Vlatko Kovačević

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Vlatko (Vladimir, Vlado) Kovačević (born 26 March 1942) is a Croatian and Yugoslavian grandmaster of chess.

In 1970, Vlatko Kovačević tied for 9-11th in Rovinj–Zagreb (Robert James Fischer won), but beat Fischer in their individual game. In 1975, he tied for 2nd-4th in Rovinj–Zagreb (Gyula Sax won). In 1976, he won in Sombor. In 1976, he tied for 1st-3rd in Virovitica. In 1977, he tied for 1st-3rd in Karlovac. In 1979, he won in Zagreb. In 1979, he won in Virovitica. In 1980, he tied for 2nd-3rd in Virovitica. In 1980, he won in Maribor. In 1981, he won in Tuzla. In 1981, he tied for 2nd-6th in Ramsgate. In 1982, he won in Vinkovci. In 1982/83, he took 2nd in Hastings (Rafael Vaganian won). In 1986, he tied for 2nd-3rd, behind Jaime Sunye Neto, in Zenica. In 1986, he won in Zagreb. In 1987 he had the dubious honor of being the first GM to lose[1] to Judit Polgar, she was 11 at the time.

Kovacevic played in six Chess Olympiads; for Yugoslavia at Lucerne 1982, Thessaloniki 1984, and Thessaloniki 1988, for Yugoslavia “B” at Novi Sad 1990, and for Croatia at Manila 1992 and Elista 1998. He won the individual bronze medal at fourth board in Novi Sad.

FIDE awarded him the International Grandmaster title in 1976.