Alexander Wittek

Alexander Wittek (12th October 1852, Sisak – 11th May 1894, Graz) [http://www.newinchess.com/Wittek__Alexander-ip-65594.html] was an Austrian architect and chess master.

As an architect Wittek worked in Bosnia and Herzegovina during Austro-Hungarian Empire. His most famous works in Sarajevo are the City Hall building called "Vijećnica"(1892-1894) [http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/Regional/SEE/IRPPSAAH/PTA/PTA_BosniaandHerzegovina_TownHallSarajevo_APP.pdf] (later it became the National Library) and the Sebilj public fountain (1891), both built in the pseudo-Moorish style.http://www.sarajevo-guide.com/attractions.htm]

Wittek was also a Croatian-Austrian chess master. He tied for 5-6th at Berlin 1881 (2nd DSB–Congress, Joseph Henry Blackburne won), and took 9th at Vienna 1882 (Wilhelm Steinitz and Simon Winawer won). In 1882 he was ranked 9th in the world. [http://db.chessmetrics.com/CM2/PlayerProfile.asp?Params=199510SSSSS3S143402000000141000000000033310100]

Wittek died in a lunatic asylum in Graz in 1894 having been diagnosed with a "paralytic mental disorder" the previous year.http://www.klinikum-graz.at/cms/dokumente/10094691_2096265/888a95f9/Ztg%20KlinOptikum%206_07%20druckverson_070725n.pdf] . One source says that he committed suicide but another cites tuberculosis.

references

External links

* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/kibitzing?kid=P10425&reply=2 Alexander Wittek games of chess]