Boris Gelfand
Encyclopedia
Boris Abramovich Gelfand (born 24 June 1968) is a Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...

-born Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

i chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...

 Grandmaster. He won the 2011 Candidates Tournament
Candidates Tournament
The Candidates Tournament is a chess tournament organized by the world chess federation FIDE since 1950, as the final contest to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship...

 and will challenge Viswanathan Anand
Viswanathan Anand
V. Anand or Anand Viswanathan, usually referred as Viswanathan Anand, is an Indian chess Grandmaster, the current World Chess Champion, and currently second highest rated player in the world....

 for the World Chess Championship 2012.

Biography

Boris Gelfand was born in Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...

, Belarussian SSR on 24 June 1968. In 1998, he immigrated to Israel
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...

 and settled in Rishon LeZion, where he became Israel's top ranking chess player.

Early career

Gelfand was Junior Champion of the Soviet Union at 17, and European Junior Champion two years later. In 1988 he tied for first in the World Junior Championship
World Junior Chess Championship
The World Junior Chess Championship is an under-20 chess tournament organized by the World Chess Federation ....

, the title however going to Joël Lautier
Joel Lautier
Joël Lautier is a French chess grandmaster and FIDE Senior Trainer .Born in Canada, of French father and Japanese mother, Lautier is one of the strongest grandmasters from France. He won the 1988 World Junior Chess Championship on tiebreak at Adelaide, and the French Chess Championships in 2004...

. The next year he earned the GM title. He has won about 30 tournaments in his professional career, including tournaments at Wijk aan Zee (in 1992 and 1994) and first places in Biel (1993), Dos Hermanas (1994), Belgrade (1995), Tilburg (1996), Malmö (1999), and Pamplona (2004).

Early World Championship Results

Gelfand has qualified several times for Candidates Tournament
Candidates Tournament
The Candidates Tournament is a chess tournament organized by the world chess federation FIDE since 1950, as the final contest to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship...

s for the World Chess Championship
World Chess Championship
The World Chess Championship is played to determine the World Champion in the board game chess. Men and women of any age are eligible to contest this title....

. In the World Chess Championship 1993
World Chess Championship 1993
The World Chess Championship 1993 was held from 1990 to 1993. It was one of the most controversial in history, with incumbent World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, and official challenger Nigel Short, splitting from FIDE, the official world governing body of chess, and playing their title match...

, he qualified for the Candidates via the Interzonal
Interzonal
Interzonal chess tournaments were tournaments organized by FIDE, the World Chess Federation, and were a stage in the triennial World Chess Championship cycle.- Zonal tournaments :...

. He won his first Candidates match, but was knocked out in the second (quarter-final) round by Nigel Short
Nigel Short
Nigel David Short MBE is an English chess grandmaster earning the title at the age of 19. Short is often regarded as the strongest English player of the 20th century as he was ranked third in the world, from January 1988 – July 1989 and in 1993, he challenged Garry Kasparov for the World Chess...

. In the FIDE World Chess Championship 1996
FIDE World Chess Championship 1996
The FIDE World Chess Championship 1996 was a chess tournament held by FIDE to determine the World Chess Champion.-Background:At the time the World Chess Champion title was split....

 he won the Interzonal, then won his first two Candidates matches, before being eliminated in the semi-final by Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. He was the official world champion from 1975 to 1985 when he was defeated by Garry Kasparov. He played three matches against Kasparov for the title from 1986 to 1990, before becoming FIDE World Champion once...

. He had numerous strong results in the knockout tournaments for the FIDE World Chess Championships 1998–2004, with his best result being a semi-finalist in 1997. He played in the 8-player 2002 Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....

 Tournament, which was the Candidates for the Classical World Chess Championship 2004
Classical World Chess Championship 2004
The Classical World Chess Championship 2004 was held from September 25, 2004 - October 18, 2004 in Brissago, Switzerland. Vladimir Kramnik, the defending champion, played Peter Leko, the challenger, in a fourteen game match....

, but failed to reach the semi-finals.

2007 World Championship

Gelfand finished in the top 10 in the 2005 FIDE World Cup, which qualified him for the Candidates for the World Chess Championship 2007
World Chess Championship 2007
The World Chess Championship 2007 was held in Mexico City, from September 12, 2007 to September 30, 2007 to decide the world champion in the board game chess. It was an eight-player, double round robin tournament....

. He won his Candidates matches against Rustam Kasimdzhanov
Rustam Kasimdzhanov
Rustam Kasimdzhanov is an Uzbekistani chess Grandmaster, best known for winning the FIDE World Chess Championship 2004. He was born in Tashkent, in the former Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic...

 (in rapid tie-breaks) and Gata Kamsky
Gata Kamsky
Gata Kamsky is a Soviet-born American chess grandmaster, and the current World Rapid Chess Champion. He is also the current United States Chess Champion. As of September 2011, he is rated No. 1 in the United States and No...

 (+2 −0 =3), to qualify for the championship tournament in September 2007. Gelfand was not one of the favourites for the World Chess Championship 2007
World Chess Championship 2007
The World Chess Championship 2007 was held in Mexico City, from September 12, 2007 to September 30, 2007 to decide the world champion in the board game chess. It was an eight-player, double round robin tournament....

, but he surprised most observers by finishing joint second with reigning world champion Vladimir Kramnik
Vladimir Kramnik
Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik is a Russian chess grandmaster. He was the Classical World Chess Champion from 2000 to 2006, and the undisputed World Chess Champion from 2006 to 2007...

 (third after tie breaks); the tournament and the World Championship was won by Viswanathan Anand
Viswanathan Anand
V. Anand or Anand Viswanathan, usually referred as Viswanathan Anand, is an Indian chess Grandmaster, the current World Chess Champion, and currently second highest rated player in the world....

.

2012 World Championship

In the Chess World Cup 2009
Chess World Cup 2009
The Chess World Cup 2009 was a 128-player single-elimination tournament, played between 20 November and 14 December 2009, in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. The Cup winner qualified for the Candidates stage of the World Chess Championship 2011. Boris Gelfand defeated Ruslan Ponomariov in the...

, Gelfand was the top seed, and defeated Judit Polgár
Judit Polgár
Judit Polgár is a Hungarian chess grandmaster. She is by far the strongest female chess player in history. In 1991, Polgár achieved the title of Grandmaster at the age of 15 years and 4 months, the youngest person ever to do so at that time.Polgár was ranked No...

, reigning World Junior Champion Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is a French chess Grandmaster and the 2009 World Junior Chess Champion.-Grandmaster norms:He completed his final grandmaster norm at age 14 years, 4 months, in 2005....

, Dmitry Jakovenko
Dmitry Jakovenko
Dmitry Olegovich Jakovenko is a Russian chess grandmaster. On the March 2010 FIDE Elo rating list, Jakovenko has a rating of 2725, making him the 20th highest ranked player in the world....

, and Sergey Karjakin
Sergey Karjakin
Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin is a Russian chess grandmaster. He was a chess prodigy and holds the record for both the youngest International Master, eleven years and eleven months, and grandmaster in history, at the age of twelve years and seven months...

 to reach the final. He then faced former FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov
Ruslan Ponomariov
Ruslan Olegovich Ponomariov is a Ukrainian chess player and former FIDE World Champion.-Early career:Ponomariov was born in Horlivka in Ukraine. In 1994 he placed third in the World Under-12 Championship at the age of ten. In 1996 he won the European Under-18 Championship at the age of just...

 for the championship, and won the match 7–5 in a playoff. By winning the Chess World Cup 2009, Gelfand qualified for the World Chess Championship 2012 Candidates Tournament
Candidates Tournament
The Candidates Tournament is a chess tournament organized by the world chess federation FIDE since 1950, as the final contest to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship...

.

In May 2011, Gelfand participated in the World Chess Championship 2012 Candidates tournament in Kazan, Russia where he was seeded fourth. In the quarterfinals, he won a complex struggle on the black side of the Najdorf Defense in game three to defeat Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Shakhriyar Hamid oglu Mammadyarov , also known for his Shah nickname, is a chess Grandmaster. On the September 2010 FIDE rating list he was ranked number nine in the world with an Elo rating of 2756....

 2.5–1.5 and advance to the semifinals, where he faced American Gata Kamsky
Gata Kamsky
Gata Kamsky is a Soviet-born American chess grandmaster, and the current World Rapid Chess Champion. He is also the current United States Chess Champion. As of September 2011, he is rated No. 1 in the United States and No...

. After splitting the first four games 2–2, Kamsky won game three in the rapid playoff to go ahead 2–1, forcing Gelfand to win with black in the final rapid game in order to avoid elimination. Gelfand was up to the task, and then won the blitz playoff 2–0 to advance to the final. In the final, he faced Alexander Grischuk
Alexander Grischuk
Alexander Igorevich Grischuk is a Russian chess grandmaster and Russian Champion in 2009.-Chess career:In the FIDE World Chess Championship 2000, Grischuk he made it to the semifinals, losing to Alexei Shirov....

. After drawing the first five games, Gelfand won the sixth and final game on the white side of a Gruenfeld Defence to win the match and the tournament 3.5–2.5. As winner of the Candidates Tournament, Gelfand will face Anand for the 2012 World Championship.

Notable tournament victories

  • European Youth Championship, 1989
  • Majorca (GMA), 1989
  • Moscow, 1992
  • Manila, 1993
  • Chalkidiki, 1993
  • Dos Hermanas, 1994
  • Debrecen, 1995
  • Vienna, 1996
  • Tilburg, 1996
  • Polanica Zdroj, 1998
  • Polanica Zdroj, 2000
  • Cannes, 2002
  • Pamplona, 2004
  • Biel, 2005
  • ACP World Rapid Cup, 2009
  • Chess World Cup
    Chess World Cup
    The Chess World Cup is the name given to a number of different chess tournaments. The format and significance of the tournaments has changed over the years....

    , 2009
  • Candidates Tournament
    Candidates Tournament
    The Candidates Tournament is a chess tournament organized by the world chess federation FIDE since 1950, as the final contest to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship...

    , 2011

Individual results

(Through 2007)

YEAR COUNTRY CITY EVENT CAT. RESULT
2007   Moscow II Tal Memorial 20 III–VI
2007   Calatrava II Chess Festival (rapid) open I–IV
2007   Odessa 1st ACP Cup (rapid) k.o. ½ F
2007   Prague Match vs David Navara 2719 2–2
2006   Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting 19 III–V
2005 Biel XXXVIII Biel Int. Chess Festival 16 I–II
2005   Hamilton Bermuda Int. Invitational Tnt 17 I–II
2004   Pamplona XIV Torneo Int. de Ajedrez 16 I
2004   Ashdod The Int. Invitational Tnt 16 I–IV
2004   Hamilton Fourways International 16 II
2003   Mérida XVI Carlos Torre Memorial k.o. ½ F
2003   Bastia VII Corsica Masters (rapid) k.o. ¼ F
2003   Paks Match vs Judith Polgar (rapid) 2718 6–2
2003   Enghien V Masters 17 III–IV
2002   Cap d'Agde V Grand Prix (rapid) k.o. I
2002   Moscow Russia vs Rest of the World 19 PR 2788
2002   Monte Carlo XI Melody Amber (rapid) 18 I
2002   Cannes First NAO Chess Masters 18 I–II
2001 Biel XXXIV Biel Int. Chess Festival 16 III
2001   Portorož XIV Vidmar Memorial 14 II
2001   Astana Independence Tournament 20 III
2001   Monte Carlo X Melody Amber (rapid) 18 I–II
2000   Polanica Zdroj XXXVII Rubinstein Memorial 17 I
2000   Shenyang World Cup (rapid) k.o. ½ F
2000   Haifa Wydra Memorial (rapid) 16 II–III
1999   Pamplona IX Torneo Int. de Ajedrez 15 II–III
1999   Malmö Sigeman & Co 14 I
1999   Tel Aviv National Superchampionship 14 I–III
1998   Cap d'Agde World Cup (rapid) k.o. Runner Up
1998   Polanica Zdroj XXXV Rubinstein Memorial 17 I
1997   Polanica Zdroj XXXIV Rubinstein Memorial 16 II
1997 Biel XXX Biel Int. Chess Festival 17 III
1996   Groningen XXXV Int. Chess Tournament 16 II–III

YEAR COUNTRY CITY EVENT CAT. RESULT
1996   Cap d'Agde European Champ (rapid) k.o. ¼ F
1996   Tilburg Fontys 16 I–II
1996   Vienna Millenium Festival 18 I–III
1996   Dortmund XXIV Dortmunder Schachtage 18 III
1995   Belgrade Investabanka 17 I–II
1995 Biel XXVIII Biel Int. Chess Festival 15 III–IV
1994   Cap d'Agde Rencontres Internationales open I
1994   Cap d'Agde Macth vs A. Karpov (rapid) 2765 4–2
1994   Dos Hermanas VI Torneo Int. Dos Hermanas 16 I
1993   Chalkidiki Afytos, Nikiti 16 I
1993   Munich SKA – Mephisto Turnier 16 II
1992   Moscow Alekhine Memorial 18 I–II
1992   Tilburg XVI Interpolis k.o. Runner Up
1992   Munich SKA – Mephisto Turnier 15 II–III
1992   Wijk aan Zee LIV Hoogovens Schaaktoernoi 14 I–II
1991   Reggio–Emilia XXXIV Torneo di Cappodanno 18 II–III
1991   Belgrade Investabanka 15 I
1991   Munich SKA – Mephisto Turnier 14 II–V
1990   Tilburg XIV Interpolis 16 III
1990   Dortmund XVIII Dortmunder Scachtage 13 II
1990   Linares XIII Torneo Internacional 16 II
1989   Palma GMA Open open I
1989   Odessa LVI  USSR Champ 13 II–V
1989   OHRA B LVI  USSR Champ open I–III
1989   Debrecen Barcza Memorial 12 I
1988   Arnhem European Championship U20 open I–II
1988   Adelaide World Championship U20 open I–IV
1988   Vilnius USSR Championship U26 9 I–II
1987   Arnhem European Championship U20 open I
1986   Minsk Minsk International 9 II–III
1985   Yurmala USSR Championship U18 open I
1985   Minsk National Championship tt I
1984   Minsk National Championship tt I

Team results

Gelfand appeared in a total of nine Chess Olympiad
Chess Olympiad
The Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess tournament in which teams from all over the world compete against each other. The event is organised by FIDE, which selects the host nation.-Birth of the Olympiad:The first Olympiad was unofficial...

s, representing the Soviet Union once, Belarus twice, and Israel six times.
  • In 1990, he won the team gold medal playing board two for the Soviet Union.
  • In 2008, he won the team silver medal, and also an individual silver medal, playing board one for Israel.
  • In 2010, he won the team bronze medal playing board one for Israel.


YEAR COUNTRY CITY EVENT TEAM RESULT
2007   Sochi Russian League Elara III
2005   St.Vincent XXI Euro Club Cup Polonia GSM Plus II
2005   Mérida Spanish League Gros Xake Taldea III
2005   Gothenburg XV Euro National Team Championship Israel II
2005   Dagomys Russian League (blitz) Termosteps Samara III
2004   Sochi Russian League (rapid) Termosteps Samara I
2003   Plovdiv XIV Euro National Team Championship Israel II
2003   Rethymnon XIX Euro Club Cup Polonia Warsaw (POL) II

YEAR COUNTRY CITY EVENT TEAM RESULT
2002   Tel Aviv Israelian League (rapid) Rishon-le-Zion I
2001   Tel Aviv Israelian League (rapid) Rishon-le-Zion I
2000   France French League Montpellier II
1999   Bugojno XV Euro Club Cup Agrouuniversal Zemun (SM) II
1999   Tel Aviv Israelian League Rishon-le-Zion II
1990   Novi Sad XXIX Olympiad USSR I
1989   Haifa IX Euro National Team Championship USSR I

Playing style

Gelfand is notable as a 1.d4
Queen's Pawn Game
In the most general sense the term Queen's Pawn Game can refer to any chess opening which starts with the move:It is the second most popular opening move. The name is now usually used to describe openings beginning with the moves 1.d4 d5 where White does not follow through with an early pawn...

 opener as White, and as a specialist in the Najdorf Sicilian
Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation
The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence is one of the most respected and deeply studied of all chess openings. Modern Chess Openings calls it the Cadillac or Rolls Royce of chess openings. The opening is named after the Polish-Argentinian Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf...

, Petroff Defence, Slav Defense
Slav Defense
The Slav Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The Slav is one of the primary defenses to the Queen's Gambit. Although it was analyzed as early as 1590, it was not until the 1920s that it started to be explored extensively...

, and King's Indian Defence
King's Indian Defence
The King's Indian Defence is a common chess opening. It arises after the moves:Black intends to follow up with 3...Bg7 and 4...d6.The Grünfeld Defence arises when Black plays 3...d5 instead, and is considered a separate opening...

 as Black. He is noted for his strong positional awareness and low proneness to mistakes.

External links

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