Aleksander Wojtkiewicz was a Polish-Latvian chess grandmaster, known for his success in the world of international chess. Born in Riga, Latvia on 15 January 1963, he grew up in Poland where he became a Polish citizen. His major accomplishments include winning the Yoga Cup in Warsaw in 1984, the Polish Chess Championship in 1985, and a tremendous series of victories in the United States, where he moved in 2002.
With a powerful visual style combined with an extensive knowledge of chess theory, he was recognised as both a strong competitor and a gifted chess instructor. His students included future grandmasters. After battling health issues related to prolonged alcohol use, Wojtkiewicz died at age 43 on July 14, 2006, in Baltimore, Maryland. His death was ruled as a result of internal bleeding. Despite his untimely death, his influence in the field of chess is still felt today.