Francisco Lupi

Who was Francisco Lupi?

Francisco Lupi was a Portuguese chess master.

In January 1940, he lost a game to Alexander Alekhine in Estoril. In February 1940, he drew a game with Alekhine in Estoril. Lupi was a noted Portuguese player during World War II. During the forties and early fifties, he played tournaments and many simultaneous exhibitions in Spain. In Spring 1945, he lost a match against Ramón Rey Ardid in Zaragoza. In July 1945, he took 6th in Gijón; Lupi had lost his game with Alekhine. In August 1945, he tied for 3rd-4th in Sabadell; Lupi had lost his game with Alekhine. In Autumn 1945, he won, ahead of Alekhine, in Cáceres. In January 1946, he lost a match to Alekhine in Estoril, Portugal.

Francisco Lupi, Alekhine’s last serious opponent, was also his last friend. His prime contribution to chess literature was his celebrated two-part article ‘The Broken King’, a memoir of Alekhine.