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Isaac VistaneckisIsraeli, formerly Lithuanian, Soviet, chess player
Date of Birth: 29.09.1910
Country:  Israel |
Content:
International Chess Grandmaster
Early Life and CareerBorn in Lithuania, Vladimir Mikenas was a talented chess player who achieved notable successes in the pre-war years. He emerged as the Lithuanian Champion in 1930 and 1935, as well as the Baltic Champion in 1931. Mikenas also made his mark internationally, notably by drawing his match against the renowned Virgilijus Mikėnas in 1935.
Soviet Era
After Lithuania became part of the Soviet Union, Mikenas continued his chess career, representing his country in the Soviet team at the IIIrd through VIIth Chess Olympiads. In Lithuania, he was crowned Champion in 1941 and went on to repeat this feat in 1956. Mikenas secured shared first places in 1949, 1954, and 1959, while placing highly in several other tournaments.
Lithianian Successes
Mikenas became a prominent figure in Lithuanian chess, serving as a member of the Chess Federation's Presidium and as an Editor for the chess sections of two major newspapers. He won the Baltic Championship in 1946 and qualified as a Grandmaster in 1947 after defeating Yefim Zbagorski in a qualifying match.
Legacy
Mikenas competed in seven USSR Championship semi-finals throughout his career. In the 1950s and 1960s, he achieved impressive results, including a third place in the Baltic Championship (1945), a second place in the USSR Championship semi-final (1958), and second places in the Lithuanian Championship (1960 and 1961).
Emigration
In the late 1970s, Mikenas emigrated to Israel, where he continued his chess career and remained a respected figure in the international chess community.
