 In 1953, he tied for 1st with Vasja Pirc in Zagreb (12th YUG-ch), and afterwards lost a play-off match for the title.In 1954, he tied for 2nd-3rd with Jan Hein Donner, behind Wolfgang Unzicker, in Munich (zonal).In 1955, he tied for 14–15th in Gothenburg (Interzonal); the event was won by David Bronstein.