Yehuda Gruenfeld facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yehuda Gruenfeld |
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| Country | Israel |
| Born | 28 February 1956 Dzierżoniów, Poland |
| Title | Grandmaster (1980) |
| FIDE rating | 2424 (July 2025) |
| Peak rating | 2550 (July 1986) |
Yehuda Gruenfeld (Hebrew: יהודה גרינפלד; born 18 February 1956) is an Israeli chess player. He holds the important title of Grandmaster in chess.
Becoming a Chess Grandmaster
Yehuda Gruenfeld was born in Dzierżoniów, Poland. He started playing chess at a young age. In 1974, he won the Israeli championship for youth players. This was an early sign of his talent!
He quickly became known in the chess world. In 1978, he earned the International Master title. Just two years later, in 1980, he achieved the highest title in chess: International Grandmaster.
Key Tournament Wins
Yehuda Gruenfeld has won many important chess tournaments around the world:
- In 1978, he won in Gausdal, Norway.
- In 1979, he tied for first place in Biel, Switzerland.
- In 1980, he won in Biel again.
- In 1981, he won a tournament in New York, USA.
- In 1982, he won the Israeli Chess Championship for the first time.
- In 1984, he won a big tournament in Dortmund, Germany.
- In 1985, he tied for first place at the 13th World Open in Philadelphia, USA. This is a very strong open tournament.
- In 1990, he won the Israeli Chess Championship again!
Playing for Israel
Yehuda Gruenfeld has proudly represented Israel in six Chess Olympiads. The Chess Olympiad is a team chess tournament where countries compete against each other.
- In 1978, he played in Buenos Aires.
- In 1980, he played in La Valletta.
- In 1982, he played in Lucerne.
- In 1984, he played in Thessaloniki.
- In 1990, he played in Novi Sad.
- In 1992, he played in Manila.
Chess and Deaflympics
Yehuda Gruenfeld is deaf, but this has not stopped him from being a top chess player. He can speak and read lips, which helps him communicate.
He has played in five Deaf Olympiads (from 2010 to 2018) for the International Chess Committee of the Deaf team. He often played on the first board, which is usually for the strongest player on the team.
In 2019, chess was officially included as a medal sport at the 2019 Winter Deaflympics. Yehuda Gruenfeld won a gold medal in the men's blitz event! This was a fantastic achievement for him and for deaf athletes in chess.
