25:
642:
Kholmov was known as "The
Central Defender" in Soviet chess circles, because of his great skill at repulsing enemy aggression. But he was also a very dangerous attacker, as most of the leading Soviet players learned. During his peak years, Kholmov was difficult to defeat, even at the top levels. He
508:
1972 for URS-ch40, he had 10½/21 for a tied 10thâ11th place, with Tal winning. This was his last Soviet final. His form in his late 40s had substantially fallen from his best years, and a new generation of Soviet players would earn most of the top tournament places and international opportunities.
96:
202:. His chess results were impressive, so this may have been for security reasons, as Kholmov had been a wartime sailor. But he was one of the strongest Soviet players from the mid-1950s well into the 1970s, and was ranked as high as No. 8 in the world by
333:
title for this. A very solid tied 5thâ7th place at URS-ch23 in
Leningrad 1956, with 10½/17, reinforced his high-echelon status. He maintained this standard at the next Soviet final, URS-ch24 at Moscow 1957, with 6th place on 12½/21. He placed 2nd at
527:
The
Chessmetrics website statistically estimates his retroactive ranking at a minimum of Top 25 in the world from 1956 to 1970, with his peak ranking being 8th in 1960â61. They further estimate that his peak rating was 2736, also in 1961.
197:
during his career, and tied for the Soviet
Championship title in 1963, but lost the playoff. Kholmov was not well known in the West, since he never competed there during his career peak, being confined to events in
441:. Then Kholmov suffered perhaps his greatest career disappointment in the Soviet Zonal tournament, Moscow 1964, where he scored 6/12 for 4th in a super-strong field, but fell one place short of advancing to the
284:
in 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1960, making a total of ten outright or shared
Lithuanian titles. This consistent success meant that he could be a full-time chess professional.
499:
won. The next
Interzonal qualifier was URS-ch37 at Moscow 1969, and he finished tied 7thâ9th with 12½/22, with Polugaevsky and Petrosian winning; this was a point short of advancing to the Interzonal. At
429:. Stein prevailed in the three man playoff. Consequently, Kholmov is arguably the strongest player of the era ranging from the 1940s through the 1960s to never hold the title of Soviet Champion. (
47:
214:
Kholmov learned chess at age 12, and was near Master strength within three years. He served as a sailor in the Soviet merchant marine during World War II, sailing mainly the
Northern
634:
Kholmov played competitive chess virtually right up until his death in early 2006 at age 80. He appeared in a Senior event in
Dresden, 50 years after he won a tournament there.
655:, could play excellent classical chess with both colours, and had an occasional fondness for unusual openings, with which he had good success, as the game selection shows.
206:.com from August 1960 to March 1961. Kholmov stayed active in competitive chess right to the end of his life, and maintained a high standard of play past the age of 80.
643:
qualified for 16 Soviet finals between 1949 and 1972, with an aggregate well over 50 per cent. He scored wins over World
Champions Petrosian, Spassky, Fischer, and
560:. One of Kholmov's best late-career results was his tied 3rdâ5th place in a very strong Moscow 1975 tournament, with 9½/15, as Geller won. He tied for 1stâ2nd at
520:
1970. He won the board gold medal with 4½/6 (+3â0=3), and helped his side to team gold. Kholmov did play in many national matches, such as against
Hungary and
253:
1949, where he placed 3rd with 10½/17 to advance. At Moscow URS-ch17, 1949, he showed solid improvement, finishing tied 9thâ10th with 10/19, as Bronstein and
667:
Two rising stars battle for position late in the tournament, and Kholmov scores with an offbeat variation, unleashing a lovely rook sacrifice in the endgame.
596:. He had an excellent 2nd place at Moscow 1991 with 8½/11 behind winner Mikhail Ivanov. At age 72, Kholmov tied for 1stâ3rd at Moscow 1997 on 7½/11 with
601:
234:
Memorial, Moscow 1947, scoring 5½/15 against a powerful international field. In 1948, Kholmov won the next BLR-ch in 1948, unbeaten, with 11½/13.
557:
725:
Ratmir Kholmov vs. Garry Kasparov, USSR Championship Qualifying Tournament, Daugavpils 1978, CaroâKann Defence, Classical Variation (B18), 1â0
701:
Mark Taimanov vs. Ratmir Kholmov, USSR Championship, Leningrad 1963, Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein / Gligoric Variation (E54), 0â1
156:
943:
512:
Kholmov got just one chance to represent the USSR in a team event at full international level when he played board ten at the
973:
707:
Ratmir Kholmov vs. Boris Spassky, USSR Zonal Tournament, Moscow 1964, Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation (B84), 1â0
407:
963:
899:
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818:
73:
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Ratmir Kholmov vs. David Bronstein, USSR Championship, Kiev 1964â65, Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation (B99), 1â0
513:
613:
449:
in the URS-ch32 (1964/65), Kholmov tied 5thâ6th places with 11½/19, as Korchnoi won. He made a notable result at
683:
Ratmir Kholmov vs. Paul Keres, USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1959, Sicilian Defence, Rossolimo Variation (B30), 1â0
677:
Viktor Korchnoi vs. Ratmir Kholmov, USSR Championship semifinal, Tashkent 1958, Modern Benoni Defence (A64), 0â1
953:
695:
Ratmir Kholmov vs. Leonid Stein, USSR Championship, Yerevan 1962, Sicilian Defence, Moscow Variation (B52), 1â0
496:
958:
766:
281:
227:
652:
648:
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Fischer lost exceptionally rarely on the White side of the Ruy Lopez, so this win was quite an achievement.
390:
1962 with 11½/15, ahead of Vladislav Shianovsky. He tied for 2ndâ4th places in the Spartak Championship at
358:
1959, Kholmov continued his improvement at the top Soviet level with a tied 4thâ5th place, with 12/19, as
948:
879:
739:
697:
Kholmov again scores with this unusual Sicilian line against one of his great rivals from this period.
536:
Kholmov continued to stay very active in competitive play, and he was generally quite successful. At
665:
Efim Geller vs. Ratmir Kholmov, USSR Championship, Moscow 1949, Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defence (C61), 0â1
504:
1970 for URS-ch38, he dropped a bit with just 10/21 for a tied 13thâ14th, as Korchnoi won. Then in
55:
51:
35:
386:, at URS-ch29 (December 1961), he scored 11/20 to tie for 8thâ11th places. He was clear first at
968:
719:
Robert Fischer vs. Ratmir Kholmov, Havana 1965, Ruy Lopez, Closed / Chigorin Variation (C98), 0â1
671:
Tigran Petrosian vs. Ratmir Kholmov, USSR Championship, Moscow 1957, Blumenfeld Gambit (E10), 0â1
426:
238:
857:
565:
938:
933:
552:
1974, he scored 8½/15 for a tied 4thâ6th place, with Polugaevsky winning. He placed 2nd at
433:
is the only other player of Kholmov's strength in that period to never hold the title.) At
346:
1958 with 11½/15, ahead of Korchnoi and Geller. His first clear international title was at
330:
314:
8:
715:
Kholmov outplays the creative attacker Bronstein for one of his most memorable victories.
689:
Ratmir Kholmov vs. Laszlo Szabo, Kecskemet 1962, Slav Defence, Czech Variation (D19), 1â0
375:
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1966/67 for URS-ch34, he scored 10/20 to tie for 10thâ12th places, as Stein won again.
895:
866:
835:
814:
727:
Kasparov, just 15 at the time, was the tournament winner and a future World Champion.
624:, and Alexander Chernikov. Then he placed 2ndâ4th in the same event the next year at
430:
370:
Kholmov scored one of the best results of his career with a tied 1stâ2nd, along with
322:
464:
Kholmov moved to Moscow in 1967 and lived there for the rest of his life. He won at
335:
273:
268:, and tied 4thâ5th in the Spartak Club Championship. He missed Finals qualifying at
685:
It's highly unusual to see the powerful tactician Keres get knocked off so quickly.
469:
374:, at the Moscow International 1960 with 8½/11. The same year FIDE awarded him the
359:
351:
231:
179:
760:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Be6
887:
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1967 with 6½/9. One of his best career results was 2nd in a very strong field at
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in 1948, Moscow URS-ch16, scoring 8½/18 for 12th place, where the winners were
194:
927:
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306:
827:
628:, again with 8/11, tied with Klovans and Vladimir Karasev, behind champion
597:
589:
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272:
1950 (URS-ch18sf) with 9½/15 for fifth place. In 1954, he took 2nd, behind
219:
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673:
Another unusual defensive choice takes off the future World Champion.
472:
1967 with 12/16, behind Korchnoi. He was 4th in an excellent field at
387:
318:
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183:
124:
453:
1965 with 5th place on 14½/21, as Smyslov won, but Kholmov defeated
561:
488:
487:
His play in the next four Soviet finals continued to be strong. At
465:
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343:
54:
external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into
261:
230:. Later that year, he made his first high-level appearance at the
458:
411:
355:
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223:
95:
679:
The Modern Benoni was just coming into fashion around this time.
410:, who tied for 2ndâ3rd places. He placed 4th in the URS-ch30 at
703:
Taimanov was a recognized expert on both sides of this defence.
477:
473:
450:
215:
747:
A couple of opening variations have been named after Kholmov.
709:
Spassky was the tournament winner and a future World Champion.
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1964, Kholmov tied 2ndâ3rd places with 10/15, behind winner
505:
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446:
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302:
491:
1968/69 for URS-ch36, he placed 6thâ9th with 10½/19, as
309:
winning; this heralded his arrival in the Soviet elite.
280:(Quadrangular). Kholmov won, or tied for 1st, in the
249:. He had to return to the Soviet semifinal level at
691:
Kholmov overcomes the nine-time Hungarian champion.
588:1990, Kholmov tied 3rdâ6th on 6½/11 behind winners
414:1962 with 13/19, a point behind champion Korchnoi.
317:(IM) title in 1954. He tied for 3rdâ6th places at
540:1973, he tied for 4thâ5th places with 9/15, with
476:1967 with 11½/17, as Fischer won. Kholmov won at
38:may not follow Knowledge's policies or guidelines
925:
808:
480:1968 with a powerful 12/14, ahead of Stein and
457:and finished undefeated in the tournament. At
647:. Kholmov was comfortable as White with both
297:1954 with a tied 3rdâ4th place, on 11/17, as
378:(GM) title. He won the Soviet semifinal at
186:â 18 February 2006 in Moscow) was a Russian
182:: Đ Đ°ŃĐźĐ¸Ń ĐПиŃŃĐ¸ĐľĐ˛Đ¸Ń ĐĽĐžĐťĐźĐžĐ˛) (13 May 1925 in
329:1956 with Averbakh on 12/15. He earned the
193:. He won many international tournaments in
94:
74:Learn how and when to remove this message
813:, Hamlyn Publishing Group, p. 150,
607:
325:won. Kholmov tied for 1stâ2nd places at
293:Kholmov made his international debut at
886:
772:1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Qe2 Qe7
612:Kholmov tied for the title in the 2000
305:1954 in the URS-ch21 with 10½/19, with
926:
658:
342:. Kholmov won the Soviet semifinal at
288:
826:
576:. At age 63, Kholmov tied 3rdâ6th at
16:Russian chess grandmaster (1925â2006)
350:1959, where he scored 10/13 to edge
226:). In 1947, he took 4th in the 13th
18:
854:
832:Chess Personalia, A Biobibliography
13:
848:
811:An Illustrated Dictionary of Chess
222:. In 1946, he won in Zhdanovichi (
14:
985:
908:
731:
417:In 1963 he shared 1stâ3rd, with
237:Kholmov qualified for his first
23:
218:route. In 1945, he took 5th in
944:People from Arkhangelsk Oblast
892:Smart chip from St. Petersburg
785:
556:1975 with 8½/13 behind winner
531:
365:
338:1957 with 11/15 behind winner
209:
1:
799:. Everyman Chess. p. 18.
778:
917:player profile and games at
7:
514:European Team Championships
425:, at Leningrad at the 31st
10:
990:
974:20th-century chess players
834:, McFarland, p. 212,
735:
524:, generally scoring well.
427:Soviet Chess Championships
402:1962 with 11/15, ahead of
176:Ratmir Dmitrievich Kholmov
809:Brace, Edward R. (1977),
795:and Iakov Damsky (2003).
637:
614:World Senior Championship
165:
155:
144:
130:
118:
110:
102:
93:
88:
964:Belarusian chess players
754:C92: Ruy Lopez, Closed,
742:to describe chess moves.
394:1962 with 11/17, behind
321:1955â56 with 10½/18, as
282:Lithuanian championships
260:In 1950, he took 3rd in
106:Đ Đ°ŃĐźĐ¸Ń ĐПиŃŃĐ¸ĐľĐ˛Đ¸Ń ĐĽĐžĐťĐźĐžĐ˛
797:Attack with Mikhail Tal
769:, Kholmov Gambit (C42)
572:1977 with 7½/12 behind
228:Belarusian championship
858:British Chess Magazine
616:at Rowy, on 8/11 with
301:won. He placed 6th at
954:Russian chess players
608:World Senior Champion
354:. In the URS-ch26 at
169:No. 28 (January 1976)
959:Soviet chess players
861:, vol. May 2006
564:1976 on 10½/15 with
382:1961 with 13/16. In
331:International Master
315:International Master
313:awarded Kholmov the
44:improve this article
659:Notable chess games
630:Vladimir Bukal, Sr.
580:1988 with 7/13, as
568:. He placed 2nd at
289:International debut
200:socialist countries
161:2555 (January 1977)
56:footnote references
949:Chess Grandmasters
740:algebraic notation
738:This section uses
874:Missing or empty
767:Damiano Variation
756:Kholmov Variation
497:Alexander Zaitsev
431:Isaac Boleslavsky
398:. Kholmov won at
323:Vladimir Antoshin
173:
172:
166:Peak ranking
84:
83:
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894:, New in Chess,
888:Sosonko, Gennadi
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855:Giddins, Steve,
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360:Tigran Petrosian
352:Wolfgang Uhlmann
232:Mikhail Chigorin
157:Peak rating
137:
134:18 February 2006
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598:Igor Zaitsev
590:Igor Naumkin
570:Zalaegerszeg
548:winning. At
535:
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486:
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423:Leonid Stein
416:
408:LĂĄszlĂł SzabĂł
369:
348:BalatonfĂźred
292:
259:
239:Soviet final
236:
213:
204:Chessmetrics
175:
174:
136:(2006-02-18)
70:
64:October 2022
61:
46:by removing
33:
939:2006 deaths
934:1925 births
793:Mikhail Tal
586:Voskresensk
546:Jan Smejkal
532:Later years
376:Grandmaster
366:Grandmaster
340:Efim Geller
210:Early years
191:Grandmaster
149:Grandmaster
122:13 May 1925
928:Categories
779:References
538:Luhacovice
522:Yugoslavia
518:Kapfenberg
445:stage. At
443:Interzonal
554:KecskemĂŠt
470:Leningrad
400:KecskemĂŠt
388:Bucharest
319:Leningrad
295:Bucharest
264:, 7th in
184:Shenkursk
125:Shenkursk
48:excessive
890:(2006),
867:citation
830:(1987),
584:won. At
562:Budapest
489:Alma-Ata
466:Belgrade
380:Novgorod
344:Tashkent
459:Tbilisi
412:Yerevan
372:Smyslov
356:Tbilisi
327:Dresden
278:Vilnius
266:Tbilisi
251:Tbilisi
224:Belarus
180:Russian
111:Country
42:Please
34:use of
898:
838:
817:
638:Legacy
478:Havana
474:Skopje
451:Havana
216:Arctic
151:(1960)
114:Russia
578:Sochi
550:Sochi
435:Sochi
392:Minsk
362:won.
270:Tartu
262:Pärnu
257:won.
188:chess
145:Title
896:ISBN
880:help
836:ISBN
815:ISBN
653:1.d4
651:and
649:1.e4
626:Arco
600:and
592:and
544:and
506:Baku
502:Riga
495:and
447:Kiev
421:and
406:and
384:Baku
311:FIDE
303:Kiev
245:and
220:Tula
131:Died
119:Born
752:ECO
276:in
50:or
930::
871::
869:}}
865:{{
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604:.
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40:.
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