Alexander Zaitsev (chess player)

Alexander Nikolayevich Zaitsev (June 15, 1935 – October 31, 1971) was a Soviet chess grandmaster. He was born in Vladivostok, Russia and was also an electrical engineer.^[1]

Chess career

Zaitsev shared first place at the 1968 USSR Chess Championship in Alma Ata. He eventually took the silver medal after losing the play-off to co-winner Lev Polugaevsky.^[1]

The website Chessmetrics lists his highest ELO rating as 2661 (January 1969) and his highest world ranking as 21 (achieved in April 1969 and May 1969).^[2]

Death

Zaitsev died at the age of 36. The cause of his death was not announced.^[1]

Legacy

His name is attached to the "Zaitsev Gambit" (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.h4) of the Grünfeld Defence.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Horowitz, Al (24 January 1972). "Chess: Zaitsev, Soviet Grandmaster, Is Dead at the Age of 36". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
^ "Chessmetrics Player Profile: Alexander Zaitsev". Chessmetrics. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
^ Saba, Marco. "Scacchi: Enciclopedia pratica dei Gambetti" (in Italian). Studimonetari.org. Archived from the original on 6 December 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2024.

External links

Alexander Zaitsev player profile and games at Chessgames.com

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[NYT-1] Horowitz, Al (24 January 1972). "Chess: Zaitsev, Soviet Grandmaster, Is Dead at the Age of 36". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2024.

[2] "Chessmetrics Player Profile: Alexander Zaitsev". Chessmetrics. Retrieved 22 May 2024.

[3] Saba, Marco. "Scacchi: Enciclopedia pratica dei Gambetti" (in Italian). Studimonetari.org. Archived from the original on 6 December 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2024.

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