Vidrik Rootare
Encyclopedia
Vidrik "Frits" Rootare was an Estonia
n chess player
. His wife, Salme Rootare
, was also an Estonian chess player, 15-time Estonian Champion
and a Women's International Master (WIM).
In 1942, in one of his best showings, he came in third in an Estonian Chess Championship
behind Johannes Türn
, in second place, and Paul Keres
, in first. In the 1930s, he played in the Estonian Club championships. In 1930 his team won the silver medal, with Leho Laurine
, Nedsvedski, and Karring. Frits, as Vidrik was known—short for Friedrich, the German spelling of his name that he used prior to Estonian independence after World War I
, was a contemporary and friend of Estonia's greatest—and one of the world's greatest-ever chess players, Paul Keres
, and several of their games against each other in tournament play are anthologised in chess history books and on the World Wide Web
. He was also a contemporary of such Estonian players as Paul Felix Schmidt
, Gunnar Friedemann
, Ilmar Raud
, and Tallinn-born Lithuania
n international master and honorary grandmaster Vladas Mikėnas
, who won the Estonian championship in 1930. Frits and his brother, Karl Johannes Rootare, also a chess player of international renown, although not twins, were often mistaken for such with the same physical stature, blond hair and blue eyes, and their shared love of chess and service in the Estonian Army. Both were Cavalry
officers in the Estonian War of Independence following World War I. Karl and his wife, Karin (Kangas), left Estonia in 1944, while Frits and Salme stayed in Tallinn. Although the two near-twins and their families corresponded over the years, they were never to see each other again. Frits and Salme had a daughter, Reet Rootare, who gained some notoriety as an actress.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n chess player
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...
. His wife, Salme Rootare
Salme Rootare
Salme Rootare was an Estonian chess master.She was fifteen times Estonian Champion ....
, was also an Estonian chess player, 15-time Estonian Champion
Estonian Chess Championship
The first unofficial Estonian Chess Championship was held in 1903, organized by a chess club formed in Reval in 1903 and named for the famous Russian master Mikhail Chigorin. After the World War I, when Estonia became an independent country, official Estonian championships started...
and a Women's International Master (WIM).
In 1942, in one of his best showings, he came in third in an Estonian Chess Championship
Estonian Chess Championship
The first unofficial Estonian Chess Championship was held in 1903, organized by a chess club formed in Reval in 1903 and named for the famous Russian master Mikhail Chigorin. After the World War I, when Estonia became an independent country, official Estonian championships started...
behind Johannes Türn
Johannes Türn
-Biography:Türn played in numerous Estonian championships. In 1923, he took 2nd, behind Paul Rinne, in Tallinn . In 1925, he won in Tallinn . In 1930, he took 2nd, behind Vladas Mikėnas . In 1932, he tied for 3rd-4th with Gunnar Friedemann, behind Leho Laurine, and Rinne...
, in second place, and Paul Keres
Paul Keres
Paul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
, in first. In the 1930s, he played in the Estonian Club championships. In 1930 his team won the silver medal, with Leho Laurine
Leho Laurine
Leho Laurine was an Estonian chess master.He was Estonian Champion in 1932 , and took 3rd in 1935, behind Paul Keres, and Gunnar Friedemann ....
, Nedsvedski, and Karring. Frits, as Vidrik was known—short for Friedrich, the German spelling of his name that he used prior to Estonian independence after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, was a contemporary and friend of Estonia's greatest—and one of the world's greatest-ever chess players, Paul Keres
Paul Keres
Paul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
, and several of their games against each other in tournament play are anthologised in chess history books and on the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
. He was also a contemporary of such Estonian players as Paul Felix Schmidt
Paul Felix Schmidt
Paul Felix Schmidt was an Estonian chess International Master, chess writer, and chemist.- Biography :In June 1935, he won, ahead of Paul Keres, at Tallinn. In May 1936, he drew a match against Keres at Pärnu. In 1936, he won the 8th Estonian Championship at Tallinn. In December 1936, he placed...
, Gunnar Friedemann
Gunnar Friedemann
-Biography:Friedemann played several times in Estonian championships at Tallinn. In 1932, he tied for 3rd-4th with Johannes Türn . In 1933, he won the 5th EST–ch. In 1934, he took 3rd, behind Ilmar Raud and Paul Felix Schmidt, at the 6th EST–ch. In 1935, he took 2nd, behind Paul Keres, at the 7th...
, Ilmar Raud
Ilmar Raud
Ilmar Raud was an Estonian chess master.-Biography:Raud played several times in the Estonian championships at Tallinn. In 1933, he tied for 3rd-5th at the 5th EST–ch. The event was won by Gunnar Friedemann. In 1934, he won the 6th EST–ch. In 1936, he took 3rd at the 8th EST–ch...
, and Tallinn-born Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n international master and honorary grandmaster Vladas Mikėnas
Vladas Mikenas
Vladas Mikėnas was a Lithuanian International Master of chess, an Honorary Grandmaster, and a journalist.- Early life :Vladas Mikėnas played for Lithuania at first board in five official and one unofficial Chess Olympiads....
, who won the Estonian championship in 1930. Frits and his brother, Karl Johannes Rootare, also a chess player of international renown, although not twins, were often mistaken for such with the same physical stature, blond hair and blue eyes, and their shared love of chess and service in the Estonian Army. Both were Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
officers in the Estonian War of Independence following World War I. Karl and his wife, Karin (Kangas), left Estonia in 1944, while Frits and Salme stayed in Tallinn. Although the two near-twins and their families corresponded over the years, they were never to see each other again. Frits and Salme had a daughter, Reet Rootare, who gained some notoriety as an actress.
Notable chess games
- Keres v. Rootare, Tallinn, Est ch 1942 http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1072049
- Rootare v. Keres, Tallinn, Est ch 1943 http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1072106
- Keres v. Rootare, Tallinn, Est ch 1945 http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1072141