Francisco Lupi

Francisco Lupi (died January 1954) was a Portuguese chess master.

In January 1940, he lost a game to Alexander Alekhine in Estoril (it was a blindfold simultaneous display, Alekhine played blindfold against eight of the best Portuguese players). In February 1940, he drew a game with Alekhine in Estoril (simultaneous display). Lupi was a noted Portuguese player during World War II. During the forties and early fifties, he played tournaments and many simultaneous exhibitions in Spain. In Spring 1945, he lost a match against Ramón Rey Ardid (+1 -5 =0) in Zaragoza (Saragossa). In July 1945, he took 6th in Gijón (Antonio Rico won before Alekhine, Medina and Pomar); Lupi had lost his game with Alekhine. In August 1945, he tied for 3rd-4th in Sabadell (Alekhine won); Lupi had lost his game with Alekhine. In Autumn 1945, he won, ahead of Alekhine, in Cáceres (Lupi beat Alekhine). In January 1946, he lost a match to Alekhine (+1 -2 =1) in Estoril, Portugal.

Francisco Lupi, Alekhine’s last serious opponent, was also his last friend. His prime contribution to chess literature was his celebrated two-part article ‘The Broken King’, a memoir of Alekhine (the English version was originally published in Chess World, September and October 1946, Sydney, Australia).

In 1946, he played in London (B-Tournament; Max Euwe won). In 1951, he played in Madrid (Pablo Morán won). Lupi died at Madrid in January 1954.