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Yair Kraidman

Yair Kraidman is an Israeli chess player and the first Israeli-born player to earn the grandmaster title.

born 1932First Israeli-born chess grandmaster10 Chess Olympiads for IsraelWorld Senior Team Championship gold

Born: 1 November 1932, Haifa
Occupation: chess player

Yair Kraidman was born in 1932 in Haifa

Yair Kraidman was born on 1 November 1932 in Haifa. He learned chess at age 11 from his older brother. In 1950 he tied for first in the Israeli youth championship but placed second after a tiebreak, behind Rafi Persitz.

After his service in the IDF, he worked in bookkeeping and played at the Haifa chess club. In 1957 he moved to Tel Aviv and joined the local club. From 1957 he took part in the Israeli championships on a regular basis.

He played for Israel in 10 Chess Olympiads from 1958 to 1976. At Lugano in 1968 he won an individual silver medal on third board. He became a grandmaster in 1976.

He worked for many years at the Ministry of Finance, and in 1995 he was its Commissioner of Insurance and Capital Markets. In 2004 he was on the Israeli team that won the World Senior Team Championship. He also held various roles in the Israeli Chess Federation.

Yair Kraidman's life in 8 milestones

1932
Born in Haifa.
1950
Placed second in the Israeli youth championship after a tiebreak.
1957
Moved to Tel Aviv and began playing in the Israeli championships.
1958
Played in his first Chess Olympiad for Israel, in Munich.
1968
Won an individual silver medal at the Lugano Chess Olympiad.
1976
Received the grandmaster title.
1995
Served as Commissioner of Insurance and Capital Markets at the Ministry of Finance.
2004
Won the World Senior Team Championship with the Israeli team.