Mihail-Viorel Ghindă (25 July 1949 – February 2023) was a
Romania
Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...
n
chess
Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to disti ...
player,
International Master (IM) (1978), four-times
Romanian Chess Championship The Romanian Chess Championship became a yearly event in 1946, and was held irregularly earlier. A series of national eliminating contests are played to select a 20-player field for the men's final. The women's final consists of 16 players.
Men's w ...
winner (1976, 1978, 1983, 1989).
Biography
From the beginning of the 1970s to the end of the 1980s Mihail-Viorel Ghindă was one of the strongest Romanian chess players. In
Romanian Chess Championship The Romanian Chess Championship became a yearly event in 1946, and was held irregularly earlier. A series of national eliminating contests are played to select a 20-player field for the men's final. The women's final consists of 16 players.
Men's w ...
s he won eight medals: 4 gold (1976, 1978, 1983, 1989), silver (1980) and 3 bronze (1970, 1975, 1985). While he did not manage to become a GM, his peak rating (2500) suggests that when at his best - he was GM strength. In 1990, Mihail-Viorel Ghindă participated in World Chess Championship Zonal tournament in
Stara Zagora
Stara Zagora ( bg, Стара Загора, ) is the sixth-largest city in Bulgaria, and the administrative capital of the homonymous Stara Zagora Province.
Name
The name comes from the Slavic root ''star'' ("old") and the name of the medieva ...
and shared 5th–6th place. Mihail-Viorel Ghindă's individual success in the international arena included shared 2nd–3rd place in
Bankya
Bankya ( bg, Банкя ) is a small town located on the outskirts of Sofia in western Bulgaria. It is administratively part of Greater Sofia.
The district is famous for the mineral springs and baths that have been used for medicinal purposes fo ...
(1977), 3rd place in
Zabrze
Zabrze (; German: 1915–1945: ''Hindenburg O.S.'', full form: ''Hindenburg in Oberschlesien'', Silesian: ''Zŏbrze'', yi, זאַבזשע, Zabzhe) is an industrial city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The west district of the Sil ...
(1977), 1st place in
Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad ( bg, Благоевград ) is а town in Southwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Blagoevgrad Municipality and of Blagoevgrad Province. With a population of almost inhabitants, it is the economic and cultural centre ...
(1979), 1st place in
Heidelberg
Heidelberg (; Palatine German language, Palatine German: ''Heidlberg'') is a city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Neckar in south-west Germany. As of the 2016 census, its population was 159,914 ...
(1979), shared 1st–2nd in
Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
, timezone1 = Central (CET)
, utc_offset1 = +1
, timezone1_DST = Central (CEST)
, utc_offset1_DST = +2
, postal ...
(1980) and 1st place in
Netanya
Netanya (also known as Natanya, he, נְתַנְיָה) is a city in the Northern Central District of Israel, and is the capital of the surrounding Sharon plain. It is north of Tel Aviv, and south of Haifa, between Poleg stream and Wingate I ...
(1987). In 1978, he was awarded the FIDE International Master (IM) title.
Mihail-Viorel Ghindă played for Romania in the
Chess Olympiad
The Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess tournament in which teams representing nations of the world compete. FIDE organises the tournament and selects the host nation. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, FIDE held an Online Chess Olympiad in 2020 and ...
s:
* In 1978, at first reserve board in the
23rd Chess Olympiad
The 23rd Chess Olympiad ( es, La 23a Olimpíada de ajedrez), organized by FIDE and comprising an openAlthough commonly referred to as the ''men's division'', this section is open to both male and female players. and a women's tournament, as well a ...
in
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
(+1, =2, -3),
* In 1980, at fourth board in the
24th Chess Olympiad in
La Valletta
Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an administrative unit and capital of Malta. Located on the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population within administrative limits in 2014 was ...
(+4, =5, -1),
* In 1982, at fourth board in the
25th Chess Olympiad
The 25th Chess Olympiad (german: Die 25. Schacholympiade), organized by FIDE and comprising an openAlthough commonly referred to as the ''men's division'', this section is open to both male and female players. and a women's tournament, as well as ...
in
Lucerne
Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic German, High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label=Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking po ...
(+5, =4, -2),
* In 1984, at third board in the
26th Chess Olympiad in
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area, and the capi ...
(+5, =5, -2),
* In 1986, at fourth board in the
27th Chess Olympiad
The 27th Chess Olympiad ( ar, أولمبياد الشطرنج ال27, ''uwlimbiad al-shatranj al-27''), organized by FIDE and comprising an openAlthough commonly referred to as the ''men's division'', this section is open to both male and female ...
in
Dubai
Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...
(+5, =3, -2),
* In 1988, at fourth board in the
28th Chess Olympiad
The 28th Chess Olympiad ( el, Η 28η Σκακιστική Ολυμπιάδα, ''I 28i Skakistikí Olympiáda''), organized by Fédération Internationale des Échecs, FIDE and comprising an openAlthough commonly referred to as the ''men's division ...
in
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area, and the capi ...
(+3, =0, -4),
* In 1990, at fourth board in the
29th Chess Olympiad
The 29th Chess Olympiad ( sr, 29. Шаховска олимпијада, ''29. Šahovska olimpijada''), organized by Fédération Internationale des Échecs, FIDE and comprising an openAlthough commonly referred to as the ''men's division'', this ...
in
Novi Sad
Novi Sad ( sr-Cyrl, Нови Сад, ; hu, Újvidék, ; german: Neusatz; see below for other names) is the second largest city in Serbia and the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It is located in the southern portion of the Pan ...
(+1, =4, -3).
Mihail-Viorel Ghindă played for Romania in the
European Team Chess Championship
The European Team Championship (often abbreviated in texts and games databases as ''ETC'') is an international team chess event, eligible for the participation of European nations whose chess federations are located in zones 1.1 to 1.9. This more ...
s:
* In 1973, at seventh board in the 5th European Team Chess Championship in
Bath (+1, =1, -3),
* In 1977, at seventh board in the 6th European Team Chess Championship in
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
(+0, =1, -0).
Mihail-Viorel Ghindă played for Romania in the
World Team Chess Championship
The World Team Chess Championship is an international team chess event, eligible for the participation of 10 countries whose chess federations dominate their continent. It is played every two years. In chess, this tournament and the Chess Olympiads ...
:
* In 1985, at fifth board in the 1st World Team Chess Championship in
Lucerne
Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic German, High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label=Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking po ...
(+3, =4, -2).
Mihail-Viorel Ghindă played for Romania in the Men's Chess Balkaniads:
* In 1974, at sixth board in the 6th Men's Chess Balkaniad in
Poreč
Poreč (; it, Parenzo; la, Parens or ; grc, Πάρενθος, Párenthos) is a town and municipality on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, in Istria County, west Croatia. Its major landmark is the 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica, whic ...
(+1, =2, -0) and won team and individual silver medals,
* In 1975, at sixth board in the 7th Men's Chess Balkaniad in
Istanbul
Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...
(+0, =2, -0) and won team and individual bronze medals,
* In 1977, at fourth board in the 9th Men's Chess Balkaniad in
Albena
Albena ( bg, Албена) is a major Black Sea resort in northeastern Bulgaria, Balchik Municipality, situated from Balchik and from Varna. Albena is served by Varna Airport. Since 2005 is considered as a settlement by the National Statistical ...
(+3, =1, -0) and won team and individual gold medals,
* In 1978, at fourth board in the 10th Men's Chess Balkaniad in
Băile Herculane
Băile Herculane ( la, Aqua Herculis; german: Herkulesbad; hu, Herkulesfürdő; cz, Herkulovy Lázně, tr, Lazarethane) is a spa town in Romanian Banat, in Caraș-Severin County, situated in the valley of the Cerna River, between the Mehedinț ...
(+3, =1, -0) and won team silver and individual gold medals,
* In 1979, at third board in the 11th Chess Balkaniad in
Bihać
Bihać ( cyrl, Бихаћ) is a city and the administrative centre of Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated on the banks of river Una in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina ...
(+2, =2, -1) and won team and individual bronze medals,
* In 1980, at fourth board in the 12th Chess Balkaniad in
Istanbul
Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...
(+3, =2, -0) and won team silver and individual gold medals,
* In 1981, at third board in the 13th Chess Balkaniad in
Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
(+2, =2, -0) and won team silver and individual gold medals,
* In 1982, at third board in the 14th Chess Balkaniad in
Plovdiv
Plovdiv ( bg, Пловдив, ), is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, standing on the banks of the Maritsa river in the historical region of Thrace. It has a population of 346,893 and 675,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Plovdiv is the c ...
(+1, =4, -0) and won team bronze and individual silver medals,
* In 1983, at third board in the 15th Chess Balkaniad in
Băile Herculane
Băile Herculane ( la, Aqua Herculis; german: Herkulesbad; hu, Herkulesfürdő; cz, Herkulovy Lázně, tr, Lazarethane) is a spa town in Romanian Banat, in Caraș-Severin County, situated in the valley of the Cerna River, between the Mehedinț ...
(+4, =0, -0) and won team bronze and individual gold medals,
* In 1985, at third board in the 17th Chess Balkaniad in
Irakleio (+1, =3, -0) and won team and individual silver medals,
* In 1986, at first board in the 18th Chess Balkaniad in
Sofia
Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and ha ...
(+0, =1, -3) and won team bronze medal,
* In 1988, at second board in the 19th Chess Balkaniad in
Kaštel Stari
Kaštel Stari is a village within the administrative area of Kaštela, in Dalmatia, Croatia. Its name means ''Old Castle'', this came from a nobleman from Trogir Koriolan Cipiko, writer, humanist and military leader who built a mansion in 1476 whi ...
(+0, =6, -0) and won team bronze and individual silver medals,
* In 1990, at fifth board in the 21st Chess Balkaniad in
Kavala
Kavala ( el, Καβάλα, ''Kavála'' ) is a city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala regional unit.
It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos and on the Egnat ...
(+2, =3, -1) and won team and individual silver medals.
References
External links
Media from Commons
*
*
Mihail-Viorel Ghindăchess games at 365chess.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghindă, Mihail-Viorel
1949 births
2023 deaths
Chess players from Bucharest
Romanian chess players
Chess International Masters
Chess Olympiad competitors
20th-century chess players