Miguel Najdorf was born on 15 April 1910 in Poland. After Germany invaded Poland and the Second World War began during the Buenos Aires Chess Olympiad in 1939, he decided to stay in Argentina where he became a successful businessman. During the 1940s and 1950s Najdorf was one of the strongest players in the world. He was famous for his ability to play blindfolded: in 1947 he played 45 opponents simultaneously, a world record that stood until 2011. Najdorf is also the name giver of one of the most popular variations of the Sicilian, although others had played this line before him. He died on 4 July 1997.
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