Oldřich Duras (1882-1957)
On October 30, 1882, Oldrich Duras was born in Humny (Pchery, Bohemia), Austria-Hungary (now the Czech Republic). His father, Adolf, was a former mayor of Humny. In 1890, he went bankrupt and moved to Prague, 20 miles away, where he worked as an insurance clerk. His mother was Frantiska Durasova. Oldrich had a younger sister, Božena (born in 1885), who became a well-known diva and leading lady at The City Theatre of Prague. She later married Jan Š tursa (1880-1925), one of the founders of modern Czech sculpture. Oldrich attended primary and grammar school in Prague. He later attended the College of Commerce in Prague. Oldrich learned chess from his uncle, Vojtech Vlk, during holiday visits back in Humny. By 1899 at age 17, Oldrich was regularly beating his uncle. In September 1899, Oldrich became a member of the Czech chess club Český spolek šachovní (Czech Association of Chess), located in Jedlicka’s Cafe in ...