GM Paul Velten

Paul Velten (1851–1938) was a French chess master. He was born in Ingolstadt, Bavaria and moved to Paris around 1871. He competed in several chess tournaments from the 1870s to the 1890s. Velten made his mark competing in French Championships and Parisian tournaments, often finishing in respectable positions including a win at Café de la Regence in 1878. From 1883, he largely disappeared from competitive chess, only appearing infrequently, such as at Hastings 1895, his last known event. His historical EdoChess ranking places him around the top 15 in the world during his peak years from 1878 to 1882. Some of his important games, including his notable win against Johannes Zukertort in 1878, are still studied today. Velten's later life was reportedly full of hardship and he died in poverty in 1938.