American chess player Robert (Eugene) Byrne was born on 20 April 1928. Byrne and his brother Donald were brought up in New York and belonged to the ‘Collins Kids’. Their famous trainer was John W. Collins (hence the ‘Collins Kids’). His peak World Ranking is 11th (in 5 different months between October 1973 and September 1974). According to Chessmetrics his highest rating is 2720.

In the 1974 San Juan Candidates Tournament Byrne was defeated by former World Champion Boris Spasski in the first round by 1 ½-4 ½.

He represented the United States in nine Chess Olympiads between 1952 and 1978. In 1952 in Helsinki he won individual bronze medal on third board. In 1960 in Leipzig he won individual silver medal on third board and team silver medal. In 1966 in Havana he won team silver medal. In 1974 in Nice he won team bronze medal. In 1976 in Haifa he won team gold and in 1978 in Buenos Aires he won team bronze again.

He died on 12 April 2013 in Ossining of Parkinson’s disease.

American Robert Byrne was World Champion Candidate in 1974. He represented the United States in nine Chess Olympiads between 1952 and 1978 winning seven medals. He was an acknowledged chess author.