an chess player Pál Benkő was born on 15 July 1928 in Amiens. Peak World Ranking: 17th (in 2 different months between September 1958 and December 1958). According to Chessmetrics his highest rating is 2687.

He had gained Grandmaster title and became American champion. In 1959 and 1962 he was World Champion Candidate. In the 1962 championship he defeated both Fischer and Tal with his “Benko’s Opening” which he had just introduced.

He participated in seven Chess Olympiads, first playing for Hungary in 1936. He was 4th individually and won bronze in team. From 1962 to 1972 he played for the USA. In 1962 he won his first individual Chess Olympic bronze medal and placed 4th with his team. In 1966 he won team silver. In the other Chess Olympiads he did not place in the first three either individually or in team.

Interesting facts: 

As American grandmaster he qualified for the 1970 Interzonal tournament, but he gave up his place for Bobby Fischer who could only participate in the 1972 Candidates Tournament (which he won) with this gesture (Wikipedia). He was inducted to the Chess Hall of Fame in 1993. He wrote several books on chess tactics.

His merits:

In 2015 he was awarded with the Knight Cross of the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic