Brazil has produced some of the most iconic and talented chess players in the world. These players have all made their mark on the chess scene, not just in Brazil but all over the world.
From grandmasters to world champions, Brazilian chess players have had a major influence on the game. We will take a look at the best chess players in Brazil and their contributions to the game.
We will also learn about their achievements and their impact on the chess world.
1. Alexandr Fier
Alexandr Hilário Takeda Sakai dos Santos Fier is a renowned Brazilian chess grandmaster. He has a distinguished career as a chess player, having competed in the FIDE World Cup in six consecutive years: 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2023.
Alexandr has consistently shown excellence in the world of chess, earning the title of grandmaster in his home country of Brazil. He has also achieved international success, representing Brazil in various international tournaments.
Alexandr’s impressive track record of success in the FIDE World Cup has earned him recognition and admiration in the chess world. His skill and dedication to the sport has ensured that his name remains prominent in chess circles.
Alexandr is an inspiration to aspiring chess players around the world, and his achievements are sure to continue in the years to come.
2. Darcy Lima
Darcy Gustavo Machado Vieira Lima is a highly accomplished Brazilian chess player. He earned the International Master title from the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) in 1989, and seven years later, was granted the Grandmaster title from the same organization.
Aside from his success as a player, Lima has also become an influential figure in the chess world as an official. In 2010, FIDE granted him the title of FIDE Trainer, and in 2013, he earned the rank of FIDE International Organizer.
This shows that Lima is highly respected in the chess world and has been recognized for his outstanding achievements and contributions.
3. Felipe El Debs
Felipe de Cresce El Debs is a highly esteemed Brazilian chess player, who holds the FIDE title of Grandmaster. This prestigious title is awarded to only the most elite players at an international level.
El Debs has achieved considerable success in the chess community, having competed in the FIDE World Cup in 2017. In addition to individual tournaments, El Debs has also represented Brazil in team chess competitions such as the Chess Olympiad and the Pan American Team Chess Championship.
In 2013, his team finished third in the latter event, demonstrating his commitment to the game and the success of his team. El Debs is a highly respected chess player in Brazil and beyond.
His dedication to the game is evident in his achievements, which have earned him the FIDE title of Grandmaster and recognition for his successes in team competitions.
4. Luis Paulo Supi
Luis Paulo Supi is an impressive chess player from Brazil. He achieved the title of grandmaster in 2017 after winning the Magistral Acre tournament. Four years later, he managed to become the Brazilian Chess Champion in 2021.
As well as being a professional chess player, Supi is also involved in streaming on Twitch and creating content on YouTube.
He uses these platforms to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for the game, allowing chess fans from all over the world to get an insight into his thoughts and strategies. His dedication and skill have earned him the respect and admiration of the chess community.
He has become an inspiration to those who aspire to become professional chess players themselves. Through his success, Supi has demonstrated that hard work and determination can help one to reach even the highest of goals.
5. André Diamant
André Diamant is a Brazilian chess Grandmaster. He is a highly successful player, having won the Brazilian Chess Championship in 2008 and 2009 and playing for Brazil in the Chess Olympiads of 2008 and 2010. Diamant is of Jewish origin and proudly represents the club A Hebraica.
His peak Elo rating was an impressive 2547, which is a testament to his skill and dedication to the game. Diamant has achieved many successes over the years.
His two wins of the Brazilian Chess Championship in 2008 and 2009 are especially noteworthy, as winning this tournament requires tremendous skill and determination.
His participation in the Chess Olympiads of 2008 and 2010 also shows his commitment to the game, as these tournaments pit some of the best players in the world against each other. Diamant’s peak Elo rating of 2547 is a testament to his skill and dedication as a chess player.
Elo ratings are used to rank players in chess, and Diamant’s rating of 2547 indicates that he is one of the best players in Brazil.
His impressive rating is a result of his hard work and dedication to the game. Overall, André Diamant is a highly successful Brazilian chess Grandmaster.
His peak Elo rating of 2547, along with his two wins of the Brazilian Chess Championship and his participation in the Chess Olympiads of 2008 and 2010, demonstrate the skill and dedication he has put into the game.
Diamant is an example of the dedication and skill required to be a successful chess player.
6. Julia Alboredo
Julia Alboredo is an accomplished Brazilian chess player who has achieved great success in her chosen sport. In 2022, she was awarded the title of Woman International Master by the World Chess Federation.
This honor is only given to the most dedicated chess players, and it is a testament to Alboredo’s unique skills and hard work. In addition, she is the 2020 Brazilian women’s champion. This achievement further cements her status as one of the top chess players in the world.
Alboredo’s dedication and skill have earned her the respect of the chess community, and she is an inspiration to aspiring chess players around the world.
7. Jaime Sunye Neto
Jaime Sunye Neto is a renowned Brazilian chess player who achieved great success throughout his career. He earned the International Master title in 1980 and the Grandmaster title in 1986, thus cementing his place as one of the best chess players in Brazil.
Sunye Neto was Brazilian champion seven times, in 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983. He also had the honor of serving as president of the Brazilian Chess Confederation from 1988 to 1992, contributing to the development of the game in the country.
His impressive accolades and contributions to the game of chess have earned him a place in the annals of Brazilian sports history.
8. Giovanni Vescovi
Giovanni Portilho Vescovi is a renowned Brazilian chess player. He has achieved great success in the game, earning the title of International Master in 1993 and the even higher title of Grandmaster in 1998.
Vescovi is also a seven-time national champion, a testament to his consistent excellence in the sport. In 1998, Vescovi was invited to play on the first board in the first World Junior Team Chess Championship, held in Rio de Janeiro.
This was a major honor as he was one of the top players in the world at the time. His participation in the event was an important milestone in his career and a testament to his skill and dedication to the game.
9. Henrique Mecking
Henrique Costa Mecking, commonly known as Mequinho, is a Brazilian chess grandmaster regarded as one of the strongest players in Brazil. As a child, he was a chess prodigy, often compared to the legendary American player Bobby Fischer.
In 1972, he achieved the coveted International Grandmaster title and went on to have a very successful career in the 1970s, receiving multiple awards and accolades for his skill. His achievements made him a household name in Brazil and helped to popularize chess in the country.
He is known for his tactical prowess, creative play, and attacking style of play. Even today, he is still highly respected and admired for his contributions to the game.
10. Eugênio German
Eugênio Maciel German was an influential and successful Brazilian International chess master. He was born in Ubá, Brazil and made a name for himself in the chess world. In 1949, he won a match against Jayme Schreibman Moses in Belo Horizonte.
That same year, he tied for third and fourth place in the Rio de Janeiro chess tournament. The following year, he tied for fifth and sixth place in the same tournament. German was a renowned chess master, achieving great success in his hometown of Brazil and beyond.
He will be remembered for his impressive skill and prowess in the game of chess.
11. Rafael Leitão
Rafael Duailibe Leitão is a highly accomplished chess player from Brazil. He has earned the title of grandmaster in both over-the-board chess and correspondence chess. This distinction is given to only the most skilled of players.
Leitão has also earned the title of seven-time Brazilian champion. His prowess has been recognized on a global scale, as he has competed in the FIDE World Championship three times (1999, 2000 and 2004) as well as the FIDE World Cup eight times (2005, 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2015).
As such, Rafael Duailibe Leitão is one of the most well-known and respected chess players in the world.
12. Gilberto Milos
Gilberto Milos is a highly accomplished Brazilian chess player. He has earned numerous titles and awards from FIDE, the World Chess Federation, throughout his career.
In 1984, he was awarded the title of International Master, and four years later, in 1988, he earned the title of Grandmaster. In addition to these awards, Milos has also achieved remarkable success in international tournaments.
He has competed in the FIDE World Championship five times and in the FIDE World Cup three times. His dedication and skill have earned him recognition both in Brazil and abroad.
Milos is a shining example of the commitment and passion that can be achieved through the game of chess.
13. Ruth Volgl Cardoso
Ruth Cardoso was a Brazilian chess player born in Belmonte, a town in the state of Bahia. She was an incredible player and had a passion for the game from an early age.
In 1970, she was awarded the title of Woman International Master by the International Chess Federation, which was a great honor for her.
The following year, she participated in the Women’s Chess Interzonal Tournament, which is a tournament that brings together the best female chess players from around the world.
Throughout her career, Ruth Cardoso was a respected and admired chess player, and her achievements are something that should be remembered and celebrated.
14. Erich Eliskases
Erich Gottlieb Eliskases was a renowned chess player who had a presence in international chess competitions representing three different countries: Austria, Germany, and Argentina. During the late 1930s, he was seen as a strong contender for the World Championship.
Eliskases was eventually recognized by FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) in 1952 when he was awarded the prestigious title of Grandmaster. Eliskases was born in Austria in 1913 and began playing chess at a young age.
He quickly developed a skill for the game and was competing in international tournaments by the age of 19. In 1934, Eliskases earned the title of International Master with a high finish in the Vienna Chess Olympiad.
He continued to perform well in tournaments over the next decade, leading some pundits to speculate that he had the potential to challenge for the title of World Champion. Unfortunately, the outbreak of World War II put an end to Eliskases’s ambitions.
He was forced to flee Austria and settle in Germany, where he continued to play chess. He made a name for himself in German tournaments, winning the German Championship in 1942.
After the war, Eliskases moved to Argentina, where he established himself as one of the country’s leading chess players.In 1952, Eliskases was finally recognized by FIDE with the title of Grandmaster.
This distinction was well-deserved, as he had established himself as one of the world’s top players over the previous two decades. Eliskases continued to play chess for the rest of his life, but he never achieved his goal of becoming World Champion.
He passed away in 1997, leaving behind a rich legacy in the world of chess.
15. Herman Claudius van Riemsdijk
Herman Claudius van Riemsdijk is a renowned Brazilian chess player.
He is a man of many accolades, having been awarded the title of International Master by FIDE in 1978 and, three years later, the title of International Arbiter in 1981. Van Riemsdijk was born in Tiel, the Netherlands, but emigrated to Brazil in 1958, arriving on the 16th of June.
Since his move, he has become a well-known figure in Brazilian chess circles, competing in tournaments across the country and helping to develop the sport.
His international recognition has also helped to raise the profile of Brazilian chess players, with his titles from FIDE serving as a testament to his skill and dedication. Van Riemsdijk’s achievements have been of great benefit to Brazilian chess.
His success has provided motivation and inspiration to younger players, showing them that it is possible to reach the highest levels of the game even when coming from outside of the major chess nations.
He has also been an ambassador for the sport in Brazil, helping to cultivate a culture of respect and appreciation for the game. Overall, Herman Claudius van Riemsdijk is a highly accomplished chess player who has earned the respect and admiration of his peers, both in Brazil and abroad.
His titles and achievements are a testament to his skill and dedication, and his influence has helped to bring Brazilian chess to the international stage.
16. Ludwig Engels
Ludwig Engels was a German-Brazilian chess master who made a great impact on the game. He was born in Germany but eventually moved to Brazil, where he became a dominant figure in the chess world.
He was an international grandmaster and was known for his skill and creativity in the game. He was also a renowned chess teacher and author, writing a number of books on the subject.
His most successful book was “Chess Mastery: Theory and Practice”.Engels achieved great success in tournament play, winning both national and international tournaments in both Germany and Brazil.
He was well known for his deep understanding and mastery of the game, as well as his ability to combine strategies from both countries.
He was also known for his aggressive style of play and his ability to create innovative openings. Engels was a passionate advocate for the game of chess.
He was a strong believer in the power of chess to bring people together and he was dedicated to furthering the game’s popularity. He was an influential figure in the development and promotion of chess in Brazil, and his legacy lives on today.
Conclusion
The best chess players in Brazil are among the strongest in the world and have consistently achieved impressive results in a variety of international tournaments.
Their dedication and skill have earned them a reputation as some of the most talented players in the game, and they are likely to remain at the top of the game for many years to come.
