Korchnoi dies
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Korchnoi dies
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36464406
Korchnoi was a five-time member of Soviet teams that won the European championship
Chess grandmaster Viktor Korchnoi, who defected from Russia to the West in 1976, has died in Switzerland aged 85.
Born in 1931 in what is now St Petersburg, Korchnoi survived the siege of Leningrad during World War Two and is seen as one of the best players never to be World Champion.
He was a four-time USSR champion and ranked number one in the world in 1965.
However, he became convinced he had to leave the Soviet Union after being banned from playing internationally.
He played three matches against Soviet rival Anatoly Karpov, losing the 1974 final of the Candidates Tournament - which determines the challenger to play the world champion.
Korchnoi (R) was for many years the oldest active chess grandmaster
Mr Karpov became world champion in 1975 after the American Bobby Fischer refused to defend his title.
Korchnoi was then allowed by the Soviet authorities to compete internationally again the following year and sought political asylum in the Netherlands after a tournament there.
He later progressed to the World Championship final in 1978 and 1981, but lost to Mr Karpov on both occasions.
Korchnoi continued playing chess well into old age.
He was the oldest active chess grandmaster on the international tournament circuit for many years and won the World Senior Chess Championship in 2006.
Korchnoi was a five-time member of Soviet teams that won the European championship
Chess grandmaster Viktor Korchnoi, who defected from Russia to the West in 1976, has died in Switzerland aged 85.
Born in 1931 in what is now St Petersburg, Korchnoi survived the siege of Leningrad during World War Two and is seen as one of the best players never to be World Champion.
He was a four-time USSR champion and ranked number one in the world in 1965.
However, he became convinced he had to leave the Soviet Union after being banned from playing internationally.
He played three matches against Soviet rival Anatoly Karpov, losing the 1974 final of the Candidates Tournament - which determines the challenger to play the world champion.
Korchnoi (R) was for many years the oldest active chess grandmaster
Mr Karpov became world champion in 1975 after the American Bobby Fischer refused to defend his title.
Korchnoi was then allowed by the Soviet authorities to compete internationally again the following year and sought political asylum in the Netherlands after a tournament there.
He later progressed to the World Championship final in 1978 and 1981, but lost to Mr Karpov on both occasions.
Korchnoi continued playing chess well into old age.
He was the oldest active chess grandmaster on the international tournament circuit for many years and won the World Senior Chess Championship in 2006.
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Sad news indeed.
Personally, I never met the man, but Karpov-Korchnoi 1978 The Inside Story Of The Match by Raymond Keene was certainly one of the most exciting and interesting chess books I’ve ever read.
Still I can recall how I gasped in shock as GM Karpov unveiled the “Russian gift” – presumably prepared by GM Igor Zaitsev.
Mirrored Shades Regards,
John
Personally, I never met the man, but Karpov-Korchnoi 1978 The Inside Story Of The Match by Raymond Keene was certainly one of the most exciting and interesting chess books I’ve ever read.
Still I can recall how I gasped in shock as GM Karpov unveiled the “Russian gift” – presumably prepared by GM Igor Zaitsev.
Mirrored Shades Regards,
John
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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3k8o4B-tJI[/youtube]
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Welcome to the machine, Beatlefred!Beatlefred wrote:He will certainly be missed.
Here’s one from the legendary '78 match I hope you’ll all enjoy:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6GpUTAaKoE[/youtube]
One Night in Baguio Regards,
John
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Glad to hear that you enjoyed the vintage AP coverage, Ricardo!ricard60 wrote:Great video John. Thanks for sharing.
Baugio regards
Ricardo
The following are some additional scenes from the 1978 match, and an interesting slideshow presentation entitled The Life and Chess of Viktor Korchnoi by librarian Lucas Anderson.
Remembering GM Viktor Korchnoi Regards,
John
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I loved Viktor very much
Viktor was strong and should have been world champion , he was cheated I know
I knew and played Viktor , we were boys together the same age.
I lost to the little Kortchnoi but beat the big Kortchnoi !
Im worried I may be playing him soon
my clock is getting short regards
Dr. Q
I knew and played Viktor , we were boys together the same age.
I lost to the little Kortchnoi but beat the big Kortchnoi !
Im worried I may be playing him soon
my clock is getting short regards
Dr. Q
Only he who never plays, never loses
Re: I loved Viktor very much
What a wonderful memory i never met the man but followed him all my life and yes the world championships games had a lot of KGB influences. May you stay in the best of health as i am sure Viktor will need a lot of time to study your favourite openings before you play again, so no rush.Queegmeister wrote:Viktor was strong and should have been world champion , he was cheated I know
I knew and played Viktor , we were boys together the same age.
I lost to the little Kortchnoi but beat the big Kortchnoi !
Im worried I may be playing him soon
my clock is getting short regards
Dr. Q
Peter
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I did meet Korchnoi in the VIP room at The London Classic. He was there talking Chess to everybody while his wife sat in the corner reading and knitting.
In that same VIP room was IM Ali Mortazavi. I like his memory of meeting Korchnoi at the Clasic:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5LiL_sJKO4[/youtube]
Here is Victor commentating at the Classic with GM Julian Hodgson
In that same VIP room was IM Ali Mortazavi. I like his memory of meeting Korchnoi at the Clasic:
He did manage to play a simul at the 2011 London Classic.A few years ago, Korchnoi was watching a blitz game I was playing. I finished and asked him if he wanted a game. He snorted and walked off.
Later on, he came up to me and said: "I would love to have played you at blitz, but I just can't anymore." Old age is cruel.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5LiL_sJKO4[/youtube]
Here is Victor commentating at the Classic with GM Julian Hodgson
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Nice simul coverage, Harvey!
More video shorts from the 1978 World Chess Championship match can be accessed via the Associated Press archives.
Flash Video Regards,
John
More video shorts from the 1978 World Chess Championship match can be accessed via the Associated Press archives.
Flash Video Regards,
John