FIDE and the chess world mourn the passing of Romanian Grandmaster Mihai Șuba, a formidable player, an esteemed author, trainer and theoretician. He was 78.
Born on June 1, 1947, Șuba began playing chess relatively late. Despite this, his ascent through the ranks was rapid; he earned the International Master title in 1975 and became a Grandmaster in 1978.
Șuba’s peak came in the early 1980s. He clinched his first of two Romanian Championship titles in 1980 and 1981 and repeated the feat in 1986. At the 1982 Las Palmas Interzonal, he finished third, behind Ribli and former World Champion Vasily Smyslov, just missing qualification for the Candidates Matches but entering world’s top 30. His most iconic international victory came at the prestigious 1983 Dortmund tournament, where he triumphed ahead of a strong field. Șuba also finished equal first at Prague 1985 and Timișoara 1987.
Suba’s legacy extends far beyond the board. He was the author of the acclaimed book Dynamic Chess Strategy (1991), a seminal work that challenged orthodox views of classical positional play and emphasized the fluid, evolving nature of advantage.
After settling in Spain, Suba developed a close connection with the Valencian Community, where he not only excelled as a player but also contributed significantly to chess education and promotion.
FIDE and the global chess family extend their deepest condolences to GM Suba’s family, friends, and students.
Photo: Derek Bridges