Luben Popov
Luben Popov is a Bulgarian chess International Master (IM), Bulgarian [Chess Championship] winner, European [Team Chess Championship]s individual medalist, World Student Team Chess Championships winner.
Biography
In the 1960s and 1970s Luben Popov was one of the leading Bulgarian chess players. In 1970, he won Bulgarian Chess Championship.Luben Popov won bronze medals four times in the Bulgarian Chess Championships. Three times he participated in FIDE Zonal tournaments: Budapest, Enschede, Warsaw. Luben Popov was winner of many international chess tournament awards, including first place in Plovdiv, Reggio Emilia [chess tournament|Reggio Emilia], Albena, Rome. In 1965, he was awarded the FIDE International Master title.Luben Popov played for Bulgaria in the Chess Olympiads:
- In 1962, at second reserve board in the 15th Chess Olympiad in Varna,
- In 1964, at fourth board in the 16th Chess Olympiad in Tel Aviv,
- In 1966, at second reserve board in the 17th Chess Olympiad in Havana,
- In 1970, at fourth board in the 19th Chess Olympiad in Siegen,
- In 1974, at fourth board in the 21st Chess Olympiad in Nice,
- In 1980, at first reserve board in the 24th Chess Olympiad in La Valletta,
- In 1982, at second reserve board in the 25th Chess Olympiad in Lucerne.
- In 1970, at forth board in the 4th European Team Chess Championship in Kapfenberg,
- In 1977, at eighth board in the 6th European Team Chess Championship in Moscow and won individual bronze medal,
- In 1980, at eighth board in the 7th European Team Chess Championship in Skara and won individual gold medal.
- In 1958, at second reserve board in the 5th World Student Team Chess Championship in Varna and won team silver medal,
- In 1959, at third board in the 6th World Student Team Chess Championship in Budapest and won team gold medal,
- In 1960, at third board in the 7th World Student Team Chess Championship in Leningrad.