Efim Bogoljubov (1889 -1952)
Efim Dmitriyevich Bogoljubov (Bogoljubow) was born in Stanislavchyk (300 miles west of Kjiv), Russian Empire, on April 14 (New Style), 1889. He was born in the family of a village priest. The Russian name “Bogoljubow” means “beloved by God.” The village where he was born is in western Ukraine. From 1918 to 1939, the village was part of Poland.
He learned the game in 1904, when he was 15.
When he was a young man, his father sent him to the Kiev Religious Seminary. Efim studied there for 11 years. He wanted to become a priest.
In 1908, Efim was mentioned as a chess player for the first time.
In 1909, he was one of the strongest players in Kiev (Kjiv).
In 1909, he tied for 1st-2nd in a chess tournament held in the “Warsaw café” in the center of the city.
In 1909, he took 2nd-3rd at a chess tournament held at the sports club at Kreshatik.
In 1909, he took 3rd-5th in the Kiev chess championship.
In January 1910, he took 2nd in the Tournament of South Russia, held in Odessa. The event was won by Boris Verlinsky (1888-1950).
In the summer of 1910, Efim went to Warsaw to continue his education at the Warsaw Institute of Polytechnics. At the time, he was attracted to farming and studied agriculture, but in the end, he did not finish his studies and concentrated on chess.
In 1910, he took 4th at a jubilee chess tournament in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Warsaw society of chess fanes.
In 1911, he took 3rd at in the Kiev Championship. The event was won by Fedir Bogatyrchuk (1892-1984), who scored 5.5 out of 6.
In 1911, he tied for 9th-10th place in the Saint Petersburg (All-Russian Amateur) Tournament, won by Stepan Levitsky.
In 1912, he took 2nd place, behind Karel Hromadka, in the All-Russian Amateur Tournament in Libava (Liepaja), Latvia.
In 1913, he won at Lodz.
In 1913, he won a match against Polish master Gersz Salwe (1862-1920)
In 1913/14, he took 8th place in in Saint Petersburg. This was the All -Russian Masters’ Tournament, or 8th Russian chess championship, won by Alexander Alekhine and Aron Nimzowitsch. There were 18 of the best Russian players in the event. Efim was awarded the title of national master.
In June 1914, he took 2nd at a tournament in Kiev.
In July/August 1914, he tied for 8-9th place in the 19th Chess Congress at Mannheim, Germany (northwest of Heidelburg). This event was interrupted by World War I. After the German declaration of war against Russia on August 1, 1914, he, along with 10 other Russian players, was interned in Germany.
In 1914, he took 2nd at Baden-Baden in a tournament with the interned Russian players. Flamberg won the event. The players were later moved to Triberg in the Black Forest.
From 1914 to 1916, he won five tournaments held in Triberg. The 6 players were the Russian prisoners.
During World War I, he stayed in Triberg, married a local woman, and spent the rest of his life in Germany.
In 1919, he won at Berlin and took second at a tournament played at the Café Kerkau in Berlin.
In 1919, he won at Stockholm.
In 1920, he married Frieda Kaltenbach, the daughter of the local schoolmaster in Triberg. He later had two daughters, Sonja and Tamara. They lived at the Villa Rosalia in Triberg.
In 1920, he took 3rd at Gothenburg. The event was won by Richard Reti.
In 1920, he won at Stockholm.
In 1920, he won at Berlin.
In 1920, he beat Aron Nimzovitsch in a match, held in Sweden.
In 1921, he won at Kiel.
In June/July 1921, he drew a 4-game match with Alekhine in Triberg. He won one, lost one, and drew 2.
In July 1921, he took 2nd at Triberg, behind Alekhine.
In 1921, he took 7th at Budapest, won by Alekhine.
In April 1922, he won the Breyer Memorial Tournament at Bad Pistyan. He sent his prize money to his wife in Triberg, and she invested it by buying a large house. They earned extra income by renting rooms to tourists and visitors of Triberg.
In July/August 1922, he took 5th at the Congress of the British Chess Federation in London. The event was won by Jose Capablanca.
In September 1922, he played at Hastings, but did poorly.
In November 1922, he played at Vienna, but did poorly.
In 1923, he tied for 2nd-5th at Margate. The event was won by Ernst Gruenfeld.
In April/May 1923, he tied for 1st – 3rd with Alekhine and Maroczy at Karlsbad.
In August 1923, he won at Moravska Ostrava, Czechoslovakia.
In March 1924, he took 7th at New York. The event was won by Emanuel Lasker.
In 1924, he returned to Russia, which was now the Soviet Union.
In 1924, he won the 3rd USSR Championship, held in Moscow. He scored 15 out of 17 without losing a game.
In 1924, he made a simultaneous exhibition around the Soviet Union.
In January 1925, he tied for 1st-2nd at Leningrad. He tied with Romanovsky.
In April-May 1925, he took 4th at Baden-Baden. The event was won by Alekhine,
In 1925, he won the 4th USSR championship, held in Leningrad.
In July 1925, he won the 24th Congress of the All-German Chess Union at Breslau (now Wroclaw).
In November/December 1925, he won at the first international tournament in Moscow, ahead of Emanuel Lasker, Jose Capablanca, and Akiba Rubinstein.
Bogoljubov is the only person in history who won the German and Soviet Chess Championship in the same year.
At the end of 1925, he immigrated to Germany and lived in Triberg.
In 1926, he won at Berlin.
In 1926, he took 2nd at Munich.
In 1926, he won at Kissingen.
On December 6, 1926, Bogoljubov renounced his Soviet citizenship. In the Soviet Union, the mention of his name was forbidden and he was considered a traitor.
In 1927, he obtained German citizenship.
In 1927, he won at Bremen.
In 1927, he won at Bad Homburg.
In February 1928, he took 2nd at Berlin.
In 1928, he won a match against Max Euwe, played in the Netherlands. It was called the FIDE Championship Match. Efim was awarded the title “Champion of FIDE.”
In August/September 1928, he won at Bad Kissingen.
In 1928, he won a tournament at the Café Koenig in Berlin.
In 1928/29, he won another match against Max Euwe, played in the Netherlands.
In July/August 1929, he took 8th at Karlsbad. The event was won by Nimzowitsch.
In September/November 1929, he played Alekhine for the world championship, losing 15.5 – 9.5. The event was played in Germany and Holland. Bogoljubov won 5, lost 11, and drew 9 games.
In 1930, he took 4th at San Remo. The event was won by Alekhine.
In 1930, he won in Nbichovo Hradiste, Czechoslovakia.
In 1930, he tied for 2nd-3rd at Stockholm, won by Kashdan.
In 1931, he tied for 2nd-3rd at Stockholm.
In July 1931, he represented Germany at first board in the 4th Chess Olympiad (Tournament of Nations) at Prague. He won the individual silver medal. Alekhine won the gold medal.
In 1931, he tied for 1st-2nd in Swinemunde with Roedl. This was a German championship.
In August/September 1931, he took 2nd at Bled/Ljubljana, behind Alekhine.
In December 1931, he became absolute champion of Germany after winning a match against Roedl.
In 1933, he became the chief coach of the German chess team and an employee of the German state.
In 1933, he won the National Tournament of the German Masters in Bad Aachen.
In 1933, he won at Bad Pyrmont (the first German chess championship).
In April/June 1934, he played Alekhine again for the world championship, losing 15.5 – 10.5. Bogoljubov won 3, lost 8, and drew 15.
In 1934, he took 4th at Zurich. The event was won by Alekhine.
In 1935, he won at Berlin.
In 1935, he won at Bad Nauheim.
In 1935, he won at Bad Saarow.
In 1936, he took 5th at Zanvoort.
In 1936, he tied for 1st-2nd at Berlin.
In 1936, he tied for 1st-2nd at Bad Elster.
In August 1936, he took 10th-11th place at Nottingham. Botvinnik and Capablanca tied for 1st.
In 1937, he won at Bremen.
In 1937, he opened up a “Chess Academy” in Triberg to train and instruct talented young boys and girls from Germany.
In 1938, he became a member of the Nazi Party to protect his family.
In 1938, he won at Bad Elster.
In 1938/39, he won at Karlsruhe.
In 1939, he lost a match to Eliskases.
In May 1939, he won at Stuttgart.
In 1940, he won at Berlin.
In November 1940, he tied for 1st-2nd in Krakow/Krynica/Warsaw. The event was called the 1st General Governor’s Championship.
In 1940, he was employed as a translator and interpreter (Ukrainian and Russian) in the German Propaganda Department. He was also a chess instructor in German military hospitals.
In July 1941, he lost a match with Max Euwe at Karlsbad.
In 1941, he won at Krefeld.
In September 1941, he took 4th in Munich. The event was called the 2nd Europa Tournament, won by Stoltz.
In October 1941, he took 3rd at Krakow/Warsaw. The event was the 2nd General Governor’s Championship. Alekhine and Schmidt tied for 1st.
In April 1942, he tied for 1st-2nd in Cottbus, Germany,
In July 1942, he took 5th in Salzburg. The event was won by Alekhine.
In 1942, he tied for 2nd-3rd in Krynica.
In September 1942, he tied for 3rd-5th at the European Championship, held in Munich. Alekhine won the event.
In 1942, he took 3rd at Warsaw-Lublin-Krakow. This was the 3rd Governor’s Tournament, won by Alekhine.
In January 1943, he won the 4th Governor’s Tournament at Radom.
In March 1943, he drew a match with Alekhine at Warsaw.
In February 1944, he won at Radom. This was the 6th Governor’s Tournament.
After World War II, he lived in West Germany. His Nazi Party membership was the cause of him being banned from playing in chess tournaments after the war.
In 1947, he won in Luneburg.
In 1947, he won in Kassel.
In 1947, he won at Flensburg.
In April 1949, he won in Bad Pyrmont (the 3rd West German championship).
In 1949, he took 1st-2nd place in Oldenberg.
In September 1949, he won at Haslach.
In 1950, he took 2nd at Travenubde.
In 1950, he took 2nd in the West German Championship at Bad Pyrmont, won by Ubzicker.
In 1950, he was denied the International Grandmaster title by FIDE because they claimed he had been an ardent supporter of Hitler. Bogoljubov was the only strong player denied the title that year.
In 1951, he won in Augsburg.
In 1951, he won in Saarbrucken.
In 1951, he was awarded the International Grandmaster title by FIDE.
He died in his sleep on June 18, 1952, in Triberg, West Germany. He was 63 years old. He died one day after giving a simultaneous exhibition near Stuttgart.
References:
Bogdanovich, The Creative Power of Bogoljubov, 2020
Fischer, J., “Efim Bogoljubov: A Chess Career,” ChessBase Chess News, April 14, 2019
Soloviov, Bogoljubow: The Fate of a Chess Player, 2004
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