Arturo Pomar was an acclaimed Spanish chess grandmaster. Born on September 1, 1931, Pomar first garnered international attention in the chess world at the tender age of 13. He became the youngest player to defeat a grandmaster at that age when he triumphed over International Grandmaster Alexander Kótov. Despite not engaging in any formal education after the age of 12, Pomar went on to become the Spanish Chess Champion seven times.
Born into a family of modest means, Pomar learned to play chess at the age of eight. Francisco Lupi, a Portuguese chess player, was one of Pomar's notable chess mentors. Pomar played in 20 Chess Olympiads, which are biennial chess tournaments, and his performance in these tournaments contributed significantly to his reputation.
Pomar's career spanned five decades, during which he played against seven world champions, defeating three of them. His career was recognized and celebrated with numerous awards for his contributions to the game of chess. Despite suffering from ill health in his later years, Pomar continued to play and compete in chess games almost up until his death in 2016.
Outside of chess, Pomar was also known for his career as a bank clerk and his work as a technical advisor of sports to the presidency of the government of Spain. His life and career were significant in promoting and developing chess in Spain.