Yakov Vilner


Yakov Vilner was a Ukrainian chess master.

Biography

Vilner won the Odessa chess championships four times. He won the Ukrainian championships three times; at Kiev 1924, at Kharkov 1925, and at Odessa 1928. He also won at Odessa 1926, and at Kiev 1929.
He played in several Soviet chess championships. In July 1923, he tied for 11-13th in Petrograd. In September 1924, he tied for 6-8th in Moscow. In 1925, he tied for 11-13th in Leningrad. In October 1927, he tied for 15-17th in Moscow. In September 1929, he tied for 8-9th in Odessa.

Notable chess games

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In June 1919, Alexander Alekhine was arrested by the Cheka and imprisoned in Odessa. He was charged with anti-Soviet activity and passing on secret information. He was ordered shot, but saved by Yakov Vilner, who sent a telegram to the chairman of the Ukrainian Council of People's Commissars. The chairman knew of Alekhine and ordered him freed.