World Chess
Hall of Fame
Inducted 2023
Lajos Portisch was one of the strongest players in the world for over two decades, participating in 12 Interzonals (1962-1993). An eight-time Candidate, he twice reached the semi-finals of the World Championship. Portisch won numerous important competitions during his career including San Antonio 1972 where he tied for first with Tigran Petrosian and Anatoly Karpov, defeating the latter in their individual encounter. He represented his country in 20 chess Olympiads, winning six team medals (including gold in 1978) and five individual medals. Portisch played a record 260 Olympiad games with a lifetime winning percentage of 68 percent. Besides being a great chess player, he is also a talented operatic singer.