Milan Vukcevich
Dr. Milan Vukcevich (1937-), our newest inductee into the US Chess Hall of Fame, was the first US citizen or resident ever to become a grandmaster of chess composition, a title that is almost three times harder to win than the international master title in the same field. A GM title requires 70 published problems in the FIDE albums, while an IM must have only 25; Dr. Vukcevich has over 100. Dr. Vukcevich follows Sam Loyd as the second person inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame largely for his composition achievements.
Dr. Vukcevich contradicts the stereotype of the eccentric grandmaster who knows nothing but chess. Instead, Dr. Vukcevich is a distinguished theoretical scientist whose work has been considered for a Nobel Prize, and who has been chief scientist for General Electric.
Dr. Vukcevich is considered one of the best problem composers of all time. He is one of the few whose compositions encompass a very diverse range of problem types: "infinite chess," self-mate in 22 moves, direct mate in 13, you name it. He also composes endgame studies (move and win or draw regardless of number of moves). He can solve the compositions of others at an extremely high level of skill as well, and is one of only four Master Solvers recognized by the Society of US Chess Problemists (along with James Bolton, Vladimir Gurvich, and Stephanos Pantazis.) In fact, at one time, Dr. Vukcevich was the top-rated problem-solver in the world. A very strong player, he finished third in the 1975 US Championship, behind Browne and Rogoff, but ahead of Byrne, Reshevsky, Lombardy, Bisguier, Mednis, and Benko.
Dr. Vukcevich published a book: Chess by Milan: Problems and Games of Dr. Milan R. Vukcevich. ( MIM Company, Burton, Ohio, 1981.) The book is more than is described in its title, as it gives Dr. Vukcevich's views on many things, including the future of chess and of technology.
Dr. Milan Vukcevich became the 28th member of the US Chess Hall of Fame with his induction on August 8, 1998, at the US Open. His unique contributions will remain permanently inscribed in the history of chess in the world as well as in the United States.
