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Keres, Paul

classical era

Paul Keres (1916-1975) was an Estonian grandmaster known as the "Crown Prince of Chess" for being arguably the strongest player never to become World Champion, finishing runner-up in the Candidates Tournament four consecutive times from 1953-1962. After winning the prestigious AVRO 1938 tournament ahead of future world champions, his title chances were derailed by World War II, beginning a career-long pattern of near-misses at the ultimate prize.

Total Games

1570

Wins

696

Draws

708

Losses

166

44.3% wins45.1% draws10.6% losses

Most Played Openings

C86 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Worrall Attack26E14 - Queen's Indian Defense: Spassky System25C84 - Ruy Lopez: Closed23C99 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Panov System22C87 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Averbakh Variation22D41 - Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense21C71 - Ruy Lopez: Noah's Ark Trap21C73 - Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense19C92 - Ruy Lopez: Closed18E19 - Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Main Line17

Most Faced Opponents

Smyslov, Vassily40 gamesGeller, Efim P34 gamesPetrosian, Tigran V32 gamesEuwe, Max27 gamesStahlberg, Gideon26 gamesTal, Mihail26 gamesSpassky, Boris V25 gamesGligoric, Svetozar25 gamesBronstein, David I25 gamesFlohr, Salo21 games

Featured Games

FCGFCG
0-1

Reshevsky, Samuel Herman vs Keres, Paul

World Championship 18th

1948

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FCGFCG
0-1

Keres, Paul vs Botvinnik, Mikhail

World Championship 18th

1948

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FCGFCG
0-1

Keres, Paul vs Botvinnik, Mikhail

World Championship 18th

1948

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FCGFCG
1-0

Reshevsky, Samuel Herman vs Keres, Paul

World Championship 18th

1948

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FCGFCG
0-1

Euwe, Max vs Keres, Paul

World Championship 18th

1948

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FCGFCG
1-0

Keres, Paul vs Najdorf, Miguel

Gothenburg Interzonal

1955

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FCGFCG
1-0

Smyslov, Vassily vs Keres, Paul

World Championship 18th

1948

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Keres, Paul vs Botvinnik, Mikhail

World Championship 18th

1948

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Portisch, Lajos vs Keres, Paul

Petropolis Interzonal

1973

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FCGFCG
0-1

Smyslov, Vassily vs Keres, Paul

World Championship 18th

1948

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Games (1570)

Search & Filter All Games →
Keres, Paul vs Friedemann, Gunnar
1-0
EST m 1935 C96
Ichim, Trajan vs Keres, Paul
0-1
Warsaw ol 1935 D36
Steiner, Lajos vs Keres, Paul
1-0
Warsaw ol 1935 C87
Keres, Paul vs Rasmusson, Birger
0-1
Warsaw ol 1935 D26
Keres, Paul vs Winter, William
1-0
Warsaw ol 1935 B29
Keres, Paul vs Grau, Roberto
1-0
Warsaw ol 1935 B70
Naegeli, Oskar vs Keres, Paul
0-1
Warsaw ol 1935 D36
Sacconi, Antonio vs Keres, Paul
0-1
Warsaw ol 1935 D52
Gruenfeld, Ernst vs Keres, Paul
0-1
Warsaw ol 1935 D52
Keres, Paul vs Petrovs, Vladimirs
1-0
Warsaw ol 1935 D66
Keres, Paul vs Porath, Yosef
1-0
Warsaw ol 1935 C02
Friedemann, Gunnar vs Keres, Paul
0-1
EST m 1935 D36
Keres, Paul vs Fine, Reuben
1/2-1/2
Warsaw ol 1935 C02
Keres, Paul vs Andersen, Erik Sr
1-0
Warsaw ol 1935 C73
Mikenas, Vladas vs Keres, Paul
1/2-1/2
Warsaw ol 1935 D52
Tartakower, Saviely vs Keres, Paul
1-0
Warsaw ol 1935 A28
Keres, Paul vs Stahlberg, Gideon
1-0
Warsaw ol 1935 C02
Keres, Paul vs Pirc, Vasja
1/2-1/2
Warsaw ol 1935 A29
Flohr, Salo vs Keres, Paul
1-0
Warsaw ol 1935 D37
Keres, Paul vs Reilly, Brian Patrick
1-0
Warsaw ol 1935 B14
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