He won the Yugoslavian championship a record 12 times from 1947 to 1971 and played for Yugoslavia in the biennial Chess Olympiad 15 times, leading the team to the gold medal in 1950, ahead of the powerful Soviets.
He was a master by 16, which was then considered young to accomplish such a feat.
During World War II, Mr. Gligoric joined guerrilla fighters battling the Axis powers and was eventually promoted to captain in the resistance forces.
The Yugoslavian government declared him the country's best athlete of 1958.