George Koltanowski
Chess Player
Belgian born American chess player best known for the headlining making chess he played while blindfolded.
He began taking chess seriously at the age of 14 and gave up a fledgling career as a diamond cutter to play full-time.
He played a record 56 chess matches blindfolded and he was awarded the International Master title in 1950 when the title was first officially established by FIDE.
He learned chess from his father and older brothers.
He competed against Canadian master Daniel Yanofsky.