Mihai Suba (1947–2025): A Creative Grandmaster Remembered
The chess world is deeply saddened by the passing of Romanian Grandmaster Mihai Șuba, a brilliant player, respected author, trainer, and strategist. He passed away at the age of 78.
Mihai Șuba was born on June 1, 1947. He started chess later than most professionals, but his rise was remarkably fast. He became an International Master in 1975 and earned the title of Grandmaster in 1978.
His strongest years came in the 1980s. Șuba won the Romanian Championship three times — in 1980, 1981, and 1986. He represented Romania in five Chess Olympiads between 1978 and 1986. His major international breakthrough was at the Las Palmas Interzonal in 1982, where he finished third, just behind Zoltan Ribli and former World Champion Vasily Smyslov. He narrowly missed a spot in the Candidates Matches.
One of Șuba’s greatest achievements came in 1983, when he won the famous Dortmund International Tournament, defeating a field of strong competitors. He also shared first place at Prague 1985 and Timișoara 1987. In 1986, he reached his highest FIDE rating and entered the world’s top 30 players.
Away from the board, Șuba left a lasting legacy as an author. His book Dynamic Chess Strategy (1991) became an influential guide, challenging traditional ideas of positional chess and promoting a more flexible and dynamic style of play. This work continues to inspire players even today.
Later in life, he moved to Spain, where he became closely connected with the Valencian Community. There, he worked tirelessly to support chess growth through teaching, training, and promoting the game.
The global chess community sends heartfelt condolences to Mihai Șuba’s family, students, and friends. His creativity, ideas, and contributions to the game will always be remembered.
Photos: FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
