Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany |
Wolfgang Heidenfeld (born May 29, 1911 – died August 3, 1981) was a talented chess player. He was born in Berlin, Germany. Wolfgang became a champion in both South Africa and Ireland.
Contents
Early Life and Moving Countries
Wolfgang Heidenfeld had to leave Germany in the 1930s. This was because he was Jewish during a difficult time in Germany. He moved to South Africa to find safety.
Chess in South Africa
In South Africa, Wolfgang became a very successful chess player. He won the South African Chess Championship eight times! He also played for South Africa in the Chess Olympiad in 1958. This is a big international chess tournament.
More Than Just Chess
Wolfgang Heidenfeld had many different interests and jobs. He was a writer and even designed crossword puzzles. He also worked as a door-to-door salesman and a journalist. His hobbies included playing poker and bridge, and collecting stamps. During World War II, he even helped the Allies by decoding secret German messages.
Amazing Chess Wins
Wolfgang Heidenfeld was known for beating some very strong players. In 1955, he won a game against Max Euwe. Max Euwe was a former world chess champion! Wolfgang also beat other famous players like Miguel Najdorf. He was good enough to become an International Master, which is a high title in chess. However, he chose not to accept the award from FIDE, the world chess organization.
Books He Wrote
Wolfgang Heidenfeld also wrote several books about chess. Some of his books include Chess Springbok (1955) and My Book of Fun and Games (1958). He also wrote Lacking the Master Touch (1970).
Life in Ireland
In 1957, Wolfgang visited Ireland and decided to move there. He settled in Dublin. He continued his chess career in Ireland.
Irish Chess Success
Wolfgang Heidenfeld became the Irish Champion many times. He won the title in 1958, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, and 1972. He also played for Ireland in the Chess Olympiads in 1966, 1968, 1970, and 1974. He won the Leinster Chess Championship in 1965, 1969 (shared), and 1972.
Later Years and Family
In 1979, Wolfgang and his family moved back to Ulm, Germany. He passed away there two years later. His son, Mark Heidenfeld, also became a strong chess player. Mark is an International Master and won the Irish Chess Championship in 2000.
Legacy
To honor Wolfgang Heidenfeld, a chess league division is named after him. It is called the Heidenfeld Trophy in the Leinster chess league.
See also
In Spanish: Wolfgang Heidenfeld para niños
