Unveiling Alekhine's tomb at Montparnasse cemetery, 1956

On March 24, 1946, the chess world mourned the loss of its fourth World Champion, Alexander Alekhine. In honor of his legacy, FIDE sponsored his burial, and in 1956, his remains were transferred to the Cimetière du Montparnasse in Paris, France, commemorating the tenth anniversary of his passing.On the morning of March 25, 1956, several hundred people gathered outside the iconic Montparnasse cemetery in Paris. Among the notable figures present were FIDE President Folke Rogard, French chess players, and a delegation from the USSR led by Ragozin, which included Smyslov, Keres, Bronstein, Geller, and Petrosian. Alekhine’s son delivered a heartfelt speech.At 11 a.m., the crowd witnessed the unveiling of a magnificent monument by Abraham Baratz: a white marble statue of Alekhine in his youthful glory, seated at a chessboard—a fitting tribute to a chess legend.