It is with the deepest sadness that we learned about the passing of chess legend Lubomir Kavalek at 77. He was one of the greatest personalities of Czechoslovak and American chess.

Lubomir (Lubosh) Kavalek was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. He studied communication and journalism at Charles University.  Lubomir won the national championship of his home country for the first time at the age of 19 (1962). Kavalek claimed his second title in 1968, in one of the strongest tournament in the history of Czechoslovakia championships.  

After the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, he first moved to Germany, and shortly after to the US, where he settled and won the national championship three times. He also represented the US at the Chess Olympiads, winning one gold and five bronze medals with the American team. In 2001 he was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.

Kavalek was a second for Bobby Fischer during his famous 1972 match against Spassky and collaborated with Nigel Short between 1990-93. Lubomir was also a very active chess journalist, having worked briefly for "Voice of America", and later on as a columnist for "The Washington Post".

FIDE extends its sincere condolences to Lubomir’s family, friends, and loved ones.

Photo: Thomová Judita