Victor Korchny died

On June 6, at the age of 85, the Soviet and Swiss chess player, a two -time winner of the matches of the world chess champion, the oldest playing grandmaster in the world Viktor Korchni, died in Switzerland.

This was reported by TASS with reference to the press service of the Russian Chess Federation.

Viktor Lvovich Korchny was born in 1931 in Leningrad, survived the blockade, and graduated from the History Department of Leningrad University.

Since childhood, he was engaged in chess, in 1947 he became the champion of the USSR among schoolchildren, in 1956 at the age of 25 he received the title of Grossmaster, in 1960 he first became the champion of the USSR (subsequently won this title three times - in 1962, 1964 and 1970).

Two -time winner of interzonal tournaments (1973, 1987) and matches of applicants (1977, 1980), five -time European champion, two -time (1978, 1981) participant in the final matches for the world of the world chess champion (with Anatoly Karpov).

In 1976, he refused to return to the USSR after the tournament in Amsterdam, settled in Switzerland, received Swiss citizenship in 1994, participated ten times in the chess Olympiad as part of the Switzerland.

In 1978, Viktor Korchnoi was deprived of Soviet citizenship (restored in 1990), attempts were made to boycott the Korchny, to achieve his lifelong disqualification, the family of the grandmaster for six years did not allow him to leave the USSR.

The author of books on chess and autobiographical works. In his books and interviews, Korchny emphasized that the only reason for the emigration for him was the desire to continue the professional career of the chess player, and the only reason for performances against the USSR, including very sharp, was pressure from the Soviet side.