Obituary - GM Arturo Pomar Salamanca

GRAND MASTER ARTURO POMAR SALAMANCA PASSED AWAY IN BARCELONA ON MAY 26TH

After a long illness the Spanish Grand Master Arturo Pomar passed away in Barcelona at 84.

Born in 1931 in Palma de Mallorca, he was considered a child prodigy after becoming Champion of Spain at the age of fourteen years.

He got the GM title when he was 30 years old and he played with the Spanish team for 23 years in a row from 1958 until 1980.

Arturo Pomar, "Arturito" as he was known, was the Spanish champion seven times and he also got big successes in the international field. His draw game against Alexander Alekhine in Gijon 1944 at the age of 13 is well-remembered.

He was many times a guest of honour, especially in the Chess Olympiad of Calvia held in Mallorca, his birth island.

He got a lot of recognition and awards in his career but we want to highlight the prize recently awarded by FIDE this year following the proposal of the ACP as a recognition of his contribution to Chess history.

The Spanish Chess Federation deeply regrets the loss of one of the main symbols of the Spanish Chess history.

Let him rest in peace.

Javier Ochoa de Echagüen
President of the Spanish Chess Federation