Biography

Russian Grandmaster (1990). in 1999 GM Alexander Khalifman won the (FIDE) knock-out event to become the 14th World Champion. Soviet Youth Champion in 1982 and in 1984, European U20 Champion 1985/86. In 1995, he shared first place in the Russian Championship and in 1996 he won the title outright.

Khalifman’s major victories include: Sverdlovsk 1987, Moscow championship, Dordrecht 1988, Groningen II 1989, New York Open 1990 (shared), Moscow 1990, Groningen 1990, London WFW 1991, Ter Apel, Rakvere and Keres Memorial 1993, European Rapid Chess 1994, St. Petersburg-Botvinnik 1995 (shared), Hastings 1995/1996 (shared), Ischia Open, St Petersburg Championship 1996, St. Petersburg 1997, Aahrus 1997, Bad Wiesse 1997 and 1998, Essent 2000, Bazna 2007 and Minsk Open 2010.

Khalifman was a member of the Russian team which won at the World Team Championship in 1995 and 1997. In 1998 Khalifman has opened his own chess school in St. Petersburg where he is giving regular lectures and holding seminars.

Author of Opening for Black According Karpov, Opening for White According Kramnik (2002), Shirov’s One Hundred Wins (2003), Mikhail Chigorin First Russian Grandmaster, Opening for White According to Kramnik 1.Nf3 (2006), Opening for White According to Anand 1.e4 (2004-2010).

Best ELO: 2702 in 2003.

Khalifman vs. Akopian, Las Vegas 1999