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171:, Ivanov learned chess at age five. He studied music intensively as a youth, specializing in piano and cello, and was very talented. He was orphaned at age 14 when his mother died; she had wanted him to become a concert performer. He essentially gave up this path (although he remained an accomplished pianist) to concentrate on chess. Ivanov studied mathematics at
175:, but left before completing his degree. He was a member of the Army Sports Club, for which he trained chess players, and also played extensively. For several years in the early to mid-1970s, he was part of the exceptionally deep class of Soviet masters which was just below international standard. Ivanov did qualify for the 1975
214:), Kasparov, on tiebreak, was the sole qualifier for the elite Soviet Championship Premier League. Ivanov had to settle again for the First League. Thus, despite being a very strong master, Ivanov never had the opportunity before 1980 to participate in tournaments where he could earn international master or grandmaster norms.
360:
Although he was clearly a player of grandmaster strength, Ivanov did not actually receive the title until the last year of his life, 2005. The delay was caused mainly by Ivanov's disdain for the paper trail involved in reporting the GM norms achieved in the 1990s. "Let it be," he said. "After all,
396:, where he resided with his American wife Elizabeth, a retired teacher who was at one time a distinguished chess player herself. Ivanov won the Utah Open and Utah Championship titles whenever he competed, and personally trained many of Utah's top chess players including the prodigy,
29:
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Circuit") to earn a living. He traveled around the US mostly by bus, playing in small and medium-sized tournaments nearly every weekend, which he very often won, as well as many major
American events. He won nine first prizes, worth $ 10,000 each, for most
276:. At this stage, Ivanov was untitled and rated 2430, but soon proved he was much stronger. His first significant tournament win in Canada was the 1980 Quebec Open Championship in Montreal, where he made an undefeated 7/8, to finish half a point ahead of
471:
England's top player has to concede defeat after being outmaneuvered, as Ivanov invests in a very deep pawn sacrifice to break Black's coordination, then follows up by sacrificing a bishop for a glorious
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Far from being overawed in such lofty company, Ivanov makes a very strong bid to advance as a world championship candidate, defeating one of the players who would, in fact, play in that candidates' cycle.
260:
His defection came at a steep personal and professional cost. He was ghosted in the Soviet Union, and his relationships with his former compatriots became very distanced; only former world champion
241:
In 1980, Ivanov came into the international spotlight again when, during the return trip from Cuba, he defected to Canada. He had been sent as a member of the Soviet delegation to play at the
225:
team tournament. The win caught the attention of Soviet authorities, earning him the coveted privilege of travel outside the Soviet Union to play in a tournament in
280:, whom he defeated in their head-to-head game. Spraggett later said that Ivanov was playing some of the best tournament chess in the world during this period.
257:, Newfoundland. Ivanov, seizing his chance, ran from the plane with only his pocket chess set while chased by his KGB handler. He was granted political asylum.
369:
Ivanov moved in the 1980s to the United States (although he continued to visit Canada), where he participated in the Grand Prix tournaments (also known as the "
385:
took their toll. Ivanov's consumption of alcohol, which had always been heavy, grew increasingly out of control; there were reports of him playing at the
642:"Soviet Chess Unknown's End Game Wins Freedom in Utah: Russia: Igor Ivanov's 1979 defeat of Anatoly Karpov sparked a circuitous escape to the West"
264:
would speak to him in public. Ivanov also apparently left behind two women who had had children by him, as well as a wife and child in
Leningrad.
295:
cycle the next year. He went on to win the
Championship of Canada four times in all, including three straight years from 1985-1987. He won the
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186:, a central Asian Soviet republic, and to be a professional player there. Several victories in strong Soviet events soon followed, such as
79:
453:
After defecting, Ivanov is the new guy in
Montreal, and makes his presence felt immediately with a win over one of Canada's top players.
117:
1019:
447:
Ivanov captured the attention of the chess world in this sharp game where the World
Champion is defeated by near-perfect play.
439:
Igor Ivanov vs
Vladimir Bagirov, USSR Championship Qualifying tournament, Cheliabinsk 1975, Queen's Gambit Declined (D30), 1–0
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155:, he represented Canada at an interzonal tournament for the world chess championship and was a Canadian team member at two
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First League; this event, with several grandmasters in the field, was still one stage below the top level at that time.
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210:, Latvia, in 1978. However, although their individual game was drawn (which Kasparov later annotated in his book,
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Kevin
Spraggett vs Igor Ivanov, Quebec Open, Montreal 1980, Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation (E41), 0–1
230:
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549:
Sosonko, Genna (2013). "A Letter and a word all by himself: The life and times of Igor Ivanov (1947-2005)".
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Ivanov was diagnosed with cancer in March 2005. The
Professional Players' Health and Benefit Fund of the
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469:
Igor Ivanov vs
Anthony Miles, Lucerne Olympiad 1982, English Opening, Symmetrical Variation (A30), 1–0
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Igor Ivanov vs
Eugenio Torre, Toluca Interzonal 1982, Queen's Gambit Declined, Slav Defence (D14), 1–0
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Igor Ivanov vs Jan Timman, Lucerne Olympiad 1982, English Opening, Symmetrical Variation (A35), 1–0
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There is no mention in the literature who Ivanov's father was, or of a father figure in his life.
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Igor Ivanov vs Anatoly Karpov, USSR Spartakiade 1979, Sicilian Defense, Kan Variation (B43), 1–0
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In a sharp tactical battle, Ivanov shows his talent by defeating an experienced grandmaster.
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Maxim Dlugy vs Igor Ivanov, Las Vegas 1994, Modern Defence, Averbakh Variation (A42), 0–1
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A quiet struggle gradually intensifies into a tactical battle where Ivanov sees further.
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229:. However, Ivanov, who by this point was listening to Western radio broadcasts such as
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Ivanov first became known internationally later in 1979, when he upset World Champion
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He played at the Utah Open on October 29, 2005, finishing in a tie for first place.
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In August 2005, three months before his death, he tied for eighth place at the
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810:"Chess: Like an army of Ivan Appleseeds, ex-Russians are spreading expertise"
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Pavel Blatny vs Igor Ivanov, U.S. Open, Reno 1999, Reti Opening (A05), 0–1
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points in a year, and was one of the most active players in the country.
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Ivanov takes down one of the West's top players in a positional squeeze.
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321:, Ivanov narrowly missed a grandmaster norm as well as advancing as a
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139:(January 8, 1947 – November 17, 2005) was a Russian-born chess
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gave him financial support for his chemotherapy treatments.
337:. Later that year, he represented Canada on top board at the
28:
249:. On what was supposed to have been a direct flight home to
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1979. He tied for first place with the 15-year-old prodigy,
478:
Ivanov makes fairly quick work of another Soviet emigre GM.
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159:. He also was a nine-time US Grand Prix chess champion.
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US Chess Federation Membership Service Area result service
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299:three times, in 1981, 1984, and 1985. For the
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671:Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter
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731:OlimpBase: The Encyclopedia of Team Chess
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608:
429:Igor Ivanov died on November 17, 2005.
361:I'm the strongest master in the world!"
182:Ivanov took an opportunity to represent
952:Chess Olympiad record at OlimpBase.org
753:"Canadian Asset [chess column]"
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202:, at the 64-player Soviet Championship
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307:, he was a second for the challenger,
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16:Canadian chess grandmaster (1947–2005)
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233:, was instead determined to defect.
223:Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR
946:FIDE rating history at OlimpBase.org
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1035:Chess players from Saint Petersburg
349:. He also played for Canada in the
151:in 1980. A four-time winner of the
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689:"En Passant" magazine, 09-10/1980
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381:The grueling years of travel and
937:rating and tournament record at
928:rating and tournament record at
580:Donaldson, John (January 2006).
297:Canadian Open Chess Championship
206:(qualifying tournament) held at
898:"GM Igor Ivanov dead at age 58"
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1020:Naturalized citizens of Canada
872:Berry, Jonathan (2005-12-05).
780:"On the road with Igor Ivanov"
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617:. Pergamon Press. pp. 4–5
602:
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410:United States Chess Federation
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860:Crosstable for Utah Open 2005
553:. No. 5. pp. 56–64.
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291:title, and qualified for the
287:also held there, earning the
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963:player profile and games at
807:Byrne, Robert (1989-04-30).
750:Byrne, Robert (1982-12-12).
417:U.S. Open Chess Championship
7:
835:Short, Nigel (2006-01-12).
778:Cohen, Marcy (March 1983).
507:Cohen, David (2019-10-10).
285:Canadian Chess Championship
153:Canadian chess championship
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1060:Chess Olympiad competitors
1055:Deaths from cancer in Utah
1050:20th-century chess players
1040:Soviet emigrants to Canada
981: (archived 2005-12-14)
930:Chess Federation of Canada
700:"Toluca Interzonal (1982)"
667:"A Tribute to Igor Ivanov"
513:Canadian Chess Biographies
283:Ivanov won the 1981 Zonal
173:Leningrad State University
760:. pp. 42 (Section 2)
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105:
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817:. pp. 66, Section 1
640:Mims, Bob (1995-07-02).
609:Kasparov, Garry (1986).
582:"Igor Ivanov, 1947-2005"
221:in a superb game at the
665:Spassky, Boris (2006).
301:1981 World Championship
137:Igor Vasilyevich Ivanov
39:Igor Vasilyevich Ivanov
1010:Canadian chess players
339:Lucerne Chess Olympiad
143:who defected from the
1045:20th-century pianists
392:In 1991, he moved to
387:US Chess Championship
130:No. 33 (January 1984)
1005:Soviet chess players
398:Kayden William Troff
389:while intoxicated.
341:, where he defeated
289:International Master
939:US Chess Federation
433:Notable chess games
351:1988 Chess Olympiad
243:Capablanca Memorial
237:Defection to Canada
177:Soviet Championship
122:2550 (January 1984)
1015:Chess Grandmasters
293:World Championship
646:Los Angeles Times
404:Illness and death
383:Swiss tournaments
268:New Canadian star
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127:Peak ranking
93:November 17, 2005
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837:"The king and I"
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212:The Test of Time
167:Born in 1947 in
118:Peak rating
100:St. George, Utah
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591:. pp. 9–10
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365:Years of travel
335:Yasser Seirawan
327:Lev Polugaevsky
309:Viktor Korchnoi
278:Kevin Spraggett
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157:Chess Olympiads
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200:Garry Kasparov
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906:. Retrieved
904:. 2005-12-04
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841:The Guardian
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551:New in Chess
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355:Thessaloniki
314:At the 1982
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145:Soviet Union
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95:(2005-11-17)
50:(until 1980)
48:Soviet Union
1000:2005 deaths
995:1947 births
961:Igor Ivanov
950:Igor Ivanov
926:Igor Ivanov
472:conclusion.
423:, Arizona.
204:Otborochnii
188:Vladivostok
141:grandmaster
110:Grandmaster
22:Igor Ivanov
989:Categories
908:2023-08-14
883:2023-08-14
846:2023-08-13
821:2023-08-13
793:2023-08-12
787:Chess Life
764:2023-08-12
736:2023-08-12
709:2023-08-12
704:Chessgames
676:2023-08-13
651:2023-08-10
621:2023-08-11
595:2023-08-13
589:Chess Life
518:2023-08-10
489:References
376:Grand Prix
347:Tony Miles
343:Jan Timman
319:Interzonal
247:Cienfuegos
208:Daugavpils
194:1979, and
184:Uzbekistan
163:Early life
69:1947-01-08
323:Candidate
303:match in
196:Ashkhabad
192:Yaroslavl
169:Leningrad
76:Leningrad
274:Montreal
977:at the
874:"Chess"
421:Phoenix
44:Country
333:, and
316:Toluca
305:Merano
255:Gander
251:Moscow
190:1978,
149:Canada
112:(2005)
53:Canada
783:(PDF)
585:(PDF)
106:Title
80:RSFSR
394:Utah
345:and
227:Cuba
90:Died
84:USSR
63:Born
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