Albin Planinec (1944 - 2008)

Born in Briše, Albin Planinec was the fourth Slovenian chess player to ascend to the rank of Grandmaster. He was known as a genius player particularly adept at chess combinatorics, and his original way of playing earned him comparisons with world champions Robert Fischer and Mikhail Tal. His only goal in each game was victory, and as such, his games resulted in inspiring victories as well as bitter defeats.

Despite his uncompromising playing style and short active career, he was very successful as a player. In 1969, still as only a Master, he attended the 1st Vidmar Memorial and beat numerous more renowned players. In 1973, he won, together with the Russian Grandmaster Tigran Petrosian, at the international super chess tournament in Amsterdam, and a year later, he made significant contribution towards the Yugoslavian team winning a silver medal in the Chess Olympiad in Nice.