Playing chess in Vrsac dates back very long indeed. We come across the first organized chess playing in 1898, when Nikola Gerdec, father of Milenko and Sava Gerdec (longtime sparring-partner of the grand master Bora Kostic ), acquired necessary papers from Budapest in order to found Vrsac chess society.

Bora Kostic, the first Serbian grand master and one of the most famous citizens of Vrsac, travelled around the world as the ambassador of the Yugoslav chess. He played on an equal footing with the master minds such as: Alekhin, Capablanca, Tartakower, Nimzovich, Rubinstein, Marshall, Marozzi and others. He had famous people for friends (tenor Caruzzo, maharaja of Patiala, king of Kashmir and our countryman Nikola Tesla...) In 1935 he became the champion of Yugoslavia, and in 1938 the winner of the International tournament in Ljubljana, which was recognized as the championships of Yugoslavia at the annual assembly of the Yugoslav chess association. He was the champion of Romania in 1936, as well as the winner of the championships in India, out of the competition.For several times he was the Olympic representative of Yugoslavia, and he was the most successful Yugoslav player at the first board in London, in 1927.

Vrsac chess club was founded in 1924. The first president of the club was Milorad Cvejic, town senator for the finances. One of the founders was at that time grammar school student Bora Tot, who later became chess master and the representative of Yugoslavia.

Vrsac players had the first match between towns against the team of Pancevo. The winner of the first competition of Vrsac chess club was Erne Markovic.

The club had success in the late 70's when they entered the Second league and stayed for three years. In 1977 they recorded the successful placing at the finals of the Yugoslav Cup, which was played on the island of Krk.

Over the years the Memorial tournament of Bora Kostic was held , where the grand masters of extra-class played, such as: Tigran Petrosian, Efim Geller, Svetozar Gligoric, Evgenij Vasiukov, David Bronstein, Ljubomir Ljubojevic, Jan Ehlvest and others. The total number of organized tournaments of that kind is 13 and they were ranked among the most important not only in Yugoslavia, but also in the world. The last tournament was held in 1989.

Vrsac chess players have always achieved good chess results.These are some of their names: grand master Bora Kostic, masters Bora Tot and Aleksandar Bozic, international master Zoran Markovic, FIDE masters Milorad Kapelan, Negosim Zivkovic and Bosko djonin, master candidates Dragoljub Grubisic, Dusan Nikolin, Steva Bozic, Aleksandar Tometic, Zoran Popov, Zoran Verovski and others. The following players have played for this club lately: Bosko djonin, Slobodan Munizaba, Zlatko Nikolin, djorde Mitrovanov, Lazar Petrovic, Petar Stajic, Radosav Stojiljkovic, Bogdan Milosev, Dusko Jovanovic, Ljubomir Ilkic, Bojan Galonja, Radovan Janicijevski, Darko Donevski, Svetislav Karasi, Zoran Kampfer and others.

In the women competition the greatest results were achieved by Zorica Nikolin, who won twice at the Yugoslav championships and played for the representation. Besides her there is also international master Dusica cejic, FIDE masters Jadranka Grek cicovacki and Staka Ivkovic, then master candidate Olgica Grek-Kosanovic, Vera Stefanov and others. Younger players are: master candidate Snezana Stajic, Ivana cosic, Elizabeta Foljan, sisters Marija and Jelena Stojanovic and others.

The young players have the outstanding place in Vrsac chess. Over the years remarkable results have been achieved in the pioneer and junior competitions. The name of their teacher FIDE master Milorad Kapelan should especially be emphasized, because he contributed a lot for Vrsac to be heard about as the nursery of chess talents. The most remarkable results were achieved by Slobodan Munizaba, Snezana Stajic and Ivana cosic, by winning the Yugoslav championships in their competition. Besides them are: Elizabeta Foljan, sisters Marija and Jelena Stojanovic, Valentina Vojnic and Boban Bogosavljevic who over the last years have taken first places at the championships of Vojvodina.

Such results show that Vrsac has always been the inexhaustible spring of talents who represent their town and their country with love and dignity.

---