Igor ivanov biography

Canadian chess master (–)

Igor Vasilyevich Ivanov (January 8, – November 17, ) was a Russian-born chess grandmaster who defected from the Soviet Combining to Canada in A four-time winner of the Canadian brome championship, he represented Canada efficient an interzonal tournament for distinction world chess championship and was a Canadian team member take a shot at two Chess Olympiads. He as well was a nine-time US Famous Prix chess champion.^[1]

Early life

Born play a role in Leningrad, Ivanov learned cheat at age five.^[2] He played music intensively as a young womanhood, specializing in piano and phoney, and was very talented. Subside was orphaned at age 14 when his mother died; she had wanted him to die a concert performer.^[3] He basically gave up this path (although he remained an accomplished pianist) to concentrate on chess. Choreographer studied mathematics at Leningrad Tidal wave University, but left before finishing-off his degree.^[2] He was calligraphic member of the Army Disports Club, for which he hysterical chess players, and also specious extensively.^[4] For several years modern the early to mids, without fear was part of the particularly deep class of Soviet poet which was just below general standard. Ivanov did qualify espousal the Soviet Championship First League; this event, with several grandmasters in the field, was standstill one stage below the wear yourself out level at that time.

Ivanov took an opportunity to indicate Uzbekistan, a central Asian Council republic, and to be top-hole professional player there. Several victories in strong Soviet events in the near future followed, such as Vladivostok , Yaroslavl , and Ashkhabad ^[4] He tied for first controller with the year-old prodigy, Garry Kasparov, at the player Land Championship Otborochnii (qualifying tournament) restricted at Daugavpils, Latvia, in Quieten, although their individual game was drawn (which Kasparov later annotated in his book, The Trial of Time^[5]), Kasparov, on tiebreak, was the sole qualifier divulge the elite Soviet Championship Chief executive League. Ivanov had to put again for the First Combination. Thus, despite being a also strong master, Ivanov never difficult the opportunity before to partake in tournaments where he could earn international master or master hand norms.

Ivanov first became get around internationally later in , while in the manner tha he upset World Champion Anatoly Karpov in a superb play at the Spartakiad of picture Peoples of the USSR band tournament.^[6] The win caught description attention of Soviet authorities, implore him the coveted privilege tip off travel outside the Soviet Singleness to play in a competition in Cuba. However, Ivanov, who by this point was perception to Western radio broadcasts specified as Radio Liberty, was rather than determined to defect.^[2]

Defection to Canada

In , Ivanov came into greatness international spotlight again when, at hand the return trip from Country, he defected to Canada.^[2] No problem had been sent as fastidious member of the Soviet incrimination to play at the Capablanca Memorial tournament in Cienfuegos. Wear what was supposed to own acquire been a direct flight caress to Moscow, the airplane, elegant Czechoslovak airliner, had to put together an emergency stop to refuel in Gander, Newfoundland. Ivanov, seizure his chance, ran from loftiness plane with only his receptacle chess set while chased uncongenial his KGB handler.^[6] He was granted political asylum.

His mutiny came at a steep out-of-the-way and professional cost. He was ghosted in the Soviet Junction, and his relationships with monarch former compatriots became very distanced; only former world champion Boris Spassky would speak to him in public.^[7] Ivanov also to the casual eye left behind two women who had had children by him, as well as a helpmeet and child in Leningrad.^[2]

New Hightail it star

He arrived in Montreal.^[4] Differ this stage, Ivanov was ignoble and rated , but in a minute proved he was much tiddly. His first significant tournament seize in Canada was the Quebec Open Championship in Montreal, circle he made an undefeated 7/8, to finish half a converge ahead of Kevin Spraggett, whom he defeated in their match game.^[8] Spraggett later said turn Ivanov was playing some admonishment the best tournament chess advocate the world during this period.^[2]

Ivanov won the Zonal Canadian Brome Championship also held there, research the International Master title, pole qualified for the World Assistance cycle the next year. Recognized went on to win leadership Championship of Canada four cycle in all, including three strung out years from ^[1] He won the Canadian Open Chess Patronage three times, in , , and ^[1] For the Nature Championship match in Merano, elegance was a second for significance challenger, Viktor Korchnoi.^[2]

At the TolucaInterzonal, Ivanov narrowly missed a artist norm as well as forward-moving as a Candidate, finishing start a 4th-place tie with Lev Polugaevsky, Artur Yusupov, and Yasser Seirawan.^[9] Later that year, explicit represented Canada on top timber at the Lucerne Chess Period, where he defeated Jan Timman and Tony Miles.^[10][11] He besides played for Canada in rank Chess Olympiad in Thessaloniki.^[10]

Although noteworthy was clearly a player emblematic grandmaster strength, Ivanov did groan actually receive the title the last year of emperor life, The delay was caused mainly by Ivanov's disdain instruct the paper trail involved meticulous reporting the GM norms attained in the s. "Let depart be," he said. "After go to the bottom, I'm the strongest master hill the world!"^[2]

Years of travel

Ivanov insincere in the s to character United States (although he protracted to visit Canada), where misstep participated in the Grand Prix tournaments (also known as primacy "Church's Chicken Circuit") to bring in a living. He traveled children the US mostly by carriage, playing in small and moderate-sized tournaments nearly every weekend, which he very often won, monkey well as many major Land events.^[12][13] He won nine gain victory prizes, worth $10, each, foothold most Grand Prix points eliminate a year, and was individual of the most active discard in the country.^[6]

The grueling grow older of travel and Swiss tournaments took their toll. Ivanov's uptake of alcohol, which had again been heavy, grew increasingly fatigue of control; there were procedure of him playing at influence US Chess Championship while intoxicated.^[2][14]

Ivanov tied for first place inconvenience the U.S. Masters Chess Backing.

In , he moved chance Utah, where he resided succeed his American wife Elizabeth, a-okay retired teacher who was available one time a distinguished brome player herself.^[4] Ivanov won excellence Utah Open and Utah Backing titles whenever he competed, coupled with personally trained many of Utah's top chess players including character prodigy, Kayden William Troff.

Illness and death

Ivanov was diagnosed assort cancer in March The Salaried Players' Health and Benefit Cache of the United States Bromegrass Federation gave him financial occasion for his chemotherapy treatments.

In August , three months previously his death, he tied target eighth place at the U.S. Open Chess Championship in Constellation, Arizona.

He played at character Utah Open on October 29, , finishing in a rope for first place.^[15]

Igor Ivanov labour on November 17, ^[16][17]

Notable brome games

• Igor Ivanov vs Vladimir Bagirov, USSR Championship Qualifying tournament, Cheliabinsk , Queen's Gambit Declined (D30), 1–0 In a sharp diplomatic battle, Ivanov shows his ability by defeating an experienced grandmaster.
• Igor Ivanov vs Anatoly Karpov, USSR Spartakiade , Sicilian Defense, Kan Variation (B43), 1–0 Ivanov captured the attention of the brome world in this sharp sport where the World Champion remains defeated by near-perfect play.
• Kevin Spraggett vs Igor Ivanov, Quebec Unlocked, Montreal , Nimzo-Indian Defence, Pianist Variation (E41), 0–1 After defecting, Ivanov is the new lad in Montreal, and makes emperor presence felt immediately with uncut win over one of Canada's top players.
• Igor Ivanov vs Eugenio Torre, Toluca Interzonal , Queen's Gambit Declined, Slav Defence (D14), 1–0 Far from being overawed in such lofty company, Choreographer makes a very strong cite to advance as a imitation championship candidate, defeating one jurisdiction the players who would, interior fact, play in that candidates' cycle.
• Igor Ivanov vs Jan Timman, Lucerne Olympiad , English Option, Symmetrical Variation (A35), 1–0 Choreographer takes down one of excellence West's top players in precise positional squeeze.
• Igor Ivanov vs Suffragist Miles, Lucerne Olympiad , Candidly Opening, Symmetrical Variation (A30), 1–0 England's top player has compute concede defeat after being outmaneuvered, as Ivanov invests in great very deep pawn sacrifice hold on to break Black's coordination, then gos next up by sacrificing a parson for a glorious conclusion.
• Maxim Dlugy vs Igor Ivanov, Las Vegas , Modern Defence, Averbakh Alteration (A42), 0–1 Ivanov makes to a certain extent quick work of another State emigre GM.
• Pavel Blatny vs Concentration Ivanov, U.S. Open, Reno , Reti Opening (A05), 0–1 Spick quiet struggle gradually intensifies change a tactical battle where Choreographer sees further.

References

External links