Happened Today in the Chess World - Feb 7, 2024

THE PIANIST

Pioneers Palace, Leningrad 1958: Mark Taimanov plays a simul with young pioneers.
Among them is the future GM Gennadi Sosonko (third from left).
Photo: @Chess_News - Source: @dgriffinchess 

Today, we remember Grandmaster Mark Taimanov, born in Kharkiv, USSR (today Ukraine), on February 7, 1926.
Russian and Olympic champion in 1956, Taimanov was a candidate for the World Title several times and won the World Senior Championship in 1993 and 1994,
A formidable tactician, Taimanov gave the world of theory a great contribution with his favorite variation of the Sicilian, the Modern Benoni, the East. Indian and the Ruy Lopez.
In the eighties and nineties, Taimanov participated in several tournaments in Italy and held conferences.
Together with his wife, Ljubov Bruk, Taimanov was one of the most appreciated pianists of the XX century.

Mark Taimanov (2530)-Alexsander Shashin (2425), USSR 1978
White to move

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