List of chess endgame study composers

Last updated January 23, 2025

Note: Russian names may be written with other spellings. The list is ordered alphabetically by surname.

Yochanan Afek (b. 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 (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 (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 (1919–2004) . English composer of over 800 studies, winner of seven first prizes.
Johann Berger (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 (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 (1908–1965). Russian chess master and composer of about 150 studies. He is considered a major specialist on knight endgames. Together with Yuri Averbakh he published in 1956 a four-volume encyclopedia on endgames.
André Chéron (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (Odessa 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 he published in 1932 "L'opposition et les cases conjuguées sont réconciliées". Nine of his studies were awarded first prize.
Harold van der Heijden (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 (1915–1998). English player and composer, author of A Pocket guide to chess endgames.
Bernhard Horwitz (1807–1885). German composer of ca. 400 studies and author with Josef Kling 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^{[ check spelling ]} 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 (1916–1975). A very strong Estonian Grandmaster, he composed about 60 endgame studies.
Josef Kling (1811–1876). German master and composer of some 400 studies, most of which together with Bernhard Horwitz.
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 (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 (1932–1992). Russian composer of over 200 studies, winner of 40 first prizes.
Gia Nadareishvili (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 (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 (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 (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 (1935–1990). He published 1790 studies, making him the most prolific of all composers. He won 22 first prizes.
Ladislav Prokeš (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 (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).

Réti
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 (FSI) awarded him a gold medal in 2007 for his merits in the field of chess composition.
John Roycroft (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 (1888–1967). Russian player and study composer.
Vasily Smyslov (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 (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.

A. A. Troitsky
Julien Gustave Vandiest (b. 1919). Belgian composer of 398 studies, winner of 10 first prizes.
Milan Vukcevich (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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chess</span> Strategy board game

Chess is a board game for two players. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to distinguish it from related games such as xiangqi and shogi.

A chess problem, also called a chess composition, is a puzzle set by the composer using chess pieces on a chess board, which presents the solver with a particular task. For instance, a position may be given with the instruction that White is to move first, and checkmate Black in two moves against any possible defence. A chess problem fundamentally differs from over-the-board play in that the latter involves a struggle between Black and White, whereas the former involves a competition between the composer and the solver. Most positions which occur in a chess problem are unrealistic in the sense that they are very unlikely to occur in over-the-board play. There is a good deal of specialized jargon used in connection with chess problems.

The endgame is the final stage of a chess game which occurs after the middlegame. It begins when few pieces are left on the board.

This glossary of chess explains commonly used terms in chess, in alphabetical order. Some of these terms have their own pages, like fork and pin. For a list of unorthodox chess pieces, see Fairy chess piece; for a list of terms specific to chess problems, see Glossary of chess problems; for a list of named opening lines, see List of chess openings; for a list of chess-related games, see List of chess variants; for a list of terms general to board games, see Glossary of board games.

The fifty-move rule in chess states that a player can claim a draw if no capture has been made and no pawn has been moved in the last fifty moves. The purpose of this rule is to prevent a player with no chance of winning from obstinately continuing to play indefinitely or seeking to win by tiring the opponent.

In the game of chess, an endgame study, or just study, is a composed position—that is, one that has been made up rather than played in an actual game—presented as a sort of puzzle, in which the aim of the solver is to find the essentially unique way for one side to win or draw, as stipulated, against any moves the other side plays. If the study does not end in the end of the game, then the game's eventual outcome should be obvious, and White can have a selection of many different moves. There is no limit to the number of moves which are allowed to achieve the win; this distinguishes studies from the genre of direct mate problems. Such problems also differ qualitatively from the very common genre of tactical puzzles based around the middlegame, often based on an actual game, where a decisive tactic must be found.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akiba Rubinstein</span> Polish chess player (1880–1961)

Akiba Kiwelowicz Rubinstein was a Polish chess player. He is considered to have been one of the greatest players never to have become World Chess Champion. Rubinstein was granted the title International Grandmaster in 1950, at its inauguration.

Yuri Lvovich Averbakh was a Russian chess grandmaster and author. He was chairman of the USSR Chess Federation from 1973 to 1978. Averbakh was the first centenarian FIDE Grandmaster. Despite his eyesight and hearing having worsened, by his 100th birthday he continued to devote time to chess-related activities.

A chess composer is a person who creates endgame studies or chess problems. Chess composers usually specialize in a particular genre, e.g. endgame studies, twomovers, threemovers, moremovers, helpmates, selfmates, fairy problems, or retrograde analysis. Moreover, composers have their own preferred style of composing, allowing their sorting according to composition schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonid Kubbel</span> Russian chess player (1891–1942)

Karl Artur Leonid Kubbel was a Russian composer of chess endgame studies and problems.

Leopold Adamovich Mitrofanov was a Russian chess composer, an International Judge of Chess Composition and an International Master of Chess Composition. He was born in Leningrad and, by profession, was a chemical engineer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gia Nadareishvili</span> Soviet Georgian chess player

Gia Nadareishvili was a Soviet chess composer of Georgian nationality, and author of many books on chess studies.

Much literature about chess endgames has been produced in the form of books and magazines. A bibliography of endgame books is below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladislav Prokeš</span>

Ladislav Prokeš was a Czech chess master and one of the most prolific composers of endgame studies in chess. He was born and died in Prague.

Iuri Akobia was a Georgian composer of chess endgame studies and chess problems. For most of his working life he was a radio communications engineer in the National Center for Radio and TV of Georgia, and was Chief Engineer from 1975 until 1996.

Vitaly Alexandrovich Chekhover was a Soviet chess player and chess composer. He was also a pianist.

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 institute.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to chess:

Chess is one of the most popular sports in Azerbaijan, where it is governed by the Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF). On May 5, 2009 Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, who is also the chairman of the National Olympic Committee, signed an executive order initiating a state-supported chess development program, covering the years 2009–2014.

The FIDE World Fischer Random Chess Championship 2022 (WFRCC) was the second official world championship in Fischer Random Chess. The competition followed a similar format to the first championship in 2019, with qualifying stages open to all interested participants taking place online on chess.com and Lichess, and four qualified players joined four invited players in the over-the-board final, which took place at the Berjaya Reykjavik Natura Hotel in Reykjavík, Iceland from 25 to 30 October 2022.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.