Viktor Korchnoi

Korchnoi in 1993
Full name	Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi
Country	Switzerland
Born	March 23, 1931 (1931-03-23) (age 76) Leningrad, USSR
Title	Grandmaster
FIDE rating	2623 (No. 100 on the April 2007 FIDE ratings list)
Peak rating	2695 (January 1979) [1]

Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi (also Korchnoy, Kortchnoy, Kortschnoi, etc.) (Ви́ктор Льво́вич Корчно́й), born March 23, 1931, in Leningrad, USSR, is a professional Swiss chess player and currently the oldest active grandmaster on the world tournament circuit. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 580 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (892 × 922 pixel, file size: 115 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Victor Korchnoi Source: de:Bild:Viktor kortschnoi. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... March 23 is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and... The title International Grandmaster is awarded to superb chess players by the world chess organization FIDE. It is a lifetime title, in chess literature usually abbreviated as GM or IGM (this is in contrast to WGM for Woman Grandmaster and IM for International Master). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Chess Go The Elo rating system is a method for calculating the relative skill levels of players in two-player games such as chess and Go. ... Chess Go The Elo rating system is a method for calculating the relative skill levels of players in two-player games such as chess and Go. ... March 23 is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and... Chess is a recreational and competitive game for two players. ... The title Grandmaster is awarded to world-class chess masters by the world chess organization FIDE. Apart from World Champion, Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain. ...

Korchnoi is best known for playing three matches against Anatoly Karpov for the World Chess Championship. In 1974, he lost the Candidates final to Karpov, who went on to win the World championship by forfeit against Bobby Fischer). Then, after defecting from the Soviet Union in 1976, he won the Candidates twice to qualify for World Championship matches against Karpov in 1978 and 1981, losing both times. Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov (Russian: ) (born May 23, 1951) is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Candidates Tournament was an annual chess tournament in which various chess players play against each other. ... Robert James Bobby Fischer (born March 9, 1943) is a United States-born chess Grandmaster and in 1972 became the only US-born chessplayer to become the official World Chess Champion. ...

Korchnoi is also a four-time USSR chess champion (1960, 1962-63, 1964-65, 1970), a five-time European champion, and a six-time member of Soviet teams that won the Chess Olympiad. In September 2006 he became the World Senior Chess Champion. Winner list: 1991 (58th,Moscow) Minasian, Artashes 1990 (57th,Leningrad) Beliavsky, Alexander / Yudasin, Leonid / Bareev, Evgeny / Vyzmanavin, Alexey ex aequo 1989 (56th,Odessa) Vaganian, Rafael 1988 (55th,Moscow) Karpov, Anatoly / Kasparov, Garry ex aequo 1987 (54th,Minsk) Beliavsky, Alexander 1986 (53rd,Kiev) Tseshkovsky, Vitaly 1985 (52nd,Riga) Gavrikov, Viktor / Gurevich... The Chess Olympiad is a chess event which has been officially organised by FIDE since 1927 and takes place in even years. ...

Early career

Korchnoi graduated from Leningrad State University with a major in History. Categories: Russia-related stubs | Universities and colleges in Russia | Saint Petersburg ...

He learned to play chess from his father at the age of seven. In 1943, he joined the chess club of the Leningrad Pioneer Palace, and was trained by Abram Model, Andrei Batuyev, and Vladimir Zak. In 1947, he won the youth championship of the USSR, and in 1951 he earned the Master title. One year later he first qualified for the USSR Chess Championship, which he won four times throughout his career (1960, 1962, 1964, 1970). FIDE awarded him the title of International Master in 1954, and that of Grandmaster in 1956. Winner list: 1991 (58th,Moscow) Minasian, Artashes 1990 (57th,Leningrad) Beliavsky, Alexander / Yudasin, Leonid / Bareev, Evgeny / Vyzmanavin, Alexey ex aequo 1989 (56th,Odessa) Vaganian, Rafael 1988 (55th,Moscow) Karpov, Anatoly / Kasparov, Garry ex aequo 1987 (54th,Minsk) Beliavsky, Alexander 1986 (53rd,Kiev) Tseshkovsky, Vitaly 1985 (52nd,Riga) Gavrikov, Viktor / Gurevich... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The title International Master is awarded to outstanding chess players by the world chess organization FIDE. The title is open to both men and women. ... The title Grandmaster is awarded to world-class chess masters by the world chess organization FIDE. Apart from World Champion, Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain. ...

Korchnoi rose to prominence within the Soviet chess school system, where he competed against stars such as Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, and Boris Spassky, following in the path laid out by Mikhail Botvinnik. Korchnoi never succeeded in becoming World Champion, but many people consider him the strongest player never to have done so, a distinction also often attributed to Paul Keres. When Spassky beat Petrosian to claim the World Title in 1969, the Soviet Chess Federation started pursuing a youth policy which largely classed Korchnoi and Vasily Smyslov as the old vanguard; as a consequence, they were overlooked when it came to distribution of opportunities to play in international chess tournaments. Mikhail Tal (Latvian: ; Russian: , Mikhail Nekhemievich Tal, IPA: ) (November 9, 1936–June 28, 1992) was a Soviet-Latvian chess player, and the eighth World Chess Champion. ... Tigran Petrosian. ... Boris Spassky Boris Vasilievich Spassky (also Spasskij) (Russian: ) (born January 30, 1937) is a Russian chess player and former world champion. ... Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik (IPA: ; Russian: ) (August 17 [O.S. August 4] 1911 - May 5, 1995) was a Russian International Grandmaster and long-time World Champion of chess. ... Paul Keres Paul Keres (born January 7, 1916, in Narva, Estonia; died June 5, 1975, in Helsinki, Finland) was an Estonian chess grandmaster and one of the strongest chess players of all time, apart from the World chess champions. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... Vasily Vasiliyevich Smyslov (Васи́лий Смысло́в) (born March 24, 1921) is a Russian chess grandmaster. ...

A Soviet Grandmaster

Korchnoi's playing style initially was an aggressive counter-attack. He excelled in difficult defensive positions. His results during the 1950s were often inconsistent, as dominance alternated with disaster. During the sixties he became more versatile, mastering all the required techniques to become a world championship contender. This does not cite any references or sources. ...

He first qualified as a Candidate from the 1962 Stockholm Interzonal. The 1962 Candidates tournament was held at Curacao only a few months later, and Korchnoi placed fifth out of eight with an even score, 13.5/27. He missed qualifying for the next world championship cycle, 1964-66. But with a strong performance at the 1967 Sousse Interzonal, he advanced to the Candidates' matches. In his first match, he defeated American Samuel Reshevsky at Amsterdam, 1968. Next up was Mikhail Tal, against whom Korchnoi had had a big edge in previous games. The match, held in Moscow, 1968, was close, but Korchnoi won by 5.5 to 4.5, and moved on to face Boris Spassky, who proved too much for him, at Kiev 1968. Korchnoi was exempt from qualifying for the next cycle (1970-72), and advanced directly to the Candidates' matches. He won his first round match against Wolfgang Uhlmann, but then lost to Tigran Petrosian by 5.5-4.5. Nickname: Location of Stockholm in northern Europe Coordinates: Country Sweden Municipality Stockholm Municipality County Stockholm Province Södermanland and Uppland Charter 13th Century Population (April 2007)  - City 782,885  - Density 4,160/km² (10,774. ... Interzonal chess tournaments were tournaments organized by FIDE, the World Chess Federation. ... At the World Chess Championship 1963 Tigran Petrosian narrowly qualified to challenge Mikhail Botvinnik for the World Chess Championship, and then won the match to become the 9th World Chess Champion. ... Curaçao and Bonaire are two Caribbean islands Curaçao [pronounced koo-rah-sow] (population 150,000) is an island in the southern part of the Caribbean Sea, one of the Windward Islands of the Netherlands Antilles, a self-governing part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. ... View from the Abou Nawas Hotel over to the main beach in Sousse (Bou Jaafar) The Grand Mosque of Sousse, Tunisia, as seen from the tower of the Ribat The Ribat of Sousse Sousse (Arabic سوسة Susa), is a city of Tunisia. ... Samuel Herman (Sammy) Reshevsky (born Szmul Rzeszewski, November 26, 1911, Ozorków, (then German Empire, today Poland) - died April 4, 1992, New York, USA) was a leading American chess Grandmaster. ... Nickname: Motto: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Determined, Compassionate) Location of Amsterdam Coordinates: , Country Netherlands Province North Holland Government  - Mayor Job Cohen (PvdA)  - Aldermen Lodewijk Asscher Hennah Buyne Carolien Gehrels Tjeerd Herrema Maarten van Poelgeest Marijke Vos  - Secretary Erik Gerritsen Area [1][2]  - City 219 km²  (84. ... Mikhail Tal (Latvian: ; Russian: , Mikhail Nekhemievich Tal, IPA: ) (November 9, 1936–June 28, 1992) was a Soviet-Latvian chess player, and the eighth World Chess Champion. ... Boris Spassky Boris Vasilievich Spassky (also Spasskij) (Russian: ) (born January 30, 1937) is a Russian chess player and former world champion. ... Map of Ukraine with Kiev highlighted Coordinates: , Country Ukraine Oblast Kiev City Municipality Raion Municipality Government  - Mayor Leonid Chernovetskyi Elevation 179 m (587 ft) Population (2005)  - City 3,950,968  - Density 3,299/km² (8,544. ... Wolfgang Uhlmann (born March 29, 1935) is a prominent German International Grandmaster of chess. ... Tigran Petrosian. ...

Korchnoi's mood largely dictated his plan for the game. He was comfortable playing with and without the initiative. He could attack, counterattack, play positionally, and was a master of the endgame. He became known as the master of counter-attack, and strangely enough he was Mikhail Tal's (an out-and-out attacker) most difficult opponent. He has a large lifetime plus score against Tal, and also has plus scores against world champions Petrosian and Spassky. He has equal records against Botvinnik and Bobby Fischer. He has beaten the eight undisputed world champions from Botvinnik to Garry Kasparov, as well as FIDE world champions Ruslan Ponomariov and Veselin Topalov. EndGame is the name of a 1997 story arc of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic book published by published by Archie Comics. ... Mikhail Tal (Latvian: ; Russian: , Mikhail Nekhemievich Tal, IPA: ) (November 9, 1936–June 28, 1992) was a Soviet-Latvian chess player, and the eighth World Chess Champion. ... Robert James Bobby Fischer (born March 9, 1943) is a United States-born chess Grandmaster and in 1972 became the only US-born chessplayer to become the official World Chess Champion. ... Garry Kimovich Kasparov (Russian: ; IPA: ) (born April 13, 1963, in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR) (now Azerbaijan) is a Russian chess grandmaster of Armenian descent and former World Chess Champion. ... Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukrainian: ; Russian: ) (born October 11, 1983) is a Ukrainian chess player and former FIDE world champion. ... Veselin Topalov 2005 Veselin Topalov (IPA: ; Bulgarian: ) (born 15 March 1975) is a Bulgarian chess grandmaster and former FIDE world champion. ...

Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov, the newest young star of the Soviet chess school, tied for first in the 1973 Leningrad Interzonal.[2] In the 1974 Candidates' matches, Korchnoi first beat the young Brazilian star Henrique Costa Mecking (who had won the other Interzonal, in Petropolis) 7.5-5.5 - in what he later described as a tough match in his autobiography. Korchnoi next played former World Champion Tigran Petrosian. The two were not on friendly terms, and it was even rumored that the two resorted to kicking each other under the table during this match. However, Korchnoi denies this. According to him, Petrosian just kicked his legs nervously and shook the table. Although the match was supposed to go to the first player to win four games, Petrosian resigned the match after just five games, with Korchnoi enjoying a lead of 3-1, with one draw.[3] Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov (Russian: ) (born May 23, 1951) is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Leningrad (Russian: Ленинград) may mean: St. ... Interzonal chess tournaments were tournaments organized by FIDE, the World Chess Federation. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Henrique Mecking (born 23 January 1952; first name spelled Enrique in some references, also known as Mequinho in Brazil) was a leading Brazilian chess master in the 1970s. ... Petrópolis, also known as The Imperial City of Brazil, is a town in the state of Rio de Janeiro, about 60 km from the states capital. ... Tigran Petrosian. ...

With his victory over Petrosian, Korchnoi advanced to the Candidates' Final, the match to determine who would challenge reigning World Champion Bobby Fischer in 1975. Korchnoi's opponent was Karpov, against whom he had played a friendly six-game drawn training match some three years before. Karpov won this epic battle, played in 1974 in Moscow, by a 12.5-11.5 score. By default, Karpov became the Twelfth World Champion, when Fischer refused to defend his title because of disputed match conditions. Position of Moscow in Europe Coordinates: , Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Government  - Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Area  - City 1,081 km²  (417. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

During the match between Karpov and Korchnoi, an amusing incident occurred. In the 21st game, Korchnoi played a strong opening novelty and, after a terrible blunder by Karpov, had achieved an overwhelming position. During this game, Korchnoi got up from the board, walked over to the arbiter and, showing a surprising ignorance of the rules, asked whether he could legally castle king-side in the current position, in which a bishop was attacking his rook on h1. The arbiter, Salo Flohr, informed him that he could. Korchnoi did so, and Karpov soon resigned. Initial position of kings and rooks Black has castled kingside (O-O), and White has castled queenside (O-O-O) Castling is a special move in the game of chess involving the king and either of the original rooks of the same color. ... This article needs to be wikified. ...

Defection

In the lead-up to the Candidates' Final in 1975, as part of a campaign to promote Karpov over Korchnoi, Tigran Petrosian made a public statement in the press against Korchnoi. At the closing ceremony of the Candidates' Final, Korchnoi had made his mind up that he had to leave the Soviet Union. The central authorities prevented Korchnoi from playing any international tournaments, and even when invited by Paul Keres and Iivo Nei to participate in an International Tournament in Estonia, Korchnoi was not allowed to play, and both Keres and Nei were reprimanded. Tigran Petrosian. ... Paul Keres Paul Keres (born January 7, 1916, in Narva, Estonia; died June 5, 1975, in Helsinki, Finland) was an Estonian chess grandmaster and one of the strongest chess players of all time, apart from the World chess champions. ... Iivo Nei (born 31 October 1931) – an Estonian chess master. ...

Viktor Korchnoi, 2006

Korchnoi, in a 2006 lecture in London, mentioned that the breakthrough that allowed him to resume international appearances came when Anatoly Karpov inherited the World Championship title (resigned by Bobby Fischer). Questions arose about how Karpov qualified to be a World Champion, when he had never beaten Fischer. Since Korchnoi wasn't publicly visible, it was largely believed that he (and Karpov) couldn't be very strong. Korchnoi was then allowed to play the 1976 Amsterdam tournament, as a means to prove Karpov was a worthy World Champion. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (960 × 1280 pixel, file size: 353 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (960 × 1280 pixel, file size: 353 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov (Russian: ) (born May 23, 1951) is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. ... Nickname: Motto: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Determined, Compassionate) Location of Amsterdam Coordinates: , Country Netherlands Province North Holland Government  - Mayor Job Cohen (PvdA)  - Aldermen Lodewijk Asscher Hennah Buyne Carolien Gehrels Tjeerd Herrema Maarten van Poelgeest Marijke Vos  - Secretary Erik Gerritsen Area [1][2]  - City 219 km²  (84. ...

Korchnoi was joint winner of the tournament along with Tony Miles. At the end of the tournament, Korchnoi asked Miles to spell 'political asylum' for him. As a result, after the chess tournament in Amsterdam, Korchnoi was the first strong Soviet grandmaster to defect from the Soviet Union. (Many masters had previously defected from the former Soviet Union, but Korchnoi was the first top-ranked GM to do so.) His defection resulted in a turbulent period of excellent tournament results, losses in the two matches for the World Title -- all overshadowed by the oppressive political climate of the Cold War. Anthony John Miles (April 23, 1955 – November 12, 2001) was an English chess player. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ...

Korchnoi resided in the Netherlands for some time, giving simultaneous exhibitions. He played a short match against Jan Timman -- the strongest active non-Soviet player at that time -- and comprehensively defeated him. He moved to West Germany, and then eventually settled in Switzerland by 1978. A simultaneous exhibition (often abbreviated to simul) is an event where chess masters play multiple chess games at a time with selected players (usually below master strength). ... Jan Timman Jan Timman (born December 14, 1951) is a famous Dutch chessplayer who had his greatest successes in the 1970s and 1980s. ...

First World Championship match against Karpov

In the next world championship cycle (1976-78), Korchnoi narrowly defeated Petrosian again in the Candidates quarter finals, then comfortably won his matches against Lev Polugaevsky and Boris Spassky to emerge as the official challenger to Karpov.[4] Lev Polugaevsky (sometimes transliterated Polugayevsky; (20 November 1934-30 August 1995) was an International Grandmaster of chess and frequent contender for the world chess championship, although he never achieved that title. ... Boris Spassky Boris Vasilievich Spassky (also Spasskij) (Russian: ) (born January 30, 1937) is a Russian chess player and former world champion. ...

The World Championship match of 1978 was held in Baguio in the Philippines, and deserves its reputation as the most bizarre World Championship match ever played. Karpov's team included a Dr. Zukhar (a well known hypnotist), while Korchnoi adopted two local renegades currently on bail for attempted murder (Source: Karpov -- Korchnoi 1978, by Raymond Keene). There was more controversy off the board, with histrionics ranging from X-raying of chairs, protests about the flags used on the board, the inevitable hypnotism complaints and the mirror glasses used by Korchnoi. When Karpov's team sent him a blueberry yogurt during a game without any request for one by Karpov, the Korchnoi team protested, claiming it could be some kind of code. They later said this was intended as a parody of earlier protests, but it was taken seriously at the time.[5] Click here for the entry on Baguio City ... Species See text. ... Yoghurt Yoghurt or yogurt, less commonly yoghourt or yogourt, is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. ...

In quality of play the match itself never measured up to the press headlines that it generated, although as a sporting contest it had its share of excitement. The match would go to the first player to win six games, draws not counting. After 17 games, Karpov had an imposing 4-1 lead. Korchnoi won game 21, but Karpov won game 27, putting him on the brink of victory with a 5-2 lead. Korchnoi bravely fought back, scoring three wins and one draw in the next four games, to equalise the match at 5-5 after 31 games. However, Karpov won the very next game, and the match, by 6-5 with 21 draws.[6]

Second World Championship match against Karpov

Korchnoi won the next Candidates' cycle to again earn the right to challenge Karpov in 1981. The match was held in Merano, Italy. The headline of the tournament again largely centered on the political issues. Korchnoi's wife and son were still in the Soviet Union. His son was promised to be released to join his father in exile if he gave up his passport. When he did so, he was promptly drafted into the Russian army. Merano (Italian: Merano; German: Meran; Ladin: Meran; Latin: Merona; Note that many of the regions Italian languages/dialects use Meran), is a city in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region of Italy. ...

Korchnoi took the opportunity of the match to publicize the situation of his wife and son, drafting an open letter to the Soviet government to release them both.

In what was dubbed the "Massacre in Merano", Karpov defeated Korchnoi convincingly by 6 wins to 2, with ten draws.

In spite of the protests, Korchnoi's son was arrested for evading army service, sentenced to two and a half years in labour camp, and served the full sentence. After the release, he was again refused permission to leave the USSR. Six years after Korchnoi's defection, his son finally succeeded in leaving the country.

Later career

Korchnoi, however, still had a vital part to play in the next (1984) Candidates' cycle, although he never reached the highest pinnacle again. Korchnoi had moved to the United States, and was matched to play the young Soviet Garry Kasparov who at the time was battling against the Soviet Chess Federation that was clearly in favour of Anatoly Karpov. Korchnoi seems to have great fondness for Garry Kasparov -- possibly, because he recognized the situation Kasparov was in -- a prominent talent blocked by the Soviet bureaucracy. Garry Kimovich Kasparov (Russian: ; IPA: ) (born April 13, 1963, in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR) (now Azerbaijan) is a Russian chess grandmaster of Armenian descent and former World Chess Champion. ...

The match was to be held in Pasadena, California, where Bobby Fischer was residing at the time, but the Soviet Chess Federation protested (possibly because Korchnoi was a defector and the match was in the cold-war enemy's back yard, and because of the soon-to-be-announced Soviet decision to boycott the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles), and Kasparov was not allowed to fly there to play the match. This defaulted the match to Korchnoi. Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Robert James Bobby Fischer (born March 9, 1943) is a United States-born chess Grandmaster and in 1972 became the only US-born chessplayer to become the official World Chess Champion. ... Music sample: Olympic Fanfare and Theme ( file info) — composed by John Williams for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles Problems listening to the file? See media help. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ...

However, after a remarkable series of events, spearheaded by the British Grandmaster Raymond Keene, Korchnoi agreed to play the match in London. This was a gracious gesture by Korchnoi, since technically he had already won by default. After a good start, Korchnoi was blown away by Kasparov's attacking play and remarkable maturity.[7] Raymond Dennis Keene OBE (born 29 January 1948) is a chess grandmaster, but is better known as a chess organiser, columnist and author. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

After the 1983 Kasparov match, Korchnoi continued playing at a top level but without seriously threatening the world championship again. In the 1985-87 World Championship cycle he finished equal thirteenth out of 16 in the Candidates' Tournament.[8] In the 1988-90 cycle he made the final 16 again, but was eliminated in the first round of Candidates' matches.[9] In the 1991-93 cycle he reached the final 8 of the Candidates' before being eliminated.[10] The Candidates Tournament was a triannual chess tournament organized by the world chess federation FIDE as the final contest to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship. ...

He continues playing in Europe to this day, living in his adopted country of Switzerland, which he represents on the top board of the World Chess Olympiad, most recently playing in Torino, Italy, in 2006. The Chess Olympiad is a chess event which has been officially organised by FIDE since 1927 and takes place in even years. ... Torino or Turin is a major industrial city in north-western Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the west bank of the Po River. ...

Korchnoi is noted for his unusual longevity at the chessboard. He has been at or near the top of the game for nearly half a century. He continues to play many tournaments every year, playing more than 15 tournaments in 2006. He won the 2005 Quebec Open in Montreal. In August 2006 at age 75 he won the Banyoles Open in Spain ahead of Sergei Tiviakov. Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (in unity, prosperity) Coordinates: , Country Canada Province Quebec Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - City 365. ... Sergei Tiviakov (b. ...

On the January 2007 FIDE rating list [11] Korchnoi was ranked number 85 in the world at age 75, by far the oldest player ever to be ranked in the FIDE top 100. The second-oldest player on the January 2007 list was Alexander Beliavsky, age 53, who is 22 years younger than Korchnoi! The Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation is an international organization that connects the various national chess federations around the world. ... A. Beliavsky, at 35th chess olympiad Bled 2002 Alexander Beliavsky (born December 17, 1953) is a Ukrainian chess grandmaster. ...

"The human element, the human flaw and the human nobility - those are the reasons that chess matches are won or lost."

"If a player believes in miracles he can sometimes perform them." Viktor Korchnoi

World Senior Chess Champion

In September 2006 Korchnoi won the 16th World Senior Chess Championship, held in Arvier (Valle d’Aosta, Italia), with a 9-2 score. Korchnoi scored 7.5-.5 in his first eight games, then drew his last three games.[12] This is the first world title Korchnoi has won.

Books

• Victor Korchnoi: Chess is My Life. ISBN 3-283-00406-4
• Victor Korchnoi: My Best Games 1: Games with White. ISBN 3-283-00404-8
• Victor Korchnoi: My Best Games 2: Games with Black. ISBN 3-283-00405-6
•  Victor Korchnoi (1999, 2002). Practical Rook Endings. Olms. ISBN 3-283-00401-3. 

External links

• FIDE rating card for Viktor Korchnoi
• Viktor Korchnoi at ChessGames.com
• World Chess Championship FIDE Events 1948-1990 - contains detailed information on two matches Karpov - Korchnoi.
• Korchnoi's Career Highlights