foto · GMBartek · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Portrait · GM
Robert
Markuš
A long-serving international whose games show how well-placed pieces prepare the way for a fine finish.
Years
1983
Title
GM
City
Bačka Topola
FIDE ID
921637
Rating peak
2673 (May 2017)
Games in the archive
1
Robert Markus, born in Bačka Topola in 1983, became a grandmaster in 2004. His career spans two decades of top-level competition, numerous national team appearances and a rating of 2673 in May 2017.
Begin with Reykjavik 2004 to get a feel for his play. Against Ian Rogers, Markus gradually places his rooks on open files and finds useful squares for his bishops. These moves are easy to overlook, but they prepare the interesting moments ahead.
Robert Markuš - Ian Rogers · Reykjavik Open, 2004.03.16
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0/81 · ← →
0/81 · ← →
?! inaccuracy? mistake?? blunder
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Markus–Rogers, Reykjavik 2004: after manoeuvring with rooks and bishops, 36.Bxh7+ takes a pawn with check.
At the 2014 Tromsø Olympiad, Markus faced Peter Svidler, a multiple Russian champion. With White, he builds a King's Indian Attack. Behind the quiet development is a concrete plan: the h-pawn advances to h4 and h5, giving the pieces opportunities to attack Black's king.
Robert Markuš - Peter Svidler · Chess Olympiad, Tromso, 2014.08.12
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0/67 · ← →
0/67 · ← →
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Markus–Svidler, Olympiad 2014: the knight jumps 31.Nf5 and 33.Nxg7 lead to the final move, 34.Be3. Pause there and look at the bishop's threats.
Twenty years after Reykjavik, Markus had Black against Alija Muratovic at the 2024 Serbian Championship in Senta. A French Defence gives him active rooks and knights. After the queen exchange, his c-pawn becomes increasingly important.
Alija Muratović - Robert Markuš · Serbian Championship, Senta, 2024.06.17
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Move · · starting position
0/72 · ← →
0/72 · ← →
?! inaccuracy? mistake?? blunder
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Muratovic–Markus, Senta 2024: active black pieces support the c-pawn, which advances deep into White's position with the final 36...c3.
Markus won European team gold with Serbia in 2023 and bronze in 2025. These three games show different ways he contributes: patient preparation, spotting a tactical opportunity and active play after the queens come off. Watching those elements come together is part of the pleasure.