In Memoriam: Georgios Makropoulos (1953–2026)

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Georgios Makropoulos, FIDE Vice President and one of the most influential figures in Greek and international chess, at the age of 72. Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 1953, Makropoulos established himself as a promising chess talent and competed in two World Junior Chess Championships (1969 and 1971). He emerged as one of the country’s strongest players during the 1970s, winning the Greek Championship seven times: in 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, and 1985. An International Master since 1979, Makropoulos represented his country in three Chess Olympiads (1972, 1974, and 1980 – twice on first board). Later, as President of the Greek Chess Federation, he greatly contributed to hosting two Chess Olympiads in his native city of Thessaloniki in 1984 and 1988. He also represented Greece in European and Balkan team competitions. Makropoulos’s most significant impact on the chess world was through his administrative work. A journalist by profession, he was a fixture in FIDE leadership since 1986, serving in various high-ranking capacities, including Deputy President and Vice President. For decades, Makropoulos was a famili