Yuri Averbakh

About

A former Soviet-Russian chess player who was considered in 2013 to be the oldest living Grandmaster in the world. He died at the age of 100 in May of 2022. He has received the Order of Honor, a state order of the Russian Federation. 

Before Fame

He won the Moscow Championship in 1949, which launched his career.

Trivia

He was considered to be one of the strongest defensive players in modern chess.He was the chairman of the USSR Chess Federation between 1973 and 1978

Family Life

His father was a German Jew and his mother was from Russia.

Associated With

He often competed against fellow Russian great Boris Spassky during his career.