Gideon Ståhlberg was a Swedish chess player who became a Grandmaster in 1950, having initially gained international recognition in the 1930s. He is recognised as Sweden's first Grandmaster and one of Argentina's best players from the 1940s. He also played world-class chess for six decades, from the late 1920s to the late 1970s.
Ståhlberg was born in 1908, and his major breakthrough occurred during the late-1920s Stockholm and Gothenburg tournaments. He consistently performed well throughout the thirties, finishing third at the 1934-35 Hastings Chess Congress, and winning many games against top players. In the late 1930s, he placed well in the most prestigious tournaments of the time.
During World War II, Ståhlberg went to South America and remained there until the end of war. He finished well in the Mar del Plata and Buenos Aires tournaments during this period. During the Stockholm Interzonal tournament of 1952, he played a hugely important role, helping promote the careers of young emerging stars. After this, a heart attack in 1953 curtailed his international travel.
He continued to focus on tournaments in Scandinavia, winning the Swedish championship four more times between 1953 and 1962. He also played for Sweden in ten Chess Olympiads, winning individual and team medals.
Ståhlberg was widely respected and influential as a chess player, known for his tireless fighting spirit and famed as a dangerous opponent. He was also an excellent chess writer, producing many books, including ones on championships and top-class players. He died in 1967, leaving a long-lasting impact on the world of chess.