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The Cuban chess community bid farewell to Alberto Felipe Codina Carril, popularly known as “El Codi” or “El Olímpico,” who passed away at the age of 77.
The news was confirmed this Friday in posts from relatives and messages from sports figures who mourned his death and remembered him as one of the most charismatic and helpful personalities in the national chess community.
The circulated messages specify that the chess player was hospitalized and in serious condition.
Codina is described as a “colorful” and endearing figure, “always on the lookout for great moments,” with an unusual number of anecdotes that made him legendary in his circle.
Several testimonies agree that wherever he was, “there was joy,” emphasizing his friendly and loyal nature and his readiness to “resolve what no one else could,” especially when it came to helping friends.
One of the mentioned memories refers to the reopening of the Capablanca Club by Anatoli Karpov, an event where Codina brought part of his collection of games and personally explained them to the former world champion.
Codina was the Pan American champion in Chess. A photograph of him shared on social media alongside grandmaster Leinier Domínguez shows his connections with prominent figures in Cuban chess.
Although the nickname "The Olympic" became popular despite the fact that he "had never been to any Olympics," the messages describe him as someone unforgettable for generations of players and fans.
In the condolences, the phrase that "immortalized" him in the environment is also attributed to him: “Take that check for a peso.”
Among the reactions, the great Cuban master Lázaro Bruzón expressed his sorrow over the news and described him as one of the best people he knew in the world of chess: “a wonderfully helpful guy, a great friend.”
Other comments reminisced about his visits and his vast collection of materials, including a chess library with books, games, and documents, and they recalled him as a "character" full of stories.
In addition to his popular role in the circuit, he worked as a coach and carried out sustained efforts in the Cerro municipality and in the planning of events for competitive training.
Codina was the son of one of the victims of the explosion of the La Coubre steamship and recounted that he became an orphan at the age of 11. His father was Manuel Francisco Codina Hernández, a dock worker.
Farewell messages emphasized the human impact of his loss: “Chess loses a great person”, “always smiling”, “with him, laughter was guaranteed.”
For those who knew him, his figure will be forever linked to everyday solidarity, a passion for play, and a charisma that, according to his friends, transcended generations.
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