Biography

Romanian Grandmaster (1965), Romanian Junior Champion 1957 and winner of the Romanian championship in nine occasions since 1960. World Junior Champion in 1963.

Best results: 1st Hastings 1967–68, equal 1st Reykjavik 1972, 2nd Helsinki 1972, 1st Orense 1973, 1st Torremolinos 1974, equal 1st Vratza Zonal 1974, 1st Istre 1975, 1st Netanya 1976, 1st Philadelphia and New York 1978, 1st Novi Sad 1979, 1st Philadelphia 1979 and 1980, 1st London 1980, 1st Budapest 1982, 1st Bagneux and Biel 1982, 1st Biel 1984. 1st Timisoara and Mendirisio 1987, 1st Berlin 1988, 1st Lichtenstein 1997 and 1st Switzerland Golden Tulip 2000.

His main success was a clear victory against Bobby Fischer at the Olympiad of Havana in 1966. Gheorghiu worked also as lecturer in languages at the Bucharest University. A participant in 14 Olympiads between 1962 and 1990, he played first board on ten occasions.

Best ELO: 2605 in 1981, he was then a member of the world top 10 ranked players.

Gheorghiu, Florin - Fischer, Robert James Havana ol (Men) fin-A Havana (12), 1966 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 O-O 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e3 Nh5 9.Qc2 Re8 10.g4 Nf4 11.h4 c5 12.Kf2 Ng6 13.Bd3 Nc6 14.Ne2 Be6 15.g5 Rc8 16.h5 Nf8 17.g6 fxg6 18.hxg6 h6 19.Qb1 Na5 20.Nf4 c4 21.Bc2 Rc6 22.Ra2 Nd7 23.a4 Nf6 24.Ba3 Qd7 25.Rb2 b6 26.Rb5 Nb7 27.e4 dxe4 28.Bxe4 Rcc8 29.Re5 Bg4 30.Nd5 Rxe5 31.Nxf6+ gxf6 32.dxe5 Nc5 33.Bxc5 Qd2+ 34.Kg3 Bxf3 35.Bxf3 Rxc5 36.Qc1 Qxc1 37.Rxc1 Rxe5 38.Kf4 Kg7 39.Be4 h5 40.Rd1 Re7 41.Rd5 Kh6 42.Rd6 Kg7 43.Rc6 h4 44.Rxc4 h3 45.Kg3 Kh6 46.Bb1 Re3+ 47.Kh2 Re1 48.Bd3 Re3 49.Rh4+ Kg5 50.g7 1-0