Aleksandras Ziselis Machtas
was the chess champion of Lithuania.
He has 7 titles to his name.
More than any other chess player
in the history of the first Republic.
( Independent Lithuania 1921-1938 ) .
As of the summer of 2009 -
More than any other chess player
in Independent Lithuania ever.

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Aleksandras Ziselis Machtas
was the first ever chess player
to represent Lithuania
as first board ( top seeded )
in a world chess Olympiad.

Aleksandras Ziselis Machtas
was the first ever
Lithuanian chess player
to play in a formal match
against a reigning world chess champion.

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Several Lithuanian chess players
have represented Lithuania since then
as first board in a chess Olympiad.
Some have even played in a formal match
against the reigning world champion.
Many more might do either or both
in many years to come.
Aleksandras Ziselis Machtas though
will always remain
the first chess player ever
in Lithuanian history
to do either and both.

Aleksandras Ziselis Machtas
retired from competitive chess
when he moved to Tel Aviv in 1936
as the young generation of players
who were about two decades
younger than him were now dominating
the sport in British Palestine
as well as in Lithuania.
In Tel Aviv though he took part
in many exhibition matches
and was also a distinguished member
of the young Israeli chess federation.