Folke Rogard

Folke Rogard, born on July sixth, nineteen ninety-nine in Stockholm, was a prominent Swedish lawyer, chess official, player, and arbiter. Originally bearing the surname Rosengren, he qualified as a lawyer under that name. However, following a family scandal involving a burglary charge against a relative, he adopted the name Rogard and cut ties with his family.

Rogard's influence in the chess world was significant. He served as vice-president of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) from nineteen forty-seven to nineteen forty-nine, before succeeding Alexander Rueb as president, a role he held until nineteen seventy. Additionally, he chaired the Swedish Chess Federation from nineteen forty-seven to nineteen sixty-four. His contributions to chess governance were recognized when he was awarded the title of International Arbiter by FIDE in nineteen fifty-one.

During his leadership, Rogard was instrumental in hosting numerous prestigious chess events in Sweden, including four Interzonal tournaments and the 1956 Student Chess Olympiad. His tenure saw the formalization of the International Grandmaster and International Master titles in nineteen fifty, the re-establishment of the Chess Olympiads, and the introduction of an International Rating System in nineteen seventy.

Rogard's chess career included playing at a third category level. He was married four times, first to Greta Santessen, with whom he had a daughter, Monica. His subsequent marriages included Gueye Rolf, Viveca Lindfors, with whom he had another daughter, Lena Tabori, and finally, Ella Johansson.