List Of Chess Endgame Study Composers

Note: Russian names may be written with other spellings. The list is ordered alphabetically by surname. * Yochanan Afek (born in Tel Aviv 1952). Israeli chess master and composer of endgame studies and problems. Grandmaster for chess compositions (2015). He published about 120 studies and won many awards, e.g. eleven first prizes. * Iuri Akobia (b. 1937–2014). Georgian composer of over 300 studies and author of many books on endgame composition, among which 4332 Studies with Stalemate, 4492 Studies with Mate, 4324 Studies with Positional draw. By profession a radiotechnical engineer, he worked for many years in the Georgian National TV station. * Friedrich Amelung (1842–1909). Estonian composer of about 230 studies. *Ghamiet Amirjan (b. 1934). Armenian composer of over 300 studies. *

Yuri Averbakh Yuri Lvovich Averbakh (russian: Ю́рий Льво́вич Аверба́х; 8 February 1922 – 7 May 2022) was a Russian chess grandmaster and author. He was chairman of the USSR Chess Federation from 1973 to 1978. He was the first centenari ...

(b. 1922). Russian Grandmaster (winner of a Soviet Championship in 1954) and composer of over 200 studies, many of which give important contributions to endgame theory. With Chekhover and others he published in 1956 a four-volumes encyclopedia on endgames: "Lehrbuch der Endspiele". *Yuri Bazlov (b. 1947) . Russian composer of about 120 studies, winner of 16 first prizes. In 2005 and 2006 he won the PCCC " Study of the Year " award. *

Pal Benko Pál C. Benkő ( hu, Benkő Pál; July 15, 1928 – August 26, 2019) was a Hungarian-American chess player, author, and composer of endgame studies and chess problems. Early life Benko was born on July 15, 1928 in Amiens, France, where his ...

(b. 1928). Born in France from Hungarian parents, he emigrated to the US in 1956. A Hungarian-American grandmaster over the board, he composed many endgame studies, winning 24 first prizes. *

Charles Bent Charles Bent (November 11, 1799 – January 19, 1847) was an American businessman and politician who served as the first civilian United States governor of the New Mexico Territory, newly acquired by the Military Governor, Stephen Watts Kearny, ...

(1919–2004) . English composer of over 800 studies, winner of seven first prizes. *

Johann Berger Johann Nepomuk Berger (11 April 1845, Graz – 17 October 1933) was an Austrian chess master, theorist, endgame study composer, author and editor. In September 1870, he won the first tournament in the Austro-Hungarian Empire at Graz. In 1875, ...

(1845–1933) . Austrian chess master, composer of about 250 studies and author of many chess publications. *Rinaldo Bianchetti (Genova 1882–1963). Italian endgame composer. In 1925 he published " Contributo alla teoria dei finali di soli pedoni " in which he proposed the theory of reciprocal squares in pawn endings. *Filip Bondarenko (1905–1993). Ukrainian composer of over 400 studies, winner of 19 first prizes. Author of many books, among which Triumph of the Russian Study (1955). *

Vladimir Bron Vladimir Akimovich Bron (14 September 1909, Mykolaiv – 1985, Sverdlovsk, USSR) was a Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from ...

(1909–1985). Russian composer of over 400 studies and winner of 29 first prizes. Grandmaster for chess composition and author of many books, e.g. Selected studies and problems (1969). * Ignazio Calvi (1797–1872). Italian chess player and composer. He was the first to use the theme of under-promotion in endgame studies with some depth. *Oscar Carlsson (b. 1929). Argentinian International Judge for chess composition, author of about 80 endgame studies. *

Vitaly Chekhover Vitaly Alexandrovich Chekhover (also spelled Tschechower or Czechower, pronounced "chekh a VYAIR") (russian: Вита́лий Алекса́ндрович Чехове́р) (December 22, 1908 – February 11, 1965) was a Soviet chess player and ch ...

(1908–1965). Russian chess master and composer of about 150 studies. He is considered a major specialist on knight endgames. Together with

he published in 1956 a four-volume encyclopedia on endgames. *

André Chéron André Chéron (September 25, 1895 – September 12, 1980) was a French chess player, endgame theorist, and a composer of endgame studies. He was named a FIDE International Master of Chess Composition in 1959, the first year the title was awar ...

(1895–1980). French player and composer of over 300 studies. He won the France championship in 1926–27–29, then turned fully to endgame composition. Many of his studies are considered classics of endgame theory. Author of many books and a three-volume anthology of endgame studies (1952). *

Luigi Centurini Luigi Centurini (Genoa, April 24, 1820 – Genoa, November 10, 1900) was an Italian jurist, chess player, and chess composer. In 1853 he published the pamphlet in Genoa titled ''Giuoco degli Scacchi'' (Game of Chess). The endgame of rook and knigh ...

(1820–1900). Italian player and composer born in Genoa, he gave notable contributions to endgame theory, e.g. Bishop vs. Rook and pawns, Queen vs. Rook. *

Emilian Dobrescu Emilian Dobrescu (born 22 May 1933, Bucharest) is a Romanian economist and chess composer. Career In addition to serving as a member of the Romanian Academy, an influential academic forum in Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a count ...

(b. 1933). Romanian composer and author of many books, among which Chess Study Composition. He published about 400 works, winning 64 first prizes. By profession he is a university teacher of Economic Sciences. *Vasily Nikitovich Dolgov (1924-?). Russian, composer of more than 300 studies. *

Oldřich Duras Oldřich Duras (also Důras; 30 October 1882, Pchery, Bohemia, then Austria-Hungary – 5 January 1957, Prague, then Czechoslovakia) was a leading Czech chess master of the early 20th century. FIDE awarded him the title of International Gran ...

(1882–1957). A very strong Czech master, in 1914 he retired from over-the-board play and turned fully to endgame composition, winning 10 first prizes. *Paul Farago (1886–1970). Born in Hungary, he moved to Romania at age 24 and lived there for the rest of his life. An engineer by profession, from 1936 he was editor of the Romanian chess review. He composed over 200 studies, winning 19 first prizes. *Jindrich Fritz (1912–1984). Czech composer of over 500 studies and problems, in 26 of which he won first prize. Together with Richard Réti he was a follower of the famous "Bohemian School", in which most studies end in elegant checkmates or stalemates. He was a lawyer by profession. *Tigran Gorgiev (1910–1976). Russian composer of about 500 studies. He is considered among the major representatives of the grotesque genre, in which the initial position cannot be reached in practical play. He won 31 first prizes. *

Nikolay Grigoriev Nikalai (Nikolay) Dmitrievich Grigoriev (russian: Никола́й Дми́триевич Григо́рьев) was a Russian chess player and a composer of endgame studies. He was born on 14 August 1895 in Moscow, and he died there in 1938. His ...

(1895–1938). Russian chess master and composer of over 300 studies. He is considered an authority for only pawns and Rooks and pawns endgames. * Alexander Gulyaev–Grin (b. 1908). Russian endgame and problem composer. He adopted the pseudonym "Grin" for tourneys in western countries. Author of about 200 works and winner of many major prizes. *David Gurgenidze (b. 1953). Georgian composer, FIDE Grandmaster for composition. He published more than 600 studies, winning 32 first prizes. He often worked together with Iuri Akobia. *

Abram Gurvich Abram Solomonovich Gurvich ( Russian Абра́м Соломо́нович Гу́рвич) was a Russian composer of chess endgame studies. He was born in Baku on February 11, 1897, worked as literature and theatrical reviewer. His first chess stu ...

(1897–1962). Russian endgame composer, called "The Poet" for the beauty of many of his works, most of which were miniatures (with a maximum of seven pieces). Author in 1955 of "Soviet Chess Problems", by profession he was a theatrical and literary reviewer. *

Vitaly Halberstadt Vitaly Halberstadt (20 March 1903, Odessa – 25 October 1967, Paris) was a French chess player, theorist, tactician, problemist, and, above all, a noted endgame study composer. Born in Odessa, in the Kherson Governorate of the Russian Empire (pre ...

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Odessa Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrativ ...

1903 – Paris 1968). Ukrainian-born study composer, emigrated to France in 1925. Author of about 200 studies, some of which with Leonid Kubbel. With

Marcel Duchamp Henri-Robert-Marcel Duchamp (, , ; 28 July 1887 – 2 October 1968) was a French painter, sculptor, chess player, and writer whose work is associated with Cubism, Dada, and conceptual art. Duchamp is commonly regarded, along with Pablo Picasso ...

he published in 1932 "L'opposition et les cases conjuguées sont réconciliées". Nine of his studies were awarded first prize. *

Harold van der Heijden Harold van der Heijden is a Dutch composer of chess endgame studies. He was born in Veghel, The Netherlands, on 18 December 1960. By profession, after finishing his PhD in 2009, he is head of the Research and Development laboratory of a veterinary ...

(b. 1960). Dutch composer of about 100 studies and author of a database containing 85,619 studies (2015). * Alexander Herbstmann (1900–1982). Russian composer, FIDE International Judge, winner of 18 first prizes. Sometimes spelled "Gerbstmann". * Jehuda Hoch (b. 1946). Israeli composer of about 150 studies, three of which won first prize. *

David Vincent Hooper David Vincent Hooper (31 August 1915 – 3 May 1998), born in Reigate, was a British chess player and writer. As an amateur, he tied for fifth place in the 1949 British Championship at Felixstowe. He was the British correspondence chess champio ...

(1915–1998). English player and composer, author of A Pocket guide to chess endgames. *

Bernhard Horwitz Bernhard Horwitz (1807 in Neustrelitz – 1885 in London) was a German and British chess master, chess writer and chess composer. Horwitz was born in Neustrelitz and went to school in Berlin, where he studied art. From 1837 to 1843, he was part ...

(1807–1885). German composer of ca. 400 studies and author with

Josef Kling Josef Kling (19 March 1811 – 1 December 1876), also found in English-language sources as Joseph Kling, was a German chess master and chess composer. He has been called "a pioneer of the modern style of chess." Although Kling was an expert on e ...

of the first anthology of endgames: Chess Studies London 1851. *Alexander Sergeyevich Kakovin (1910-?). Russian composer. * Velimir Kalandadze (b. 1935). Georgian composer of about 250 studies, winner of six first prizes. * Genrikh Kasparyan (1910–1995). Foremost Armenian player (ten times winner of the Armenian Championship) and composer. He was the first studist{{typo help inline, reason=similar to stundist, date=September 2022 to be awarded the title of Grand Master of composition from FIDE (1972). Author of about 600 works, many of which on the theme of domination, he won 57 first prizes. * Alexander Kazantsev (1906–2002). Russian composer of about 120 studies, winner of 11 first prizes. He was also a successful science-fiction writer. *

Paul Keres Paul Keres (; 7 January 1916 – 5 June 1975) was an Estonian chess grandmaster and chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s, and narrowly missed a chance at a World Chess Championship match on five ...

(1916–1975). A very strong Estonian Grandmaster, he composed about 60 endgame studies. *

(1811–1876). German master and composer of some 400 studies, most of which together with

. * Theodorus Kok (1906–1999). Dutch composer of about 300 studies. Winner of two first prizes, one of which in 1934 with a famous miniature. * Viktor Kondratjev (1945–2001). Russian composer of over 200 studies, many of which together with A. Kopnin. * Nikolai Kopayev (1914–1978). Russian composer of about 80 studies, one of the major experts in Rook and pawns endgames. * Attila Koranyi (1934–1997). Hungarian composer of about 150 studies, FIDE Judge for composition (1984), winner of 34 first prize awards. * Vladimir Korolkov (1907–1987). Russian composer of over 300 studies, he was a chief representative of the paradoxical and romantic genre. FIDE Grandmaster for composition and winner of 27 first prizes. * Vladimír Kos (1928–2007). Czech composer of about 60 studies, International Judge for composition (1991). He was an engineer by profession. * Nikolaj Kralin (b. 1944). Russian Grandmaster of composition. Author of some 300 studies, he won more than 30 first prizes. * Josif Krikheli (1931–1988). Georgian/Hebrew composer of about 70 studies, winner of six first prizes in international tourneys. *

Leonid Kubbel Leonid Ivanovich Kubbel (russian: Леонид Иванович Куббель; 1891 or 1892 – 1942) was a Russian composer of chess endgame studies and problems. Life He was born in Saint Petersburg at the end of 1891, or beginning of 1892 ...

(1891–1942). Foremost Russian composer of over 500 studies, many of which were awarded first prize for their great beauty and original conception. Also his brothers Ardid and Evgeny were chess players, Ardid being a strong master (he played in the first four USSR championships) and Evgeny a chess composer. Both Leonid and Evgeny Kubbel died of starvation during the Nazi siege of Leningrad. *Alexander Petrovich Kuznetsov (1913–1982). Russian composer of more than 490 published studies. * Mark Liburkin (1910–1953). Russian composer of studies of supreme elegance, many of which won first prize. * Harold Lommer (1910–1980). British player and composer of over 100 studies. * Jan Hendrik Marwitz (1915–1991). Dutch composer of about 150 studies, winner of 16 first prizes. * Hermann Mattison (1894–1932). Latvian player and composer. * Emil Melnichenko (b. 1950). Czech/New Zealand composer of over 200 studies, winner of six first prizes. * Martin Minski (b. 1969). German composer of about 600 studies. International master for chess compositions. Second place winner of the 2016–2018 World Championship of Composing for Individuals. *

Leopold Mitrofanov Leopold Adamovich Mitrofanov (July 2, 1932November 26, 1992) was a Russian chess composer, an International Judge of Chess Composition (awarded 1971) and an International Master of Chess Composition (awarded 1980). He was born in Leningrad (now St ...

(1932–1992). Russian composer of over 200 studies, winner of 40 first prizes. *

Gia Nadareishvili Gia Nadareishvili ( Georgian გია ნადარეიშვილი; September 22, 1921 – October 3, 1991) was a Soviet chess composer of Georgian nationality (born in Tbilisi), and author of many books on chess studies. He was co-foun ...

(1921–1991). Georgian composer of a few hundred studies, many of which together with Yuri Akobia. Editor of an anthology of 312 studies commented by famous Grandmasters. International master of composition, winner of 27 first prizes. * Virgil Nestorescu (b. 1929). Romanian Grandmaster of study composition. Author of about 200 studies, he won 26 first prizes. *

John Nunn John Denis Martin Nunn (born 25 April 1955) is an English chess grandmaster, a three-time world champion in chess problem solving, a chess writer and publisher, and a mathematician. He is one of England's strongest chess players and was former ...

(b. 1955). A very strong English Grandmaster and composer of over 300 studies, he is a major expert in compiling endgame tablebases for chess-playing engines. Two times World Champion for solving of chess compositions (2004 and 2007). *

Enrico Paoli Enrico Paoli (January 13, 1908 – December 15, 2005) was an Italian International chess master. He was born in Trieste, Italy, and learned chess when he was nine years old. He was the winner of international tournaments in Vienna (1951) and Im ...

(1908–2005). Italian Grandmaster "Honoris Causa" (1996) and composer of about 150 studies. Author of many books on the endgame, e.g. 96 Studi Scacchistici and Il Finale negli Scacchi. * Edmund Peckover (1897–1982). English/American composer of over 100 studies. *

Pauli Perkonoja Pauli Perkonoja (born July 19, 1941) is a Finnish chess problemist. Biography Perkonoja was born in a suburb of Tampere, but after a few years moved to Turku, where he has lived all his life. He worked in the Finnish postal service. In his free ...

(b. 1941-07-19). Finnish study composer, International master of composition from 1969 and world champion of problem solving in 1995. * Oleg Pervakov. Russian composer of about 100 studies, winner of more than 20 first prizes. One of them, a study of with only pawns, is quite famous. He works as a chess journalist for the Russian chess magazine "64". Four times World champion in study composition. Grandmaster for chess compositions (2005). * Platov brothers Mikhail (1883–1938) and Vassily (1881–1952). Latvian brothers, they composed over 300 studies, most of them together. *

Ernest Pogosyants Ernest Levonovich Pogosyants (June 5, 1935, Chuhuiv – August 16, 1990) was a Soviet-Armenian composer of chess problems and endgame studies. He composed about 6,000 problems and studies, almost as many chess puzzles as the 6,500 created by T ...

(1935–1990). He published 1790 studies, making him the most prolific of all composers. He won 22 first prizes. *

Ladislav Prokeš Ladislav Prokeš (7 June 1884 – 9 January 1966) was a Czech chess master and one of the most prolific composers of endgame studies in chess. He was born and died in Prague. Prokeš was joint Czechoslovak Chess Championship, Czech Champion in 19 ...

(1884–1966). Czech composer of 1159 published studies. *Frantisek Prokop (1901–1973). Czech composer of about 300 studies. Author of many books, e.g. The Magic of Chess Diagrams in 1968. *

Richard Réti Richard Selig Réti (28 May 1889 – 6 June 1929) was an Austro-Hungarian, later Czechoslovakian, chess player, chess author, and composer of endgame studies. He was one of the principal proponents of hypermodernism in chess. With the exc ...

(1889–1929). Czech Grand Master and composer of some 100 studies, one of which, an ending with only pawns, is very famous (see diagram in this article). * Henri Rinck (Lyon 1870 – Badalona 1952). French study composer, he emigrated to Spain in 1910. He published 1670 studies, winning 58 first prizes. A chemist by profession, he devised the Rinck Code for diagrams classification. * Pietro Rossi (b. 1924). Italian composer of over 100 studies. The

Italian Chess Federation The Italian Chess Federation ( it, Federazione Scacchistica Italiana; FSI) is the governing chess organization of Italy. It is a member of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and FIDE (the World Chess Federation). Administration * Presid ...

(FSI) awarded him a gold medal in 2007 for his merits in the field of chess composition. *

John Roycroft Arthur John Roycroft (born 25 July 1929, London) is an English chess endgame study composer and author. Chess career In 1959 he was awarded the title International Judge of Chess Compositions. In 1965 he founded '' EG'', the first long-running j ...

(b. 1929). English Honorary Master of chess composition. Author of many publications and editor of the study and problems section of New in Chess. Founder (1965) and editor-in-chief of the quarterly magazine EG, entirely dedicated to endgame studies. * Jan Rusinek (b. 1950). Brilliant Polish Grandmaster for chess composition, winner of 32 first prizes. *Fernando Saavedra (1847–1922). Spanish composer, later settled in Britain. Famous for a study demonstrating that an underpromotion to Rook wins an endgame previously considered as drawn (Glasgow 1895). See diagram in this article. * Boris Sakharov (1914–1973). Russian composer of about 70 studies. By profession an electronics engineer, he was the first vice-president of the FIDE Problems Commission. * Alexander Sarychev (1909–1987). Russian composer of over 100 studies, most of which with minor pieces and pawns, often with brilliant ideas. Winner of 10 first prizes. *

Alexey Selezniev Alexey (Alex) Sergeyevich Selezniev (russian: Алексе́й Серге́евич Селезнёв, alternative transliterations: Selesniev, Selesniew, Selesnev, Selesnieff; pronounced "selezNYOFF"; 1888June 1967) was a chess master and chess co ...

(1888–1967). Russian player and study composer. *

Vasily Smyslov Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov ( rus, Васи́лий Васи́льевич Смысло́в, Vasíliy Vasíl'yevich Smyslóv; 24 March 1921 – 27 March 2010) was a Soviet and Russian chess grandmaster, who was World Chess Champion from 1957 to ...

(1921–2010). Russian Grandmaster, World Champion 1957–58. Composer of many studies and author with Levenfish of a work on Rook and pawns endgames. * Edward Cecil Tattersall (1877–1957). British composer and author in 1910 of the first English-language collection of selected studies: A Thousand Endgames. *

Jan Timman Jan Timman (born 14 December 1951) is a Dutch chess grandmaster who was one of the world's leading chess players from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. At the peak of his career, he was considered to be the best non-Soviet player and was known as ...

(b. 1950). Dutch Grandmaster and composer of 145 endgame studies. * Alexey Troitsky (1866–1942). Foremost Russian composer considered the father of the contemporary school of study composition. Author of over 1000 studies with important contributions to endgame theory, especially of Knights vs. pawns. * Julien Gustave Vandiest (b. 1919). Belgian composer of 398 studies, winner of 10 first prizes. *

Milan Vukcevich Milan R. Vukcevich (born Milan Radoje Vukčević; March 11, 1937 – May 10, 2003) was a Yugoslav-American chemist, a grandmaster of chess problem composition and writer. Biography Milan Radoje Vukčević was born in Belgrade. In 1955 he w ...

(1937–2003). American player and composer born in Yugoslavia. He was the first American citizen to be awarded the title of FIDE Grandmaster of composition (1988). Third in the US championship 1975 above Reshevsky, Byrne and Evans, for many years he was considered the strongest in the world for problem solving. By profession an electrical engineer, he was for many years in the scientific staff of the General Electric company. * Vitold Yakimchik (1911–1977). * Gleb Zakhodyakin (1912–1982). Russian composer of about 200 studies and winner of many first prizes. * Mikhail Zinar (b. 1951). Ukrainian composer of about 280 studies, most of which of the king-and-pawns type. Considered by many as the greatest expert in pawn endgames. Author of "Harmony in Pawn's Studies", Kiev 1990. * Endgame study composers