Kola Kwariani
Encyclopedia
Kola Kwariani (January 16, 1903-February 1980), known as "Nick the Wrestler", was a Georgian
by origin professional wrestler
and chess
player. Kwariani was born on Jan 16 1903 (Kutaisi, Georgia) and died Feb 1980 (New York, USA).
"Kwariani had been a Greco-Roman
champion in Europe before the war and a “professional” wrestler in the United States afterward." He spoke eight languages, and was the only chess playing professional wrestler in the United States
according to Chess Review
magazine.
Kola Kwariani participated in many wrestling fights himself, however the most famous was with "Mr. America" Gene Stanlee
This fight between Kola Kwariani and Gene Stanlee was featured as one of the top-10 matches of the wrestling Golden Era in America.
He starred in Stanley Kubrick's 1956 film The Killing, in the role of a chess-playing wrestler named Maurice Oboukhoff, who is hired to start a fight and so create a diversion during a heist.
The picture of Kola Kwariani, Stanley Kubrick, and Sterling Hayden appeared on cover of Chess Review magazine in March 1956.
Both Kubrick and Kwariani were very well known in New York chess circles.
In 1950-1960 Kola Kwariani was an active member of the Chess and Checker Club in New York City, also known as "The Flea House".
In 1959-1960, Kola Kwariani coached professional wrestler Antonino Rocca
.
In 1959-1962 Kola Kwariani closely worked with another professional wrestler Bruno Sammartino
.
In February 1980, while entering the Chess and Checker Club, Kwariani was seriously injured after being assaulted by a group of teenagers. The incident was later described by fellow chess player and publisher Samuel Sloan,
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
by origin professional wrestler
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
and chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
player. Kwariani was born on Jan 16 1903 (Kutaisi, Georgia) and died Feb 1980 (New York, USA).
"Kwariani had been a Greco-Roman
Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
champion in Europe before the war and a “professional” wrestler in the United States afterward." He spoke eight languages, and was the only chess playing professional wrestler in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
according to Chess Review
Chess Review
Chess Review is a U.S. chess magazine that was published from January 1933 until October 1969 . Until April 1941 it was called The Chess Review. Published in New York, it began on a schedule of at least ten issues a year but later became a monthly...
magazine.
Kola Kwariani participated in many wrestling fights himself, however the most famous was with "Mr. America" Gene Stanlee
Gene Stanlee
Eugene Stanley Zygowicz was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Gene Stanlee. During his wrestling career, he was known by the nickname "Mr. America".-Early life:...
This fight between Kola Kwariani and Gene Stanlee was featured as one of the top-10 matches of the wrestling Golden Era in America.
He starred in Stanley Kubrick's 1956 film The Killing, in the role of a chess-playing wrestler named Maurice Oboukhoff, who is hired to start a fight and so create a diversion during a heist.
The picture of Kola Kwariani, Stanley Kubrick, and Sterling Hayden appeared on cover of Chess Review magazine in March 1956.
Both Kubrick and Kwariani were very well known in New York chess circles.
In 1950-1960 Kola Kwariani was an active member of the Chess and Checker Club in New York City, also known as "The Flea House".
In 1959-1960, Kola Kwariani coached professional wrestler Antonino Rocca
Antonino Rocca
Antonino Rocca was an Italian-born Argentine professional wrestler. Rocca was a popular face and in some cities with both Italian-American and especially Hispanic audiences, his following was exceptionally large and loyal.He had a love for opera and was apparently described as having an excellent...
.
In 1959-1962 Kola Kwariani closely worked with another professional wrestler Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino is an Italian-American former professional wrestler, best known for being the longest-running champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation , holding the title across two reigns for over 11 years in total, as well as the longest single WWE Championship reign...
.
In February 1980, while entering the Chess and Checker Club, Kwariani was seriously injured after being assaulted by a group of teenagers. The incident was later described by fellow chess player and publisher Samuel Sloan,