Forgotten Genius - The Life and Games of Grandmaster Dragoljub Velimirovic

Dragoljub Velimirovic was a former Yugoslav-Serbian chess grandmaster whose international career was hampered by political intrigues and his outspoken temperament. He was introduced to chess at seven by his mother, Jovanka Velimirovic, and died at 72, being one of the last players to develop a system or strategy that bears his name. He was never among the 20 top-ranked players in the world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 650 pages
Publication date: 05 March 2024
Publisher: Thinkers Publishing

Dragoljub Velimirovic, a former Yugoslav-Serbian chess grandmaster, faced significant challenges in his international career due to political intrigues and his outspoken temperament. During the Soviet Union's dominance in chess, the former Yugoslavia posed a formidable threat to the Russians. Velimirovic, born in 1942 in Valjevo, Yugoslavia, was introduced to chess at the age of seven by his mother, Jovanka Velimirovic, a renowned female chess player in her own right. Regrettably, he passed away at the age of 72, leaving behind a remarkable legacy as one of the last players to develop a system or strategy that bears his name. This achievement is particularly noteworthy in the modern era, where computer-based games and extensive databases dominate competition, making it exceedingly difficult to create something truly innovative. It is important to note that the talent and courage of players during Velimirovic's prime were not diminished by the dominance of technology. In fact, he achieved the grandmaster title in 1973, but he never ranked among the top 20 players in the world. This was a different era, with only around 200 grandmasters, compared to the approximately 2,400 today. Velimirovic's contributions to chess remain significant, and his innovative approach to the game continues to inspire and influence chess enthusiasts worldwide.

Dimension: 234 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789464201994