Hungarian chess player István Bilek was born on 11 August 1932 in Budapest. According to Chessmetrics his highest rating is 2639. His peak World Ranking is 36 (April 1967).

He ranked second in the 1966 Candidates Zone Tournament in Hague. He participated in nine Chess Olympiads between 1958 and 1974 competing for Hungary. In 1962 and 1972 he won individual silver and in 1966 individual bronze. In team he won bronze in 1966 and silver in 1970 and 1972.

Interesting facts: 

His merits:

• Merited Sportsman of the People’s Republic of Hungary in 1954

• Maróczy Géza Award in 1944

• National Confederation of Hungarian Trade Unions Award in 1998

• In 2012 he received post-mortem the Cassia’s Knight merit founded by the Hungarian Chess association together with the “For the Chess Culture” Foundation

He died on 20 March 2010 in his hometown Budapest at the age of 77.