Harry Golombek OBE (1 March 1911 – 7 January 1995) was a British chess grandmaster, chess author, and wartime codebreaker. He was awarded the titles of International Master in 1950 and honorary Grandmaster in 1985 by the International Chess Federation.
Born in London, he learned to play chess at the age of 12 and won the British Chess Championship three times, in 1947, 1949, and 1955. Golombek also competed in nine Chess Olympiads from 1935 to 1962, representing England.
In addition to his playing career, Golombek is best remembered as a chess writer and translator. He produced more than 150 books on chess, including translations of classic works from Russian into English. He was chess correspondent for The Times newspaper from 1945 to 1989.
During World War II, Golombek was part of the cryptanalysis team at Bletchley Park, where he worked alongside other notable chess players. After the war, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his significant services to British chess.
In his later years, Golombek served as an international arbiter, overseeing important international tournaments and championships, including World Championship matches. He passed away on 7 January 1995.