Added on 9/23/2024
Alvar is a Grandmaster based in Barcelona and has recently emerged as one of the most interesting authors in the Spanish language. As a young prodigy, he achieved remarkable results in youth competitions, such as the U-12 World Championship in Greece, where he finished in 5th place ahead of superstars like Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So. In 2011, at the age of 19, he became the second youngest player ever to win the prestigious Spanish National Championship.
Alvar balanced chess with his studies, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Economics, and also studied Mathematics for a year, further honing his analytical skills. At one point, he took a step back from the game to focus on his studies and secure a full-time job outside of chess. Despite this, he occasionally won tournaments during that period, such as the strong Sitges Open in 2018.
For the past three years, Alvar has returned to being a full-time chess professional and coach. He is a regular contributor to the Spanish chess magazine Peón de Rey and a Chessable author. Recently, he launched his own YouTube channel, where he creates videos in Spanish, Catalan, and English. While he is renowned for his expertise in the Catalan opening, his true passion lies in the Benoni—a fascinating mix! As an original thinker, Alvar's choice for his favorite player of all time may surprise you: Svetozar Gligoric. "My first chess teacher gave me many puzzles from his games, and he had some astonishing combinations. I was surprised he wasn't more widely known among fans," Alvar notes.
Alvar's first contribution to the ICC was a video series on chess tactics called "Tactical Ops," aimed at beginners and intermediate players. In these videos, he covers basic concepts like checks, captures, and threats, with the goal of refining the thinking process of amateur players. This is where his background in mathematics truly shines, as he helps viewers intuitively build an "algorithm" to navigate tactical positions during a chess game. And the best part? It works even if you don't know what an algorithm is!
