Bernstein, Ossip Samoilovich

In 1918 Ossip Bernstein was arrested in Odessa by the Cheka and ordered shot by a firing squad just because he was a legal advisor to bankers. As the firing squad lined up, a superior officer asked to see the list of prisoners' names. Recognizing the name of Ossip Bernstein on it, the officer demanded whether the prisoner was the famous Chess master. Not satisfied with Bernstein's affirmative reply, he challenged Bernstein to a game. If the prisoner lost or drew, he would be shot. Bernstein won in no time and was released. He escaped on a British ship and settled in Paris.

Birth and Death Dates:
Sept. 20, 1882 - Nov. 30, 1962

Career Highlights:

Bernstein headed the French team in the 1954 Chess Olympiad (scoring 26 points out of 52).

He competed in chess for 60 years (an unusual phenomenon among chess players). At the age of 74 he was still playing in international tournaments.

Emanuel Lasker once said of Bernstein: "He is a self-made talent, possessing a rare gift of coming up with most original ideas."

Origin:
France - since 1920 (b. Zhitomir, Russia, USSR)

Category:
International Grand Master: 1950

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