English Chess Forum

Mieses got his title back when GMs were first officially designated in 1950, it was not "honorary" and nor were those of the other strong players of his era still alive then (eg Rubinstein, Maroczy) Bogolyubov's title was delayed a year due to political reasons.

Fell asleep in the armchair at 20:30ish wife tip-toed to bed. Just woke up and am wide awake at 03:45 in the morning. Interesting debate. The complete list of all 34 Honorary Grandmasters and the year their title was awarded. 1977 • Julio Bolbochán (Argentina) • Esteban Canal (Peru / Italy) • Boris...

It means what it says?

In the beginning titles were actually awarded and didn't depend on norms at all, as I am sure you know.

Though looking at it another way I regard "honorary" GM's as proper GMs anyway tbh, what else is such a status if not an admission by FIDE that the title should have been awarded earlier?

Brilliant game from him tbf, also notable through VVS playing on for ages in a totally lost position.

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 30, 2026 7:26 pm

Had never heard of him

Slightly surprised that you have never come across the game referred to above, one of RJF's best known brilliancies.

Finished near the bottom of that event, but still beat GMs Bilek and Ivkov.

One of Mongolia's strongest players for many years and a regular for them at Olympiads into the 1980s. Maybe best remembered as being at the wrong end of a Fischer brilliancy at the Sousse Interzonal in 1967 (so we must sadly cross yet another name off those living who played RJF)

And sometimes the longer version is actually the accurate one.

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 29, 2026 10:50 am

Why cant he pay for them himself?

Presumably that is not feasible for whatever reason.

One of Finland's strongest players for years and a former national champion, also an author. Passed away on his 67th birthday.

John Upham wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 27, 2026 12:26 pm

There are plans to name a road in Colchester after Jonathan Penrose but his siblings are living which prevents this happening.

I did not know this was a thing.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 25, 2026 3:49 pm

It amounts to the normal voting rules of an international.body

Well yes, quite.

Plus we have already had the "powerful players break away from FIDE to do their own thing" business haven't we.

Is it known who "we" are? I'm sorry if this question leads to someone else watching the thing. It appears to be a website by the name of king takes king https://kingtakesking.com They draw attention to the point that majority voting and thus decision making in FIDE is dominated by the smaller Feder...

In fairness Spanier's best known book* (Total Chess) is a pretty decent read - even if 40 years later it hasn't all aged amazingly well.

(*to us anyway, whilst not terrifically strong at chess he was a very proficient poker player)