Dragutin Šahović was a Serbian chess Grandmaster. He was born on February 2, 1940, in Belgrade, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and died on November 29, 2005.
Šahović won multiple important chess tournaments. He became an International Master in 1964 and achieved the rank of International Grandmaster in 1970. He won the championship of Yugoslavia in 1969 and also in 1982. He represented the Yugoslav chess team, winning two silver medals during the European Team Chess Championships in 1980 and 1983.
He also made significant contributions in team events. He won the bronze medal in the 1974 Chess Olympiad in Nice and was part of the Soviet Union championships in 1971, 1972, 1977/78. In 1975, he was named National Champion of Serbia.
Šahović tournaments' victories include Reggio Emilia 1972/73, Vrnjacka Banja 1973, Novi Sad 1975, Odorheiu Secuiesc 1978, Essen 1979, Ohrid 1980, Kladovo 1980, Belgrade 1982, Bor 1983, Mamaia 1985, Pancevo 1987, and Vienna 1988 before retiring 1992. He later became a veteran champion of Serbia in 2000 and 2001.
Towards the end of his chess career, Šahović faced severe health problems and financial difficulties. He died in 2005 at the age of 65 after suffering from a prolonged illness. Serbian media drew attention to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his death. Despite his contributions to the sport of chess, Šahović was allegedly left without the financial support of the government and chess federation, struggling with poverty and disease in the last years of his life.