Chess Survivor (Paperback)

This Chess Survivor by Andor Lilienthal (Paperback) is an English-language chess book that combines autobiography with annotated games, bringing together Lilienthal’s life story and the chess that defined his career.

What the book is about

Chess Survivor – The Last of the Greats tells the story of Andor Lilienthal, one of the first 27 players awarded the grandmaster title by FIDE in 1950. When he died at the age of 99, he was the last surviving member of that original group, which gives the book its title.

The memoir material is matched by Lilienthal’s own game commentary, so the book works as both a personal account and a study resource. His career stretched across several generations of chess, and he met or played every world champion of the 20th century. He also beat Emanuel Lasker, whose reign began in the 19th century, and was personally known to 21st-century champions such as Vladimir Kramnik.

Inside the book

This edition was translated from Russian by Douglas Griffin. It includes 60 games annotated by Lilienthal himself, plus 17 additional games added by the translator, giving you a substantial body of material to read through and study.

One of the standout games is Lilienthal’s famous win over Capablanca in 1935. Bobby Fischer later referred to that game during his 1992 return match with Spassky, when he spotted Lilienthal in the audience and said, “Pawn e5 takes f6!” It is a small but memorable example of how firmly Lilienthal’s games are woven into chess history.

This book will appeal to readers who enjoy classical chess, the history of world champions and biographies of leading players. It is equally suited to reading straight through or using as a quiet study companion at the board.

Key details

• Product type: paperback chess book
• Title: Chess Survivor – The Last of the Greats
• Author: Andor Lilienthal
• Translator and additional material: Douglas Griffin
• Language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• Page count: 344