Stepan Popel

Stepan (Stefan, Stephan, Stephen) Popel (Popiel) (born 15 August 1909, Komarniki, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine) – died 27 December 1987, Fargo, North Dakota, USA) was a multiple chess champion of Lviv, Paris and eventually, of the Ukrainians in North America (USA and Canada).

Stepan Popel was the nephew of an early master, Ignatz von Popiel (1863–1941), and took a liking to chess at an early age – he played in his first tournament at age 12. He went on to become the best chess player in the region and is now regarded as one of the important masters of pre-World War II Europe. In 1931, he earned a master's degree in French and Latin language and literature from the University at Lviv. He also acted, during WW II, Greek-Catholic Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky’s personal secretary until 1944.

In 1929, Popel won a championship of Lviv, followed by E. Kaufman, Henryk Friedman, Oskar Piotrowski, etc. In 1929 and 1934, he was a member of Lviv team at 1st and 2nd Polish team championships. In 1934, he was a member of Polish team at Correspondence Olympiad. In 1935-1936, he took 9th at Correspondence Championship of Poland.

In 1943, Popel published his handbook Poczatki szachista (Introduction to Chess) in Ukrainian at Kraków. In 1943, he tied for 1st with Myroslav Turiansky at Lviv (GG). In 1943, he won at Sambor (GG). In 1944, he won at Sanok (GG). Because of the Red Army’s approach, he did manage to avoid deportation to Siberia or any worse fate during the Soviet occupation (e.g., that of Vladimirs Petrovs). Joining the westward exodus in 1944, Stepan Popel wound up in Kraków. In 1944, he drew a match against Fedor Bogatyrchuk at Kraków (2 : 2). At the end of war, he escaped to West. Finally, he came to France.

In 1950/51, Popel won at Hastings (Premier Reserve Major). In 1951, he won the 26th Paris City Chess Championship. In 1951/52, he tied for 4th-6th at Hastings. In April 1953, he won, ahead of Maurice Raizman, the 28th Championship of Paris. In 1954, he won the 29th Championship of Paris. In 1954, he took 4th at Saarbrücken. In 1954/55, he played at international tournament at Paris. In 1955/56, he took 2nd at Hastings (The Premier Reserves Major).

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