Ossip Bernstein

About

Russian chess legend who was at the height of his career before rankings were officially adopted and who was one of the first official Grandmasters in the game.

Before Fame

He earned a doctorate in law at Heidelberg University and later became a financial lawyer.

Trivia

He was caught fleeing Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution by the Checka and was ordered shot by a firing squad because he was a legal advisor to bankers but was saved when the superior officer recognized him as a famous chess player.

Family Life

He was raised in the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire.

Associated With

He was believed to be an equal of early chess champion Emanuel Lasker.