Chess player Viktor Korchnoi has died. The mystery of the death of a chess genius Which chess player died as a champion
Obituary
Viktor Korchnoi died at the age of 85. One of the brightest grandmasters in the history of chess, he fled the USSR in the mid-1970s, believing that this was the only way he could have a chance to become a world champion. Korchnoi got this chance twice, but in both of his matches against Anatoly Karpov he was defeated.
This is a known fact. The creation of the once-thrilling musical "Chess" by its authors - Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Tim Rice - was inspired by the story of Viktor Korchnoi. And considering how dramatic and complex it was, what seems strange is rather not that chess theme a popular musical performance is dedicated to, but the fact that no other large-scale works - books, films - have been dedicated to such a story.
Leningrader Viktor Korchnoi was a grandmaster of genius. “Not only a great chess player, but a whole era in chess. A great fighter,” said the President of the International Chess Federation, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, about him. Proof of class and grandeur was the status of an almost irreplaceable member of the national team, prestigious international awards, four victories in the USSR Championship, which during its heyday - in the 1960s - could be considered an unofficial world championship. Korchnoi desperately wanted to be the official champion. And, in fact, it was precisely this desire of his that provoked one of the loudest sports scandals in Soviet sports.
The hegemony of grandmasters from the USSR in chess was interrupted only once - by the American Bobby Fischer. And in the final match of candidates in 1974, that representative was to be determined Soviet Union, who will have the honor of fighting the invulnerable Fischer for the return of the iconic title. Viktor Korchnoi lost to Anatoly Karpov and attributed the defeat to the bias of his native country: she, according to him, had previously bet on the younger Karpov, refusing to support his opponent.
How much truth there was in these statements will probably never be known. Some other grandmasters argued that not so much. In any case, Korchnoi was not forgiven for his criticism. He was banned from traveling abroad for a year, and finally having the opportunity to go abroad again - to a tournament in Amsterdam, he asked the Dutch for political asylum, declaring that he would not go back to the USSR, despite the fact that his wife and son remained in his homeland. Korchnoi was eventually granted asylum in Switzerland, but for the Soviet official press he seemed to have died even then: they preferred to remain silent about his new life and new achievements, as if they did not exist at all.
Soon, however, it became impossible to remain silent. Viktor Korchnoi won the challenger cycle and finally earned the opportunity to fight the world champion, who was now Anatoly Karpov. And the world watched the confrontation in 1978 in Baguio, Philippines no less closely than the confrontation in 1972 between Fischer and Boris Spassky, also seeing in it not so much a chess confrontation as an ideological one—of two warring systems. Only now a recent Soviet citizen was fighting for the West, who, moreover, flatly refused to call himself a dissident, all the time emphasizing that he was simply striving to realize his chess potential.
It was truly a tough match. With accusations on both sides of dishonest play - using tips, help from psychics. With a dashing plot. Korchnoi accomplished the almost impossible during the match, eliminating the three-point gap, but still lost. And three years later he again got close to the top. However, Karpov already won the new championship match - in Merano, Italy - convincingly.
At the time of its completion, Viktor Korchnoi was already 50 years old. But he still had a long part of his chess career ahead of him, which could not be called a protracted decline. He shone in tournaments, proving that talent is more important than age, and he changed his status from almost an outcast to the status of one of the most respected people in the chess community, to whom both youths and patriarchs turn for advice. In general, he looked very pleased with what he had achieved, although it is difficult to imagine that he did not remember the chances he missed, either due to the machinations of his enemies, or because of the strength of a competitor, or because of a combination of circumstances, to wear the champion’s crown.
Alexey Dospehov
Good day, dear friend!
The strongest is always in sight. Everyone wants to know about him, imitate his manners, style of behavior, and methods of preparation. World chess champions not an exception. In today's article we will remember who has held this title over the past 130 years.
If you want to follow the path of a champion, you have a lot of work ahead of you. But we can and should start with special training programs for chess players.
Why are there 16 champions?
At the end of 2016 Magnus Carlsen defended his title chess champion difficult match with Sergey Karjakin. Carlsen in chess world considered the 16th world champion.
And now about those fifteen outstanding chess players who were his predecessors.
It should be said that the period 1993 to 2006. in the chess world it is usually called “times of troubles”. At this time, the title existed in two versions - FIDE and PSA. In addition, the champion title during this period was played out not in matches, but in a tournament format. The winner of the tournament with the participation of candidates received the title of world champion.
No one belittles the significance of victory in the fight for the championship.However, the value of a championship during this period of time is somewhat lower than the title won match . This is not the author's opinion, but an assessment of the chess world.
It is believed that there are 16 recognized champions in classical chess. These are the champions who won the title in a full official match. Let's talk about them in more detail. Who was champion in the 19th and 20th centuries, and who became champion literally today, at the end 2016.
All champions
Below is a list of men's champions in chronological order in classical chess. If you prefer details by year and in a more compact form, you are welcome here: table for the entire history.
1 world champion - Wilhelm STEINITZ
Championship period 1886 – 1894. Represented Austria.
Steinitz is the very first champion who has received official status. The title was won as a result of winning the match with Zukertort. Steinitz then defended his title twice. In 1889 in the first match by M. Chigorin and in 1892. - in the second. Between these two matches with the great Russian chess player, Steinitz beat I. Gunsberg.
Lost the title in 1894 in a match with Lasker.
Steinitz, like most chess players of the 19th century, was a supporter of combination play. However, his approach already clearly showed a strategic approach to the game and the match as a whole. In particular, Steinitz knew how to save his strength for the finishing push and often outplayed his opponent at the end of the match.
Last game of the championship title match against Zukertort
Steinitz, W — Zukertort, J
World Championship 1st USA (20) 03/29/1886
2 world champion - Emmanuel LASKER
Championship period 1894 – 1921. Represented Austria.
Second world champion. He is the record holder for the longest championship - 27 years.
After the victory over Steinitz in 1894. sat on the throne until 1921, when he lost the match to Capablanca.
Lasker is a chess player of a universal style. He had excellent positional sense and was especially strong in the endgame. Perhaps the first of the great chess players, he gave great importance psychological aspects of the game. In addition to chess, he achieved fame as a mathematician.
“Championship” game of the match for the champion title against Steinitz
Lasker,E — Steinitz,W
World Championship 5th USA/CAN (19) 05/26/1894
3 world champion - Jose Raul CAPABLANCA
Championship period 1921 – 1927. Country: Cuba
Capablanca was a chess prodigy. Already in childhood he began to show quite masterful results. In 1911 “threw down the gauntlet” to Lasker” in order to take the champion title from him. The match, however, took place only in 1921. In Havana. As expected, Capablanca confidently defeated the fading champion.
Capablanca had the fame of a “chess machine.” His playing style was distinguished by filigree technique and precise calculation of options. Capablanca was a proponent of the “death draw” theory of chess, believing that when proper game games must end in a draw.
In this he was wrong, as the subsequent history of the development of chess showed. More and more layers were opening up in chess. There truly is no limit to imagination, creativity, and the psychology of influence.
In 1927 A historic match took place with Alexander Alekhine. Contrary to expectations of Capablanca's victory, Alekhine won the match.
The confrontation between the great chess players lasted another twenty years. But they failed to meet in the world championship match.
Winning game of the title match against Lasker:
Lasker,E - Capablanca,J
World Championship 12th Havana (14) 04/20/1921
4 world champion - Alexander ALEKHIN
The period of “reign” 1927 - 1935, then 1937 - 1946. Represented Russia and France.
First Russian world champion.
Alekhine was born in Russia. After various dramatic events of the First World War and the proletarian revolution, in 1921, already one of the leading chess players in the world, he finally left his homeland and settled in France.
In 1927 in the match for the world championship he defeated H.R. Capablanca. In 1935 briefly lost the title to Max Euwe. Then he took revenge. The only champion who passed away with the title of world champion.
Alekhine is a chess player of versatile talent. Analyst, researcher, writer. And of course a player of exceptional practical strength. Considered one of the strongest world champions of all time.
Final game of the championship match against Capablanca
Alekhine,A - Capablanca,J
World Championship 13th Buenos-Aires (34) 11/26/1927
5 world champion - Max EUWE
Championship period 1935 - 1937. Represented Holland.
The victory over Alekhine in the match was perceived as a sensation. Even Euwe’s compatriots did not expect this, not to mention Alekhine himself, who easily agreed to play on the “opponent’s field.” No matter what they say, Euwe’s victory was deserved and won in a fair fight.
Max Euwe was an intelligent and versatile person in life. He taught mathematics and had the title of professor. Later he served as the head of FIDE.
The turning point in the match with Alekhine for the championship title:
Alekhine,A — Euwe,M
World Championship 16th NLD (25) 12/01/1935
6 world champion - Mikhail BOTVINNIK
Championship periods: 1948 - 1957, then from 1958 to 1960, then from 1961 to 1963. Country - USSR.
The very first world champion from the USSR.
Mikhail Botvinnik learned chess at the age of twelve. Nevertheless, perseverance, perseverance and a “scientific” approach to chess did their job - by the age of 30, Botvinnik had risen to a leading position in Soviet and world chess.
Everyone was looking forward to the championship match with Alexander Alekhine. But the war got in the way. After the death of Alekhine in 1948, a world championship match tournament was held, which brought a landslide victory for Botvinnik.
The only champion who twice regained the title of champion, defeating Mikhail Tal and Vasily Smyslov in rematches.
Botvinnik was distinguished by his thorough preparation, taking into account the psychological characteristics of his opponent, and a real champion’s character.
The game in the match against Bronstein, in which Botvinnik equalized the score and retained the “crown”
Botvinnik,M — Bronstein,D
World Championship 19th Moscow (23) 05/08/1951
7 world champion - Vasily SMYSLOV
World champion in 1957 - 1958 Country: USSR
Vasily Smyslov is a brilliant chess theorist and an outstanding practitioner. As a member of the USSR team, he won the Chess Olympiads ten times.
In 1957 won the qualifying round and got the opportunity to play a match with the world champion. The match with M. Botvinnik ended in victory for Smyslov. About a year later, Mikhail Botvinnik convincingly took revenge.
Decisive winning game in the match against Botvinnik
Smyslov,V — Botvinnik,M
World Championship 21th Moscow (20) 04/23/1957
8 world champion - Mikhail TAL
World champion in 1960 – 1961 USSR
Tal defeated Mikhail Botvinnik in the championship match at the age of 23. This is a record for that time.
Tal professed an attacking, combinational style of play. He did not take into account the victims on the altar of the attack. This manner greatly impressed the audience. Mikhail Tal, without exaggeration, was everyone's favorite.
The Almighty generously gifted Tal with talent. But it didn’t give me any health at all. Illnesses became Mikhail Nekhemievich’s usual companion in everyday life. And the sports mode was not something sacred for him.
Nevertheless, the enormous talent and accumulated experience allowed Tal to last days to be one of the leading chess players in the world.
Decisive game in the title match against Botvinnik
Tal,M — Botvinnik,M
World Championship 23th Moscow (19) 05/03/1960
9 world champion - Tigran PETROSYAN
Championship period 1963 – 1969. USSR
Tigran Vartanovich Petrosyan won the right to challenge the championship title in 1962, when he won the Candidates Tournament. The duel with M. Botvinnik took place in 1963. brought victory to Petrosyan. Three years later he defended his title in a match with Boris Spassky. And yet, three years later, in 1969. lost the title to the latter.
Tigran Petrosyan was an outstanding defender and master of positional play. With incredible ingenuity, he defended difficult positions, launching a counterattack at the first opportunity. Petrosyan's tactical vigilance was also excellent.
Petrosyan is an outstanding theorist who generously shared his skills with young chess players. He carried out social work and was the editor-in-chief of “64” magazine. Candidate of Philosophical Sciences.
Winning game in the title match against Botvinnik:
Petrosian,T — Botvinnik,M
World Championship 25th Moscow (19) 05/11/1963
10th world champion - Boris SPASSKY
World champion in the period 1969 – 1972. Country: USSR, France
Boris Spassky back in 1955 won the world championship among youths. It took another fourteen long years to reach adult triumph. This day came in 1969. field of victory in the match over Petrosyan The second match in a row.
In 1972, the infamous match with Robert Fischer took place in which Boris Vasilyevich lost the crown to the outstanding American grandmaster.
Spassky is one of the most versatile chess players in best years he didn't have weak points and it was incredibly difficult to defeat him.
In the early eighties he moved to France. But he doesn’t lose touch with his homeland, he visits Russia and helps young chess players. There are several chess schools under the patronage of Spassky.
Winning game in the match against Petrosyan
Spassky,B — Petrosian,T
World Championship 27th Moscow (21) 06/11/1969
11th world champion - Robert FISCHER
Championship period 1972 - 1975 US Citizenship
Robert Fischer devoted himself entirely to chess. I even dropped out of school. At the age of fifteen he is already a grandmaster. The youngest in history at that time.
In America there was no state program for the development of chess and in this regard Fischer had a difficult time. This is a man who made himself a world champion entirely on his own. Talent, efficiency, and exceptional dedication to chess are the hallmarks of Robert Fischer.
Fischer has achieved exceptional playing power and is one of the strongest champions.
He won the champion title in 1972, defeating all the contenders in the qualifying matches: Larsen, Taimanov (both dry -6:0!), Petrosyan. In the match for the title, he defeated Boris Spassky without any visible effort.
Oddly enough, the final game of the match with Spassky turned out to be the last in Fischer's official career. He refused the match with Karpov, despite lengthy negotiations. Fischer never played another game in official tournaments. This is one of the biggest mysteries in chess history, still unsolved today.
Final game of the match with Spassky:
Spassky,B — Fischer,R
World Championship 28th Reykjavik (21) 08/31/1972
12th world champion - Anatoly KARPOV
Period of “reign” 1975 – 1985. Country: USSR/Russia
Anatoly Karpov returned the championship title to our country. And although the match with Fischer did not take place, Karpov’s championship is not objectively questioned. At that time, he was the strongest grandmaster (not counting Fischer), who confidently won the qualifying round.
In the early 80s, the era of confrontation between Karpov and Kasparov began, who played several protracted matches between them. The last of them, in 1985, ended with the victory of Garry Kasparov.
Karpov is distinguished by his outstanding skill in positional maneuvering and pragmatic attitude to the game. In terms of the number of tournaments won, Anatoly Karpov far surpasses everyone else.
Anatoly Evgenievich is still in the ranks, periodically participating in major tournaments with success.
The famous winning game against Viktor Korchnoi with the score 5:5
Karpov,A - Kortschnoj,V
World Championship 29th Baguio City (32) 10/17/1978
13th world champion - Garry KASPAROV
World champion from 1985 to 2000. USSR/Russia
Garry Kasparov's star quickly rose on the chess horizon by the early 1980s.
In 1981, he became the youngest national champion. Then the era of confrontation with Karpov began. In 1985 Harry finally tried on the champion's crown.
For about 20 years, Kasparov had the highest rating among chess players, reaching 2850 points. The figure was astronomical for those times.
Kasparov’s independence of views also played a role in the emergence of disagreements with FIDE. As a result, Kasparov organized an alternative organization - PSA.
In recent years, Garry Kimovich has retreated from active chess.
Kasparov is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding chess players. He is distinguished by his active, even aggressive style games, excellent opening preparation, accurate calculation of options
The winning game in the match against Karpov in 1985.
Karpov, A — Kasparov, G
World Championship 32th-KK2 Moscow (24) 09.11.1985
14th world champion - Vladimir KRAMNIK
World champion in the period 2000 – 2007. Represents Russia.
In 2006 Vladimir Kramnik won the match against Veselin Topalov and became the 14th world champion. This was not a surprise. Before competing for the top title, Kramnik won the world junior championships twice and became the PSA world champion. Thus both titles were combined.
About a year later, Kramnik lost the championship title to Anand.
Vladimir Kramnik's playing style is reminiscent of Karpov's. A chess player of exceptional strength, Kramnik is still among the elite of world chess today, consistently occupying a place in the top five.
Decisive game against Kasparov for the title of PCA champion
Kramnik,V — Kasparov,G
BGN World Chess Championship London (10) 10/24/2000
15th world champion - Viswanathan ANAND
Championship period 2007 – 2013 Country: India
First international grandmaster in India.
Vishy Anand became a world champion by winning the championship tournament in Mexico City in 2007.
Then he successfully defended his title three times. The 15th world champion is distinguished by exceptionally fast thinking and is a recognized master of rapid chess and blitz.
Known in chess as a true gentleman. Anand's attractive image combines the charm of Jose Ruhl Capablanca, the will to win of Botvinnik, and the energy and talent of Kasparov.
He resigned as world champion in 2013, losing a match to Carlsen.
Decisive game of the match against Kramnik:
Anand,V — Kramnik,V
WCh Bonn GER (6) 10/21/2008
16th world champion - Magnus CARLsen
World champion from 2013 to present. Norway
Magnus Carlsen is, without exaggeration, a chess prodigy. He became a grandmaster at the age of 13, breaking all imaginable records.
Magnus became the world champion in 2013, defeating Anand in a match. Has the highest rating in the history of chess.
Just recently, at the end 2016defended his title in a match against Sergey Karjakin. Contrary to expectations, the match was difficult for the champion. Karjakin was at his best. According to other estimates, Carlsen was not in the best shape. One way or another, Magnus won only in a tiebreaker.
Magnus Carlsen is a public person. Travels a lot, plays sports, acts in commercials. I think we will be hearing his name for a long time. Both in connection with chess and beyond it.
Last winning game against Anand in the 2013 championship match
Anand-Carlsen World Championship (9)
And a few more words about the champions
In conclusion, I will say that the titles of world chess champions exist, of course, not only among men and in classical chess. I think it’s unnecessary to overload the article, I’ll just list:
Women's World Champion: Hou Yifan, China
World blitz champion 2017: Sergey Karyakin, Russia
“Tournament” world champions during the period of “turmoil” 1993-2006. - in this table at the end.
We will discuss these topics in more detail in the following articles.
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On a cold January morning, Bukavshin was found dead in a room at the Tolyatti sanatorium “Scarlet Parsa”, where coaching camps were taking place. The doctors version is a stroke. Investigators' version is an accident. The parents' verdict - their son was poisoned by envious people. And friends believe that Vanya was killed because of debts in a bookmaker’s office. To unravel the knot, I had to go to Togliatti and meet with those who saw Ivan a couple of hours before his death, and check the most different versions of the death of the talented chess player - from the real to the most insane.
Version No. 1. Stroke
Ivan Bukavshin’s mother, a 50-year-old woman who has not taken off her black headscarf for almost a year, shows an SMS message from Ivan. “Mom, please pack a first aid kit. Don’t forget your vitamins,” the son asks.
Look for yourself, there are no serious medications on the list, says Elena Bukavshina, iodine, brilliant green, adhesive plaster, citramone... He was in excellent health. Before the training camp I had a cardiogram. Doctors joked that they could be sent into space. What kind of stroke could it be...
Who determined this cause of death? – we ask the Bukavshins’ lawyer Vladimir Zubkov.
Nurse. Just imagine, an ordinary nurse,” says Vladimir. “And the district police officer wrote it down from her words; no one even called the investigators.”
No investigators - no case. Only six months later, at the request of the prosecutor’s office, the case of Bukavshin’s death was returned for further investigation, because there was not enough evidence pointing to a stroke.
Version No. 2. Poisoning
Let’s make it clear right away that only Ivan’s parents and the lawyer believe in her. And that's why. A forensic examination showed that the day before the guy took a lethal dose of the drug no-spa, which entered the body in liquid form.
No traces of alcohol or drugs were found in the blood, continues the family’s lawyer. - But the concentration of no-shpa in the stomach, liver, and kidney was simply monstrous. According to the expert's conclusion, these concentrations exceed the minimum lethal levels several times.
But Vanya himself could not eat so many pills.
They dissolved them in grapefruit juice for him, which he often drank, his mother is sure.
It turns out that someone came into his room with Vanya while he was busy, poured the crushed tablets into the juice and left. But who? Bukavshin had many friends, as well as envious people who were haunted by the glory of the young successful grandmaster. Bukavshin won various competitions from the age of 10 chess tournaments, received royalties. Looking ahead a little, let's say that by the age of 21 I had saved 1.5 million rubles. The money was in a bank account.
When Ivan died, the mother of one of his rivals called me, I told her about the death of my son, so she answered me, “Thank God,” recalls Elena Bukavshina. - Why did she say that?
For some of his friends and rivals, Ivan’s victories were like a bone in the throat. So this time they met, as they say, face to face: Sanan Syugirov, Dmitry Frolyanov, Alexander Predke, Yakov Geller, Igor Lysy and Ivan Bukavshin.
Passed in February big tournament from a Russian airline,” Bukavshin’s friends tell us on condition of anonymity. - Prize fund- 10 million rubles. Everyone said that Ivan would win. He was already a world champion. I was preparing for these competitions. At the training camp, I quarreled with Andrei Mitin * over competitions. This is another guy who wanted to win. They fought a lot. But then Andryukha, in a fit of anger, shouted, saying, you won’t participate anyway.
The investigation does not believe in such a coincidence. And he doesn’t consider the version about poisoning, but works out another one - an accident.
Ivan drank the medicine; due to negligence, an overdose occurred, which led to an accident,” comments the senior assistant to the head of the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee for Samara region Elena Shkaeva.
This cannot be, insists Elena Bukavshina. - he didn’t take no-shpa.
Version No. 3. Debts
We have already said that Ivan had a very decent amount in his account - 1.5 million rubles. Bukavshin’s parents and friends knew about the money.
Ivan wanted to buy a good car,” says Elena Bukavshina. - We agreed. If he earned it himself, let him spend it himself, but not on some nonsense.
But time passed, and Vanya was in no hurry to buy a car. I chose. And then my mother found out that her son had been betting at a bookmaker for six months.
There was a conversation with him, but he assured me that the stakes were small and he almost never lost,” my mother recalls. - I don’t really understand anything about betting, I trusted him completely.
But those who have at least once encountered gambling, knows how addictive it is. So Ivan got caught up.
His debt in the office at the end of last year was almost a million rubles, say the chess player’s friends. - He started withdrawing money from the card, then he went into the red. But he was calm, he promised the creditors that if I win 10 million, I’ll give it all back.
The bookmaker’s office didn’t put much pressure on Ivan; they knew that the guy was an athlete, responsible, and they expected that he would give the money back and wouldn’t go anywhere. If not, they won’t remain silent, they will inform the coach, and this is what Ivan feared most of all. Suddenly they will be removed from all competitions. After Bukavshin’s death, investigators took the computer and mobile phone Ivana.
But why die then? Maybe he just didn’t want to embarrass himself. After the stroke version, the investigation considered another version - suicide, but assumed that Ivan committed suicide because of unrequited love, and not because of debts.
There was initially a version of suicide due to unrequited love, but now it is not being considered, the Investigative Committee explains. - But we know that there are many inconsistencies in the case. We are working.
*According to the law, the name and surname of the hero have been changed.
So, today is Saturday, May 20, 2017, and we traditionally offer you answers to the quiz in the “Question and Answer” format. We encounter questions ranging from the simplest to the most complex. The quiz is very interesting and quite popular, we are simply helping you test your knowledge and make sure that you have chosen the correct answer out of the four proposed. And we have another question in the quiz - Who was the only chess player who died as the current world champion?
- Wilhelm Steinz
- Mikhaid Tal
- Jose Raul Capablanca
- Alexander Alekhine
The correct answer is D - Alexander Alekhine
Alexander Alekhine (1892 1946) - Russian chess player, fourth world chess champion - from 1927 (after defeating Capablanca) to 1935 and from 1937 (after defeating Max Euwe) to 1946. In 1921 he emigrated to France. Alekhine is a representative of the Russian chess school Alexander Petrov and Mikhail Chigorin. A brilliant combinational chess player, world record holder in blindfold play. Alekhine - the only chess player who died being current champion peace.
