Salo Flohr was a leading international chess grandmaster in the 1930s, who was regarded by his contemporaries as one of the greatest players, and a potential World Chess Champion. Born in Horodenka, Austrian Galicia, on November 21, 1908, he was orphaned during World War I, and relocated to Czechoslovakia, where he learned chess and started his chess career. During the 1930s, Flohr was a prolific tournament competitor, garnering numerous top rankings and demonstrating his skill against other top-ranked players.
Flohr gained notoriety for playing many high-quality games and he was often undefeated in tournaments in which he participated. His performance led many to predict that he would be the next World Chess Champion. However, his chess career was significantly disrupted by World War II. After the war, he became a Soviet citizen and devoted most of his chess energy towards journalism, working as a chess correspondent and broadcasting important international matches on radio and television.
In 1950, Flohr was among the 27 inaugural recipients of the title International Grandmaster from Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE). He was awarded the International Arbiter (chess) title in 1963, and continued to play in tournaments thereafter, albeit at a reduced level.
Flohr passed away on July 18, 1983 in Moscow, Russia. Despite not achieving the World Chess Champion title due to the disruptions caused by WWII, Flohr's accomplishments and contributions to the chess world are commemorated and respected.