8th Chess Olympiad - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 8th Chess Olympiad
Chess Olympiad
The Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess tournament in which teams from all over the world compete against each other. The event is organised by FIDE, which selects the host nation.-Birth of the Olympiad:The first Olympiad was unofficial...

, organised by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs

Fédération Internationale des Échecs

The Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation is an international organization that connects the various national chess federations around the world and acts as the governing body of international chess competition. It is usually referred to as FIDE , its French acronym.FIDE...

(FIDE), comprised an 'open' tournament, as well as a Women's World Championship contest. The main Olympiad event took place between August 21 and September 19, 1939 in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

, Argentina and coincided with the outbreak of World War II.

Introduction

There was a record number of entries, with twenty-seven teams taking part. This compared with the nineteen nations participating at the previous Olympiad; the substantial increase being mostly due to the interest shown by other Central and South American nations, including Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

, led by José Raúl Capablanca

José Raúl Capablanca

José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera was a Cuban chess player who was world chess champion from 1921 to 1927. One of the greatest players of all time, he was renowned for his exceptional endgame skill and speed of play...

on top board.

Due to certain political events, prominent Austrian players Erich Eliskases

Erich Eliskases

Erich Gottlieb Eliskases was a chess Grandmaster of the 1930s and 1940s, who represented Austria, Germany and Argentina in international competition....

and Albert Becker were playing under the German flag and official sources referred to the Czechoslovak team as 'Bohemia & Moravia'. Regrettably, two of the teams that did not compete were those that finished first and second at Stockholm

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...

, namely the United States and Hungary. Indeed, some nations found the cost of sending a team such a distance for a lengthy period, prohibitively expensive.

Following the Preliminaries, the teams were split into Final Group A or Final Group B, with the former contesting the Hamilton-Russell Cup and the latter playing for the 'Copa Argentina', a trophy presented by the Argentine President.

Preliminaries

The preliminaries were played from August 21–31, 1939. There were three groups of seven teams and a group of six. From an all-play-all format, the four top finishers in each group went forward to Final A, the remainder to Final B. Group winners were Bohemia & Moravia (tied with Poland, Group 1), Latvia (Group 2), Argentina (Group 3) and Sweden (Group 4).

Finals

The finals commenced on September 1, the date of the commencement of World War II. This led to much confusion amongst the European teams, although most players wanted to continue. The England team, despite having qualified for Final A, were the only team to return home immediately and their place was not filled. Three of five English representatives: Conel Hugh O'Donel Alexander

Conel Hugh O'Donel Alexander

Conel Hugh O'Donel Alexander, CMG, CBE was an Irish-born British cryptanalyst, chess player, and chess writer. He worked on the German Enigma machine at Bletchley Park during World War II, and was later the head of the cryptanalysis division at GCHQ for over 20 years...

, Stuart Milner-Barry

Stuart Milner-Barry

Sir Stuart Milner-Barry KCVO, CB, OBE was a British chess player, chess writer, World War II codebreaker and civil servant. He represented England in chess both before and after World War II...

, and Harry Golombek

Harry Golombek

Harry Golombek OBE , was a British chess International Master and honorary grandmaster, chess arbiter, and chess author. He was three times British chess champion, in 1947, 1949, and 1955 and finished second in 1948. He became a grandmaster in 1985.He was the chess correspondent of The Times...

were soon recruited into Bletchley Park

Bletchley Park

Bletchley Park is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, England, which currently houses the National Museum of Computing...

, the British codebreaking centre during World War II.

Concerning the remaining delegations, a crisis assembly was called to vote on how to proceed; this comprised team captains, the hosts and organisers. Leading roles were reportedly taken by Alexander Alekhine

Alexander Alekhine

Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine was the fourth World Chess Champion. He is often considered one of the greatest chess players ever.By the age of twenty-two, he was already among the strongest chess players in the world. During the 1920s, he won most of the tournaments in which he played...

(France), Savielly Tartakower

Savielly Tartakower

Ksawery Tartakower was a leading Polish and French chess Grandmaster. He was also a leading chess journalist of the 1920s and 30s...

(Poland), Albert Becker (Germany) and the president of the Argentine Chess Federation, Augusto de Muro

Augusto de Muro

Augusto de Muro was an Argentine chess player and organizer.He was the president of the FADA and the head of Organizing Committee for the 8th Chess Olympiad at Bueonos Aires, August 21 – September 19, 1939...

. The verdict was to continue with the Olympiad.

The political ramifications rumbled on however, when it became apparent that six of the scheduled Finals matches could not be played due to tensions aroused by the war. After considerable deliberation and negotiation, a total of six matches (GER-POL, GER-FRA, GER-PAL, B&M-POL, B&M-FRA, ARG-PAL) were declared 2-2 results by mutual forfeit and this allowed the remainder of the competition to be played out to a conclusion.

The results of the Finals were as follows:

Final A

#	Country	Players	Points
1	Germany	Eliskases Erich Eliskases Erich Gottlieb Eliskases was a chess Grandmaster of the 1930s and 1940s, who represented Austria, Germany and Argentina in international competition.... , Michel, Engels Ludwig Engels Ludwig Engels was a German–Brazilian chess master.-Biography:In 1928, Engels tied for 1st-2nd with van Nüss in Düsseldorf. In 1929, he took 4th in Cologne. In 1929, he won in Duisburg. In 1929, he tied for 1st-3rd in Duisburg. In 1930, he tied for 1st-2nd with Weissgerber in Frankfurt... , Becker, Reinhardt Heinrich Reinhardt Heinrich Reinhardt a German–Argentine chess master.In 1932, he tied for 3rd-5th in Hamburg–Altona . In 1935, he won a match against Herbert Taube in Hamburg . In 1937, he tied for 3rd-4th in Berlin...	36
2	Poland	Tartakower Savielly Tartakower Ksawery Tartakower was a leading Polish and French chess Grandmaster. He was also a leading chess journalist of the 1920s and 30s... , Najdorf Miguel Najdorf Miguel Najdorf was a Polish-born Argentine chess grandmaster of Jewish origin, famous for his Najdorf Variation.... , Frydman Paulino Frydman Paulino Frydman was a Polish chess master.-Biography:... , Regedziński Teodor Regedzinski Teodor Regedziński was a Polish chess master.-Biography:Born Polish , Regedziński was of German origin as his father, named Reger. He had lived in Łódź since 1908, enrolling in the Łódź Association of Devotees of the Game of Chess... , Sulik Franciszek Sulik Franciszek Sulik was a Polish-Australian chess master.Before World War II, he lived in Lvov . In 1934, he tied for 2nd-3rd with Henryk Friedman, behind Stepan Popel, in the Lvov championship. In 1935, he tied for 8-9th in Warsaw...	35½
3	Estonia	Keres Paul Keres Paul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s.... , Raud Ilmar Raud Ilmar Raud was an Estonian chess master.-Biography:Raud played several times in the Estonian championships at Tallinn. In 1933, he tied for 3rd-5th at the 5th EST–ch. The event was won by Gunnar Friedemann. In 1934, he won the 6th EST–ch. In 1936, he took 3rd at the 8th EST–ch... , Schmidt Paul Felix Schmidt Paul Felix Schmidt was an Estonian chess International Master, chess writer, and chemist.- Biography :In June 1935, he won, ahead of Paul Keres, at Tallinn. In May 1936, he drew a match against Keres at Pärnu. In 1936, he won the 8th Estonian Championship at Tallinn. In December 1936, he placed... , Friedemann Gunnar Friedemann -Biography:Friedemann played several times in Estonian championships at Tallinn. In 1932, he tied for 3rd-4th with Johannes Türn . In 1933, he won the 5th EST–ch. In 1934, he took 3rd, behind Ilmar Raud and Paul Felix Schmidt, at the 6th EST–ch. In 1935, he took 2nd, behind Paul Keres, at the 7th... , Türn Johannes Türn -Biography:Türn played in numerous Estonian championships. In 1923, he took 2nd, behind Paul Rinne, in Tallinn . In 1925, he won in Tallinn . In 1930, he took 2nd, behind Vladas Mikėnas . In 1932, he tied for 3rd-4th with Gunnar Friedemann, behind Leho Laurine, and Rinne...	33½
4	Sweden	Ståhlberg Gideon Ståhlberg Anders Gideon Tom Ståhlberg was a Swedish chess grandmaster.He won the Swedish Chess Championship of 1927, became Nordic champion in 1929, and held it until 1939.... , Lundin Erik Lundin Erik Lundin a Swedish chess master.In 1928, he won in Oslo, took 5th in Helsingborg, tied for 2nd-3rd in Stockholm . In 1929, he took 2nd in Göteborg , and took 3rd in Västerås... , Bergkvist Nils Bergkvist Nils Valentin Bergkvist or Nils Bergqvist was a Swedish chess master.He shared first in the national tournament at Lund 1933, took 5th at Stockholm 1937 , played a match with Salo Landau at Stockholm 1937, twice tied for 3rd-4th, with Ernst Larsson at Kalmar 1938 , and with Allan Bergkvist at... , Danielsson Gösta Danielsson Gösta Erik Vilhelm Danielsson was a Swedish chess master.He took 4th at Stockholm 1934 , tied for 3rd-4th at Falun 1934 , tied for 3rd-4th, behind Paul Felix Schmidt and Paul Keres, at Tallinn 1935, and won at Göteborg 1935 .In September 1935, he... , Ekenberg Bengt Ekenberg Bengt August Edvard Ekenberg was a Swedish chess master.He twice won the Swedish Chess Championship at Malmö 1943 and Örnsköldsvik 1962....	33
5	Argentina	Grau Roberto Grau Roberto Gabriel Grau was an Argentine chess master.Grau played in many Argentine championships. In 1921/22, he tied for 3rd-4th . In 1922, he tied for 2nd-3rd . In 1923/24, he tied for 2nd-4th... , Piazzini Luis Piazzini Luis Roberto Piazzini was an Argentine chess master.He participated many times in Argentine championships, and was an Argentine Champion in 1933 winning ARG-ch Torneo Mayor and a match for the title against Jacobo Bolbochán... , Bolbochán Jac. Jacobo Bolbochán Jacobo Bolbochán was an Argentine chess master.He played many times in the Argentine Chess Championships. He won twice , both ahead of Isaias Pleci. In 1933, he took 2nd, behind Luis Piazzini. In 1935, he took 2nd, behind Roberto Grau. In 1936, he took 3rd, behind Carlos Guimard and Grau... , Guimard Carlos Guimard Carlos Enrique Guimard was an Argentine chess Grandmaster. He was born in Santiago del Estero.-Biography:Guimard was thrice Argentine Champion. In 1936, he won the ARG-ch 15 Mayor, and in 1937 a match for the title against Roberto Grau . In 1937/38, he won a match against Luis Piazzini... , Pleci Isaias Pleci Isaías Pléci was an Argentine chess master.-Chess tournaments:Pléci was the Argentine Champion in 1929 to 1930. He won at Buenos Aires 1928 and lost a match for the title to Roberto Grau . later, he won in 1929 and won a match against Grau in 1930...	32½
6	Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia	Opočenský Karel Opocenský Karel Opočenský was a Czech chess master.-Biography:He was four-time Czech Champion . In 1919, he took 2nd, behind František Schubert, in Prague . In 1925, he tied for 3rd-4th in Paris . In 1927, he won in Česke Budějovice... , Foltys Jan Foltys Jan Foltys , was a Czech chess International Master.-Biography:... , Pelikán, Skalička Karel Skalicka Karel Skalička was a Czech–Argentine chess master.In 1924, he won a team gold medal for Czechoslovakia in the 1st unofficial Chess Olympiad in Paris. He took 3rd in group eliminations , and tied for 21-31st in the major tournament... , Zíta František Zíta František Zíta was a Czech chess master who was born and died in Prague.Zíta played for Czechoslovakia in Chess Olympiads:* In 1937, at first reserve board in 7th Chess Olympiad in Stockholm ;...	32
7	Latvia	Petrovs Vladimirs Petrovs Vladimirs Petrovs or Vladimir Petrov was a Latvian chess master.He was born in Riga, Latvia. Though he learned the game of chess relatively late, at age thirteen, Petrovs made rapid progress. By 1926, at age 19, he won the Riga Championship and finish third in the national championship... , Apšenieks Fricis Apšenieks Fricis Apšenieks was a Latvian chess master.-Biography:... , Feigins Movsas Feigins Movsas Feigins or Movša Feigins was a Latvian chess master.-Biography:Movsas Feigins was born in Dvinsk, . He won at Riga 1930, and was Latvian Champion in 1932 . In 1932, he tied for 3rd–5th at Riga. The event was won by Vladimirs Petrovs... , Endzelīns Lucijs Endzelins Lūcijs Endzelīns was a Latvian-Australian chess master.... , Melngailis	31½
8	Netherlands	van Scheltinga Theo van Scheltinga Tjeerd Daniel van Scheltinga was a Dutch chess player. FIDE awarded him the International Master title in 1950 .... , Cortlever Nicolaas Cortlever Nicolaas Cortlever was a Dutch chess master.He tied for 7-8th at Rotterdam 1936 ; took 2nd at Amsterdam 1938 ; won at the 2nd Hoogovens Beverwijk 1939 ; tied for 4-6th at Amsterdam I and 3rd-4th at Amsterdam II in 1939.During World War II, he tied for 2nd-3rd at... , De Groot Adriaan de Groot Adrianus Dingeman de Groot was a Dutch chess master and psychologist, who conducted some of the most famous chess experiments of all time in the 1940s-60... , Prins Lodewijk Prins Lodewijk Prins was a Dutch chess player and referee of chess competitions.Prins was awarded the International Master title in 1950, and was made an International Arbiter in 1960. In 1982 FIDE made him an honorary Grandmaster.Prins represented the Netherlands twelve times in all Chess Olympiads... , De Ronde Chris de Ronde Chris de Ronde was a Dutch–Argentine chess master.He was a champion of Rotterdam...	30½
9	Palestine (mandate)	Czerniak Moshe Czerniak -Biography:In 1930 Moshe Czerniak took ninth at Warsaw in an event won by Paulino Frydman. In 1934 Czerniak emigrated from Poland to Palestine . In April 1935, he tied for 7th–8th in Tel Aviv . He was Palestinian Champion in 1936 and 1938. In April 1939, he played in the First Lasker Chess Club... , Foerder Yosef Porath -Biography:Yosef Porath was born Heinz Josef Foerder in Germany. He took the name Yosef Porath in Israel. In 1933, he lost his job after the Nazis assumed power in Germany, and moved to Riga. In 1934 he emigrated to Palestine... , Winz Victor Winz Victor Winz was a Palestine/Israeli–Argentine chess master.Born in Germany, he began his chess career in Berlin... , Kleinstein Zelman Kleinstein Zelman Kleinstein was a Palestine/Israeli chess master.He played for Palestine team in the 8th Chess Olympiad on fourth board at Buenos Aires 1939... , Rauch Meir Rauch Meir Rauch was an Israeli chess master, born in Zolynia, Poland.In August–September 1939, he played for the Palestinian team in the 8th Chess Olympiad on the first reserve board in Buenos Aires...	26
10	Early Modern France	Alekhine Alexander Alekhine Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine was the fourth World Chess Champion. He is often considered one of the greatest chess players ever.By the age of twenty-two, he was already among the strongest chess players in the world. During the 1920s, he won most of the tournaments in which he played... , Gromer Aristide Gromer Aristide Gromer was a French chess master.Gromer was thrice French Champion .He tied for 5-6th at Paris 1923 , took 3rd at Biarritz 1926 , took 2nd, behind Chéron, at Saint-Cloude 1929, shared 2nd with Savielly Tartakower, behind Eugene Znosko-Borovsky, at Paris 1930, took 2nd, behind Aimé Gibaud,... , Kahn Victor Kahn Victor Kahn was a Russian–French chess master.He was born in Moscow but left Russia in 1912 eventually ending up in France going via Sweden, Denmark and Germany. He won the Copenhagen Championship in 1916. He also played at Hamburg 1916.... , Rometti Barbatto Rometti Barbato Rometti aka Bernard Rometti aka Barbato Nicola Rometti was a French chess player.At the beginning of his career, he played at Nice 1930... , Dez	24½
11	Cuba	Capablanca José Raúl Capablanca José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera was a Cuban chess player who was world chess champion from 1921 to 1927. One of the greatest players of all time, he was renowned for his exceptional endgame skill and speed of play... , López, Alemán, Blanco, Planas	22½
12	Chile	Castillo Mariano Castillo Mariano Castillo Larenas was a Chilean chess master.He won nine times Chilean Chess Championship .... , Flores Rodrigo Flores Rodrigo Flores Álvarez was a Chilean engineer and chess master.-Chess:Flores was Chilean Champion eleven times: 1931, 1935, 1938, 1941, 1944, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1961, and 1965.... , Letelier René Letelier René Letelier Martner was a Chilean chess player with the title of International Master.-Biography:... , Salas, Reed	22
13	Lithuania	Mikėnas Vladas Mikenas Vladas Mikėnas was a Lithuanian International Master of chess, an Honorary Grandmaster, and a journalist.- Early life :Vladas Mikėnas played for Lithuania at first board in five official and one unofficial Chess Olympiads.... , Vaitonis Povilas Vaitonis Povilas Vaitonis was a Lithuanian–Canadian International Master of chess. He was a five-time Lithuanian champion, and was twice Canadian champion... , Luckis Markas Luckis Markas Luckis was a Lithuanian–Argentine chess master.-Biography:Luckis was born in Lithuania. He twice won the Kaunas City Chess Championship in 1927 and 1928... , Tautvaišas Povilas Tautvaišas Povilas Tautvaišas was a Lithuanian-American chess master.-Biography:He played twice for the Lithuanian team in the Chess Olympiads, at eighth board at Munich 1936 , and at fourth board in the 8th Olympiad at Buenos Aires 1939, during which World War II broke out... , Andrašiūnas	22
14	Brazil	Trompowsky Octavio Trompowsky Octavio Figueira Trompowsky de Almeida was a Brazilian chess player, who was born and died in Rio de Janeiro.... , Silva Rocha, Cruz W. Walter Cruz Walter Oswaldo Cruz was a Brazilian chess master.He was six-time Brazilian Champion and thrice Sub-Champion... , Souza Mendes João de Souza Mendes João de Souza Mendes was a seven-time Brazilian chess champion.Born in Portugal, Souza Mendes played in the Brazilian Chess Championship 29 times, winning in 1925 , 1928, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1954, and 1958... , Cruz Filho Oswaldo Cruz Filho Oswaldo Cruz Filho was a Brazilian chess master.He represented Brazil in 3rd unofficial Chess Olympiad at Munich 1936, in the 8th Chess Olympiad at Buenos Aires 1939 and the 10th Chess Olympiad at Helsinki 1952....	21
15	Denmark	Enevoldsen Jens Enevoldsen Jens Evald Enevoldsen-Elsing was a Danish chess master born in Copenhagen who won the Danish Chess Championship five times... , Poulsen Christian Poulsen (chess player) Christian Poulsen was a Danish chess master.He won twice in Danish Chess Championship , and thrice shared 1st but lost playoff matches for the title in 1939, 1940, and 1951.... , Christensen, Sørensen, Larsen	17½
16	Kingdom of England	(Alexander Conel Hugh O'Donel Alexander Conel Hugh O'Donel Alexander, CMG, CBE was an Irish-born British cryptanalyst, chess player, and chess writer. He worked on the German Enigma machine at Bletchley Park during World War II, and was later the head of the cryptanalysis division at GCHQ for over 20 years... , Thomas George Alan Thomas Sir George Alan Thomas, Bart. was a British badminton, tennis and chess player. He was twice British Chess Champion and a 21-time All-England Badminton champion. He also played in the semi-finals of the men's tennis doubles at Wimbledon in 1911... , Milner-Barry, Golombek Harry Golombek Harry Golombek OBE , was a British chess International Master and honorary grandmaster, chess arbiter, and chess author. He was three times British chess champion, in 1947, 1949, and 1955 and finished second in 1948. He became a grandmaster in 1985.He was the chess correspondent of The Times... , Wood Baruch Harold Wood Baruch Harold Wood MSc OBE was an English chess player, editor and author. He was born in Sheffield, England.-Playing career:... ) Team withdrew due to the outbreak of war	–

Board 1-5 prizes for best individual results (Finals only) went to José Raúl Capablanca

José Raúl Capablanca

(Cuba), Heinz Foerder

Yosef Porath

-Biography:Yosef Porath was born Heinz Josef Foerder in Germany. He took the name Yosef Porath in Israel. In 1933, he lost his job after the Nazis assumed power in Germany, and moved to Riga. In 1934 he emigrated to Palestine...

(Palestine/Israel) and Miguel Najdorf

Miguel Najdorf

Miguel Najdorf was a Polish-born Argentine chess grandmaster of Jewish origin, famous for his Najdorf Variation....

(Poland), Ludwig Engels

Ludwig Engels

Ludwig Engels was a German–Brazilian chess master.-Biography:In 1928, Engels tied for 1st-2nd with van Nüss in Düsseldorf. In 1929, he took 4th in Cologne. In 1929, he won in Duisburg. In 1929, he tied for 1st-3rd in Duisburg. In 1930, he tied for 1st-2nd with Weissgerber in Frankfurt...

(Germany), Gunnar Friedemann

Gunnar Friedemann

-Biography:Friedemann played several times in Estonian championships at Tallinn. In 1932, he tied for 3rd-4th with Johannes Türn . In 1933, he won the 5th EST–ch. In 1934, he took 3rd, behind Ilmar Raud and Paul Felix Schmidt, at the 6th EST–ch. In 1935, he took 2nd, behind Paul Keres, at the 7th...

(Estonia), and Isaias Pleci

Isaias Pleci

Isaías Pléci was an Argentine chess master.-Chess tournaments:Pléci was the Argentine Champion in 1929 to 1930. He won at Buenos Aires 1928 and lost a match for the title to Roberto Grau . later, he won in 1929 and won a match against Grau in 1930...

(Argentina), respectively.

Final B

#	Country	Players	Points
17	Iceland	Möller Baldur Möller Baldur Möller was an Icelandic chess master.He was multiple Icelandic champion .Möller won twice Nordic Chess Championship in 1948 and 1950.... , Ásgeirsson, Guðmundsson, Þorvaldsson, Arnlaugsson	28
18	Canada	Morrison John Morrison (chess player) John Stuart Morrison was a Canadian chess Master, who was born and died in Toronto.He won the Canadian Chess Championship five times and shared first place in 1931... , Yanofsky Daniel Yanofsky Daniel Abraham Yanofsky, OC, QC was Canada's first chess grandmaster, an eight-time Canadian Chess Champion, a chess writer, a chess arbiter, and a lawyer.-Life in chess:... , Opsahl, Holowach, Helman	28
19	Norway	Rojahn, Larsen, Rebnord, Austbø	27
20	Uruguay	Rotunno, Hounie Fleurquin, Gulla, Roux Cabral Luis Roux Cabral -Chess career:He won twice Uruguayan Chess Championship in 1948 and 1971 and played for Uruguay in the Chess Olympiads of 1939, 1964 and 1966.-"The Uruguayan Immortal":... , Olivera	26
21	Kingdom of Bulgaria	Tsvetkov Alexander Tsvetkov Alexander Kristov Tsvetkov a Bulgarian chess master.In April 1936, he won a game against Alexander Alekhine at Alekhine's Simultaneous Exhibition in Sofia... , Neikirch Oleg Neikirch Oleg Nikolaev Neikirch was a Bulgarian chess master.... , Kiprov, Kantardzhiev, Karastoichev	25½
22	Ecuador	Ponce, Morales, Sierra, Suarez Dávila, Ayala	21
23	Guatemala	Vassaux, Asturias, Cruz Bulnes, Salazar	15½
24	Republic of Ireland	O'Hanlon John O'Hanlon John O'Hanlon was an Irish chess master.He won nine times Irish Chess Championship, first title in 1913 and the last in 1940... , O'Donovan, Kerlin, Minnis, Nash	15½
25	Peru	Dulanto, Pinzón Solis, Castro de Mendoza, Soto, Cayo	14
26	Bolivia	Cordova, Baender Paul Baender Paul Baender, was a German–Bolivian chess master and functionary.... , Rodríguez Hurtado, Zavala, Reyes Velasco	10
27	Paraguay	Díaz Pérez, Espínola, Laterza, Boettner, Aponte	9½

In descending order, the board 1-5 prizes for best individual results in Final B went to Ernst Rojahn (Norway), Daniel Yanofsky

Daniel Yanofsky

Daniel Abraham Yanofsky, OC, QC was Canada's first chess grandmaster, an eight-time Canadian Chess Champion, a chess writer, a chess arbiter, and a lawyer.-Life in chess:...

(Canada), Jón Guðmundsson (Iceland), Mikhail Kantardzhiev (Bulgaria) and Guðmundur Arnlaugsson (Iceland).

Women's World Chess Championship

The seventh Women's World Chess Championship

Women's World Chess Championship

The Women's World Chess Championship is played to determine the women's world champion in chess. Like the World Chess Championship, it is administered by FIDE....

took place during the Olympiad. The final results were as follows:

#	Player	Points
1		18
2		16
3		15½
4		15
5		14
6		12
7		11
8		11
9		9
10		9
11		8½
12		8
13		7½
14		7
15		7
16		7
17		6
18		3½
19		3
20		2

Sonja Graf traveled to Buenos Aires to play on the German team for the 8th Chess Olympiad. As a result of her outspoken defiance of Hitler's government, she was taken off the list of German participants and took the option of playing under "Liberty", the international flag.

Political refugees

At the conclusion of events, many participants decided to stay in Argentina or moved elsewhere in South America, rather than face an uncertain future by returning to Europe in the midst of a World War. The players affected included Miguel Najdorf

Miguel Najdorf

Miguel Najdorf was a Polish-born Argentine chess grandmaster of Jewish origin, famous for his Najdorf Variation....

, Paulino Frydman

Paulino Frydman

Paulino Frydman was a Polish chess master.-Biography:...

, Gideon Stahlberg

Gideon Ståhlberg

Anders Gideon Tom Ståhlberg was a Swedish chess grandmaster.He won the Swedish Chess Championship of 1927, became Nordic champion in 1929, and held it until 1939....

, Erich Eliskases

Erich Eliskases

Erich Gottlieb Eliskases was a chess Grandmaster of the 1930s and 1940s, who represented Austria, Germany and Argentina in international competition....

, Paul Michel, Ludwig Engels

Ludwig Engels

, Albert Becker, Heinrich Reinhardt

Heinrich Reinhardt

Heinrich Reinhardt a German–Argentine chess master.In 1932, he tied for 3rd-5th in Hamburg–Altona . In 1935, he won a match against Herbert Taube in Hamburg . In 1937, he tied for 3rd-4th in Berlin...

, Jiří Pelikán, Karel Skalička

Karel Skalicka

Karel Skalička was a Czech–Argentine chess master.In 1924, he won a team gold medal for Czechoslovakia in the 1st unofficial Chess Olympiad in Paris. He took 3rd in group eliminations , and tied for 21-31st in the major tournament...

, Markas Luckis

Markas Luckis

Markas Luckis was a Lithuanian–Argentine chess master.-Biography:Luckis was born in Lithuania. He twice won the Kaunas City Chess Championship in 1927 and 1928...

, Movsas Feigins

Movsas Feigins

Movsas Feigins or Movša Feigins was a Latvian chess master.-Biography:Movsas Feigins was born in Dvinsk, . He won at Riga 1930, and was Latvian Champion in 1932 . In 1932, he tied for 3rd–5th at Riga. The event was won by Vladimirs Petrovs...

, Ilmar Raud

Ilmar Raud

Ilmar Raud was an Estonian chess master.-Biography:Raud played several times in the Estonian championships at Tallinn. In 1933, he tied for 3rd-5th at the 5th EST–ch. The event was won by Gunnar Friedemann. In 1934, he won the 6th EST–ch. In 1936, he took 3rd at the 8th EST–ch...

, Moshe Czerniak

Moshe Czerniak

-Biography:In 1930 Moshe Czerniak took ninth at Warsaw in an event won by Paulino Frydman. In 1934 Czerniak emigrated from Poland to Palestine . In April 1935, he tied for 7th–8th in Tel Aviv . He was Palestinian Champion in 1936 and 1938. In April 1939, he played in the First Lasker Chess Club...

, Meir Rauch

Meir Rauch

Meir Rauch was an Israeli chess master, born in Zolynia, Poland.In August–September 1939, he played for the Palestinian team in the 8th Chess Olympiad on the first reserve board in Buenos Aires...

, Victor Winz

Victor Winz

Victor Winz was a Palestine/Israeli–Argentine chess master.Born in Germany, he began his chess career in Berlin...

, Aristide Gromer

Aristide Gromer

Aristide Gromer was a French chess master.Gromer was thrice French Champion .He tied for 5-6th at Paris 1923 , took 3rd at Biarritz 1926 , took 2nd, behind Chéron, at Saint-Cloude 1929, shared 2nd with Savielly Tartakower, behind Eugene Znosko-Borovsky, at Paris 1930, took 2nd, behind Aimé Gibaud,...

, Franciszek Sulik

Franciszek Sulik

Franciszek Sulik was a Polish-Australian chess master.Before World War II, he lived in Lvov . In 1934, he tied for 2nd-3rd with Henryk Friedman, behind Stepan Popel, in the Lvov championship. In 1935, he tied for 8-9th in Warsaw...

, Adolf Seitz

Adolf Seitz

Jakob Adolf Seitz was a German–Argentine chess master and journalist.In 1920, he tied for 2-4th in Canterbury, took 10th in Berlin, and tied for 4-5th in Kulmbach. In 1921, he tied for 8-9th in Hamburg. In 1922, he tied for 2nd-3rd in London . In 1922/23 he tied for 6-9th in Portsmouth/Southsea...

, Chris De Ronde

Chris de Ronde

Chris de Ronde was a Dutch–Argentine chess master.He was a champion of Rotterdam...

, Zelman Kleinstein

Zelman Kleinstein

Zelman Kleinstein was a Palestine/Israeli chess master.He played for Palestine team in the 8th Chess Olympiad on fourth board at Buenos Aires 1939...

, Sonja Graf

Sonja Graf

Sonja Graf was a German chess master who also lived in Argentina and the United States. She was the Women's World Sub-Champion, two-time winner of the U.S...

and Paulette Schwartzmann

Paulette Schwartzmann

Paulette Schwartzmann was a Latvian–French–Argentine chess player.Born in Riga, she emigrated to France. She won seven times French Chess Championship , although she was awarded the title only thrice. She became French citizen in 1933.She played twice in Women's World Chess Championship...

. Most of them were Jewish and had come to Buenos Aires in August 1939 on the Belgian steamer "Piriapolis". The ship has therefore come to be regarded as the epitome of Noah's Ark for a generation of chess players. Significantly, all members of the German team (Eliskases, Michel, Engels, Becker, Reinhardt) also chose not to return to Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...

Introduction

Preliminaries

Finals

Final A

Final B

Women's World Chess Championship

Political refugees

See also