MARK RUBERY CHESS

The chess world lost one of its greatest players with the passing of Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi ( 1931- 2016) at the age of 85.

One of the leading players in the world for almost 40 years, Korchnoi was a renowned as tireless and uncompromising fighter on and off the board. Having grown up during the siege of Leningrad ( 1941- 43) might well have moulded his tenacious attitude, which from 1954- 1990 yielded 40 victories in international tournaments.

In the first part of his career Korchnoi’s playing style was characterised by aggressive counter- attack, and by resolute defence, but in his prime he had become a genuine all- rounder in the style of Fischer. He played equally well with or without the initiative, in attack or defence, tactically or positionally, in the opening or in the endgame. Korchnoi had a plus score against the world champions Tal, Petrosian and Spassky, and an equal score against Botvinnik and Fischer.

In 1976 he defected from the Soviet Union, a move that had a positive impact on his chess strength and two years later he narrowly lost to Karpov when playing for the world title. In 1979 and 1981 he played in both Oude Meester Grand Prix tournaments held in South Africa and remains the only player ever to have had a police cavalcade- complete with blaring sirens- to and from Johannesburg airport!

Here is Korchnoi’s most crushing victory over his great rival.

Korchnoi, Viktor ( 2670) - Karpov, Anatoly ( 2700) [ E17]

Candidates final Moscow ( 21), 1974

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. c4 Be7 6. Nc3 0– 0 7. Qc2 c5 8. d5 exd5 9. Ng5 Nc6 10. Nxd5 g6 11. Qd2 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Rb8? (‘ What on earth?! I don’t understand: White has the winning stroke 13 Nxh7!- observed the 11 year old Kasparov who was watching the game unfold)

13. Nxh7! Re8 ( 13… Kxh7 14 Qh6+ Kg8 15 Qxg6+ Kh8 16 Qh5+ Kg8 17 Be4! f5 18 Bd5+ with mate soon to follow) 14. Qh6 Ne5

15. Ng5 Bxg5 16. Bxg5 Qxg5 17. Qxg5 Bxd5 18.0– 0 ( Not 18 exd5? Nf3+)… Bxc4 19. f4 1– 0

“On a cold autumn day in the hungry Leningrad of 1944, a thirteen- year- old youth simultaneously joined three clubs in the Pioneers’ Palace: recitation, music and chess. Fortunately for chess he was found to have incorrect pronunciation, and he had no piano at home… Chess became the main thing in his life, and then even life itself.” – Genna Sosonko ( on Viktor Korchnoi)