Miguel Najdorf - 'el Viejo' - Life, Games and Stories - by Franco (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

I was lucky enough to play against six world champions and several top players in my modest chess career, but the greatest player I feel privileged to have known, to have spent time with him, was Miguel Najdorf, "El Viejo".

This is a chess book, with 275 commented games, it covers all his chess career, but it has also many stories. Najdorf was the most important Argentinean chess player, and he was an exceptional person. Oscar Panno said that Najdorf reminded him of Don Quixote, in the part of the book where he tells Sancho Panza, "Wherever I am, that is where the head of the table is going to be". He successfully overcame the most terrible setbacks, as few are capable of doing. Writing about Miguel Najdorf is one of my greatest pleasures as a chess journalist and writer!

Zenon Franco Ocampos, April 2021.

Review Quotes

In his book, the author has covered the entirety of Najdorf's career, carefully annotating no fewer than 275 games and game fragments, leaving us with an absolutely massive volume; 720 pages, which have been beautifully produced by Thinkers Publishing on quality shiny paper and nicely bound. For anyone interested in chess history, the book is a stunning accomplishment and an absolute pleasure to read, especially for those who enjoy biographies with great games and fascinating stories. Truly a must-buy. I will certainly return to it again and again. Highly recommended. FM Carsten Hansen - American Chess Magazine 25/2022