Juan Manuel Bellon Lopez, born on May 8, 1950, is a Spanish chess player who became a FIDE Grandmaster in 1978. He is renowned for his achievements in chess, having won the Spanish Chess Championship five times in the years 1969, 1971, 1974, 1977, and 1982. Bellon Lopez's international success includes a silver medal in the 1978 Chess Olympiad and a bronze medal in the 1989 European Team Chess Championship.
Throughout his career, Bellon Lopez was a prominent figure in Spanish chess from the late 1960s to the mid-1990s, frequently competing in international tournaments. Some of his notable victories include winning or sharing first place in prestigious tournaments such as the Stockholm Rilton Cup (1986/87), Barcelona (1988), Terrassa (1990), Castell-Platja d'Aro (1994), Santa Clara (1999), and Varadero (2000). Additionally, he represented Spain in eleven Chess Olympiads and two European Team Chess Championships, further solidifying his status as one of Spain's top chess players.
Bellon Lopez's personal life is closely intertwined with chess. His romantic partner is Swedish chess Grandmaster Pia Cramling, and their daughter, Anna Cramling Bellon, is also an active chess player and popular chess YouTuber. In recognition of his contributions to chess, Bellon Lopez was awarded the title of FIDE Developmental Instructor in 2014. Since 2017, he has held dual nationality, representing both Spain and Sweden in chess competitions.
Male
FIDE ID:
Sweden
