SFR Yugoslavia no longer exists, yet for decades they were one of the world's major chess nations. Needless to say, they won the 1950 Olympiad, took 2nd-4th on twelve consecutive Olympiads 1952-1974. Svetoza Gligorić in 1953 and 1959, as well as Borislav Ivkov in 1965 qualified for the Candidates.

With so many strong players, the Yugoslav championship quickly became one of the top European leagues. The championship was usually 10 board with format switch occurring every couple of years, but throughoutthe 1970s and 1980s, it was a 10-team league system with the bottom 2 being out and replaced by the second league winners.

As the European Club Cup was introduced in 1975, Yugoslav teams had no luck whatsoever, reaching quarterfinals at best. However, in 1999, Agrouniverzal Zemun took 2nd, years after the country's effective breakup.

Results of Yugoslav teams at the European Club Cup 1975-2003

After a series of political and military tensions between 1991 and 1992 Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia left the Federation. However, the state was officially dissolved only in 2003.

Apart from the state-wide league, there were championships of the republics: Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, Macedonia and ASR Vojvodina.

There was no separate championship neither for women nor for men - a combined tournament had been played throughout the years.

Results  of Yugoslav team chess championship 1927-2003

Sources:

perpetualcheck.com - database of all Yugoslav&Serbian chess tournaments and much more. By FM Vladica Andrejić, mathematics professor and World Antichess champion.

partizanopedia.rs - fantastic data driven fan site of Partizan Beograd. Basketball (1992 European Cup winners!), football, chess and more. By Miroslav Milijković.

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