Viktor Korchnoi was a Soviet-born chess grandmaster who is best known for being one of the best players never to win the world championship, and for his matches against Anatoly Karpov. He was a four-time USSR champion and achieved the number one ranking in the world in 1965. Korchnoi defected to the Netherlands in 1976 and later became a Swiss citizen.
Personal and Family Life
Viktor Korchnoi was born on March 23, 1931, in Leningrad, RSFSR, USSR (now Saint Petersburg, Russia). He was married twice; his first marriage to Bella ended in divorce and they had one child together. He later married Petra Leeuwerik on May 21, 1991, and remained with her until his passing in 2016.
Death and Legacy
Korchnoi passed away on June 6, 2016, in Wohlen, Aargau, Switzerland. He is remembered as one of the greatest chess players who never held the world title, and his legacy includes being the oldest active grandmaster for many years. Korchnoi’s contributions to chess have left a lasting impact on the game.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Closing Gambit: 1978 Korchnoi versus Karpov and the Kremlin | 2018-10-26 | self |
| Гроссмейстер | 1973-08-13 | Khlebnikov’s Coach |