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Paul Keres (January 71916 - June 51975) was an Estonian chess player (born in Narva), one of the stronger chess players of all times apart from the World chess champions. In fact, many claim him to be the strongest modern player (after Steinitz) never to play in a world championship match. He was dubbed "The Crown Prince of Chess".
From 1937 to 1941 he studied mathematics at the University of Tartu.
In 1938 he won the AVRO tournament tied with Reuben Fine. It was supposed that the winner of this tournament would be the challenger for the World champion title, but the outbreak of the Second World War brought negotiations with the current champion, Alekhine, to an end. In the 1948 World Championship tournament, arranged to find a champion following Alekhine's death in 1946, Keres finished fourth, with 10.5 out of 20. This, probably his main failure, must be seen in the context of his difficult personal situation after the end of WWII. His native Estonia had been invaded by Nazi Germany, and he had participated in several tournaments in occupied Europe. In consequence, he was harassed by Soviet authorities and he even feared for his life.
Keres won the strong USSR Chess Championship three times (1947, 1950 and 1951), and finished a runner-up in Candidates tournaments four times, but he never qualified for a world championship match.
He died in Helsinki, Finland in 1975.
The five kroons (5 krooni) Estonian banknote bears his portrait.
A statue honouring him can be found on Tõnismägi, in Tallinn.
External link
- Estonian banknotes (http://www.bankofestonia.info/pub/en/yldine/pangatahed/pangatahed/_5.html).
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