Alexander Rueb

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Alexander Rueb (December 27, 1882 – February 2, 1959) was a Dutch lawyer, diplomat, and chess official.

He was born in The Hague. One of the founders of international chess governing body, FIDE, Rueb was elected its first president in 1924. He was succeeded by Folke Rogard in 1949. His large and well-known chess library was destroyed by bombs in 1945, but he rebuilt it after World War II. The collection was placed in the Amsterdam University Library after his death.

Rueb was also an important figure in the field of endgame studies, simultaneously publishing two standard works: De Schaakstudie (Gouda, 1949–1955, 5 vols.) and the five volume companion Bronnen van Schaakstudie. In 1951 FIDE made Rueb an International Judge of Chess Compositions.

Preceded by Office created

FIDE President 1924–1949

Succeeded by Folke Rogard

[edit] References

• Hooper, David & Whyld, Kenneth (1992), The Oxford Companion to Chess (2 ed.), Oxford University Press, p. 348, ISBN 0-19-280049-3 
• Keene, Raymond D. (1977), “Rueb, Alexander”, in Golombek, Harry, Golombek's Encyclopedia of Chess, Crown Publishing, p. 281, ISBN 0-517-53146-1