The Israeli Chess Championship is a 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...

 event held every year in Israel

Israel

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

.

History

From 1951-1971, the men's and women's championships were held every two years, eventually becoming an annual event. The 1998 Championship was held 8–24 November in Ramat Aviv

Ramat Aviv

Ramat Aviv is the name of several neighborhoods in the Northwest District of Tel Aviv, Israel:* Ramat Aviv Aleph * Ramat Aviv Bet * Ramat Aviv Gimmel...

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The single-elimination tournament

Single-elimination tournament

A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...

, 32 players in the men's section and 16 in the women's, used an unusual time control of 100 minutes for 30 moves + 30 seconds per move. GM Eran Liss won the men's final over GM Victor Mikhalevski

Victor Mikhalevski

Victor Mikhalevski is an Israeli chess grandmaster who lives in Beer Sheva. his Elo rating was 2611, making him the #7 player in Israel and the 171st-highest rated player in the world...

. After tying their 2-game match with one victory apiece, they then tied an active chess playoff with one win and two draws each. In a 5-minute blitz playoff, Liss won 2–0. Irina Yudasina won the women's final over Ella Pitem with one win and one draw.

Winners

# Year Men's Champion 1 1935 Abram Blass Abram Blass Abram Blass was a Polish-Israeli chess master.Born in Łomża , he moved to the USA, staying from 1911 to 1924. After returning to Poland, he lived in Warsaw. In 1924/25, Blass tied for 3rd-5th in Warsaw . In 1926, he tied for 1st with Paulin Frydman in Warsaw... 2 1936 Moshe Czerniak Moshe Czerniak -Biography:In 1930 Moshe Czerniak took ninth at Warsaw in an event won by Paulino Frydman. In 1934 Czerniak emigrated from Poland to Palestine . In April 1935, he tied for 7th–8th in Tel Aviv . He was Palestinian Champion in 1936 and 1938. In April 1939, he played in the First Lasker Chess Club... 3 1937 Yosef Porath Yosef Porath -Biography:Yosef Porath was born Heinz Josef Foerder in Germany. He took the name Yosef Porath in Israel. In 1933, he lost his job after the Nazis assumed power in Germany, and moved to Riga. In 1934 he emigrated to Palestine... 4 1938 Moshe Czerniak Moshe Czerniak -Biography:In 1930 Moshe Czerniak took ninth at Warsaw in an event won by Paulino Frydman. In 1934 Czerniak emigrated from Poland to Palestine . In April 1935, he tied for 7th–8th in Tel Aviv . He was Palestinian Champion in 1936 and 1938. In April 1939, he played in the First Lasker Chess Club... 5 1940 Yosef Porath Yosef Porath -Biography:Yosef Porath was born Heinz Josef Foerder in Germany. He took the name Yosef Porath in Israel. In 1933, he lost his job after the Nazis assumed power in Germany, and moved to Riga. In 1934 he emigrated to Palestine... 6 1945 Izak Aloni Izak Aloni Izak Aloni was an Israeli chess master.-Biography:Aloni, born Schächter in Buchach, Galicia , was twice Lvov champion , and four-times Lvov sub-champion . He played twice in Polish championships. In 1935, he tied for 12-14th in Warsaw... 7 1951 Menachem Oren Menachem Oren Mieczysław Chwojnik, later known as Dr. Menachem Oren – 1 December 1962, Tel Aviv, Israel) was a Polish-born Israeli chess master and mathematician.... 8 1953 Yosef Porath Yosef Porath -Biography:Yosef Porath was born Heinz Josef Foerder in Germany. He took the name Yosef Porath in Israel. In 1933, he lost his job after the Nazis assumed power in Germany, and moved to Riga. In 1934 he emigrated to Palestine... 9 1955 Moshe Czerniak Moshe Czerniak -Biography:In 1930 Moshe Czerniak took ninth at Warsaw in an event won by Paulino Frydman. In 1934 Czerniak emigrated from Poland to Palestine . In April 1935, he tied for 7th–8th in Tel Aviv . He was Palestinian Champion in 1936 and 1938. In April 1939, he played in the First Lasker Chess Club... 10 1957 Yosef Porath Yosef Porath -Biography:Yosef Porath was born Heinz Josef Foerder in Germany. He took the name Yosef Porath in Israel. In 1933, he lost his job after the Nazis assumed power in Germany, and moved to Riga. In 1934 he emigrated to Palestine... 11 1959 Yosef Porath Yosef Porath -Biography:Yosef Porath was born Heinz Josef Foerder in Germany. He took the name Yosef Porath in Israel. In 1933, he lost his job after the Nazis assumed power in Germany, and moved to Riga. In 1934 he emigrated to Palestine... 12 1961 Izak Aloni Izak Aloni Izak Aloni was an Israeli chess master.-Biography:Aloni, born Schächter in Buchach, Galicia , was twice Lvov champion , and four-times Lvov sub-champion . He played twice in Polish championships. In 1935, he tied for 12-14th in Warsaw... 13 1963 Yosef Porath Yosef Porath -Biography:Yosef Porath was born Heinz Josef Foerder in Germany. He took the name Yosef Porath in Israel. In 1933, he lost his job after the Nazis assumed power in Germany, and moved to Riga. In 1934 he emigrated to Palestine... 14 1965 Izak Aloni Izak Aloni Izak Aloni was an Israeli chess master.-Biography:Aloni, born Schächter in Buchach, Galicia , was twice Lvov champion , and four-times Lvov sub-champion . He played twice in Polish championships. In 1935, he tied for 12-14th in Warsaw... 15 1967 Shimon Kagan Shimon Kagan Shimon Kagan an Israeli chess master.He was Israeli Champion in 1967 and 1969. He tied for 4-5th at Netanya 1968 , tied for 9-10th at Netanya 1969 , took 9th at Netanya 1971 .Kagan played for Israel in nine Chess Olympiads.* In 1966, at fourth board in 17th Chess Olympiad in Havana ;* In... 16 1969 Shimon Kagan Shimon Kagan Shimon Kagan an Israeli chess master.He was Israeli Champion in 1967 and 1969. He tied for 4-5th at Netanya 1968 , tied for 9-10th at Netanya 1969 , took 9th at Netanya 1971 .Kagan played for Israel in nine Chess Olympiads.* In 1966, at fourth board in 17th Chess Olympiad in Havana ;* In... 17 1971 Uzi Geller Uzi Geller Uzi Geller is an Israeli chess master.He was Israeli Champion in 1971/72. He tied for 7-10th at Netanya 1968 , tied for 9-10th at Netanya 1969 , took 16th at Netanya 1971 , and tied for 6-7th at Teheran 1972 .Uzi Geller twice represented Israel in Chess Olympiads:*... 18 1974 Vladimir Liberzon Vladimir Liberzon Vladimir Mikhailovich Liberzon was a Russian–born Israeli chess grandmaster.-Biography:Liberzon played in several Soviet championships, his best result being fourth at the 36th Championship, Alma-Ata 1968/69... 19 1976 Nathan Birnboim Nathan Birnboim Nathan Birnboim a chess International master from Israel.Birnboim played for Israel in five Chess Olympiads.* In 1976, at second reserve board in 22nd Olympiad in Haifa ;... 20 1978 Roman Dzindzichashvili Roman Dzindzichashvili Roman Yakovlevich Dzindzichashvili is a chess Grandmaster .-Life and career:Born in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR into a family of Georgian Jews, he won the Junior Championship of the Soviet Union in 1962 and the University Championships in 1966 and 1968. In 1970, he earned the title of International... 21 1980 Nathan Birnboim Nathan Birnboim Nathan Birnboim a chess International master from Israel.Birnboim played for Israel in five Chess Olympiads.* In 1976, at second reserve board in 22nd Olympiad in Haifa ;... 22 1982 Yehuda Gruenfeld Yehuda Gruenfeld Yehuda Gruenfeld an Israeli chess Grandmaster. He was born in Dzierżoniów in Poland.As of April 2007, his Elo rating was 2480, making him the # 25 player in Israel and the 887th-highest rated player in the world.... 23 1984 Alon Greenfeld Alon Greenfeld Alon Greenfeld is an Israeli chess grandmaster ., his Elo rating was 2557, making him the # 12 player in Israel and the 286th-highest rated player in the world. His peak rating was 2610 in 1994.In 1982, he was European Junior Sub-Champion.... 24 1986 Nathan Birnboim Nathan Birnboim Nathan Birnboim a chess International master from Israel.Birnboim played for Israel in five Chess Olympiads.* In 1976, at second reserve board in 22nd Olympiad in Haifa ;... 25 1988 Gad Rechlis 26 1990 Yehuda Gruenfeld Yehuda Gruenfeld Yehuda Gruenfeld an Israeli chess Grandmaster. He was born in Dzierżoniów in Poland.As of April 2007, his Elo rating was 2480, making him the # 25 player in Israel and the 887th-highest rated player in the world.... 27 1992 Ilya Smirin Ilya Smirin Ilya Yulievich Smirin is a Soviet-Israeli chess Grandmaster., his Elo rating was 2650, making him the 59th-highest rated player in the world... 28 1994 Leonid Yudasin Leonid Yudasin Leonid Grigoryevich Yudasin is a prominent chess grandmaster and trainer, now living in New York City.Awarded the International Master title in 1982, he secured the International Grandmaster title in 1984, the year he became Leningrad Champion... 29 1996 Lev Psakhis Lev Psakhis Lev Borisovich Psakhis is a naturalised Israeli chess grandmaster, trainer and author. Born in Siberia, he is also a two-time former champion of the Soviet Union.-Biography:... 30 1998 Eran Liss 31 2000 Boris Avrukh Boris Avrukh Boris Leonidovich Avrukh is an Israeli chess grandmaster. He was the World Under-12 champion in 1990.He has played for Israel six times in Chess Olympiads.* In 1998, at second reserve board at the 33rd Chess Olympiad in Elista ;...   Alik Gershon Alik Gershon Alik Gershon is an Israeli chess grandmaster. On 21 October 2010 he set the Guinness World Record for simultaneous games after playing 523 opponents in Tel Aviv. After 18 hours and 30 minutes, he won 454 games , lost 11 and drew 58... 32 2002 Ilya Smirin Ilya Smirin Ilya Yulievich Smirin is a Soviet-Israeli chess Grandmaster., his Elo rating was 2650, making him the 59th-highest rated player in the world... 33 2004 Sergey Erenburg 34 2006 Maxim Rodshtein Maxim Rodshtein Maxim Rodshtein is an Israeli chess Grandmaster . As of January 2009, his Elo rating is 2650, making him the #4 player in Israel and the #76 best player in the world. It was his peak rating so far. He won the World U-16 championship in Greece in 2004.Rodshtein won the 2006 Israeli Chess... 35 2008 Boris Avrukh Boris Avrukh Boris Leonidovich Avrukh is an Israeli chess grandmaster. He was the World Under-12 champion in 1990.He has played for Israel six times in Chess Olympiads.* In 1998, at second reserve board at the 33rd Chess Olympiad in Elista ;...

# Year Women's Champion 1 1955 Ora Nodel Yaron 2 1957 Rivka Lichtenfeld 3 1959 Genia Gevenda 4 1961 Klara Friedman 5 1963 Klara Friedman 6 1965 Klara Friedman 7 1967 Sima Rabinovitz Forman 8 1969 Frida Rabinovitz Schahar 9 1971 Lidia Gal 10 1974 Olga Podrazhanskaya 11 1976 Olga Podrazhanskaya 12 1978 Ljuba Kristol Ljuba Kristol Ljuba Danielovna Kristol is a Russian-born Israeli International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster and Woman International Master.She is best known for winning the ICCF Women's World Championship in correspondence chess on two occasions: between 1978 and 1984, and between 1993 and 1998.She grew up... 13 1980 Lena Glaz 14 1982 Ljuba Kristol Ljuba Kristol Ljuba Danielovna Kristol is a Russian-born Israeli International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster and Woman International Master.She is best known for winning the ICCF Women's World Championship in correspondence chess on two occasions: between 1978 and 1984, and between 1993 and 1998.She grew up...   Olga Podrazhanskaya 15 1984 Ljuba Kristol Ljuba Kristol Ljuba Danielovna Kristol is a Russian-born Israeli International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster and Woman International Master.She is best known for winning the ICCF Women's World Championship in correspondence chess on two occasions: between 1978 and 1984, and between 1993 and 1998.She grew up... 16 1986 Shlomit Vardi 17 1988 Ljuba Kristol Ljuba Kristol Ljuba Danielovna Kristol is a Russian-born Israeli International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster and Woman International Master.She is best known for winning the ICCF Women's World Championship in correspondence chess on two occasions: between 1978 and 1984, and between 1993 and 1998.She grew up... 18 1990 Ljuba Kristol Ljuba Kristol Ljuba Danielovna Kristol is a Russian-born Israeli International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster and Woman International Master.She is best known for winning the ICCF Women's World Championship in correspondence chess on two occasions: between 1978 and 1984, and between 1993 and 1998.She grew up... 19 1992 Masha Klinova 20 1994 Ludmila Tsifanskaya 21 1996 Ludmila Tsifanskaya 22 1998 Irina Yudasina 23 2000 Ela Pitam 24 2002 Irina Botvinnik 25 2004 Bella Igla Bella Igla Bella Igla is an Israeli female chess player, holding the title of Woman Grandmaster. In 2004, she won the Israel Women's Chess Championship.Igla represented Israel in three Chess Olympiads:... 26 2006 Bela Atnilov 27 2008 Olga Vasiliev

# Year Junior Champion 1 1951 Raaphi Persitz Raaphi Persitz Raaphi Joseph Arie Persitz was an English–Israeli–Swiss chess master, financial analyst, financial journalist, and chess writer. Persitz was Israeli Junior Champion in 1951... 2 1954 Giora Peli 3 1958 Yedael Stepak 4 1959 Yehuda Oppenheim 5 1960 Israel Gat 6 1961 Daniel Mor 7 1962 Israel Gelper 8 1963 Yaacov Bleiman Yaacov Bleiman Yaacov Bleiman was a Lithuanian–Israeli chess master.In 1965, Bleiman played in World Junior Championship in Barcelona... 9 1964 Yaacov Bleiman Yaacov Bleiman Yaacov Bleiman was a Lithuanian–Israeli chess master.In 1965, Bleiman played in World Junior Championship in Barcelona... 10 1965 Amikam Balshan Amikam Balshan Amikam Balshan , is an Israeli chess master, who won the Israeli youth championship in 1965.In 1967, he played in the World Junior Chess Championship in Jerusalem, as Julio Kaplan won.... 11 1966 Avraham Neumann 12 1967 Nathan Birnboim Nathan Birnboim Nathan Birnboim a chess International master from Israel.Birnboim played for Israel in five Chess Olympiads.* In 1976, at second reserve board in 22nd Olympiad in Haifa ;... 13 1968 Nathan Birnboim Nathan Birnboim Nathan Birnboim a chess International master from Israel.Birnboim played for Israel in five Chess Olympiads.* In 1976, at second reserve board in 22nd Olympiad in Haifa ;...   On Neyman 14 1969 Yoel Temanlis 15 1970 Arie Lev 16 1971 Chagai Scheinwald 17 1972 Chagai Scheinwald 18 1973 David Bernstein 19 1974 Yehuda Gruenfeld Yehuda Gruenfeld Yehuda Gruenfeld an Israeli chess Grandmaster. He was born in Dzierżoniów in Poland.As of April 2007, his Elo rating was 2480, making him the # 25 player in Israel and the 887th-highest rated player in the world.... 20 1975 Nir Grinberg 21 1976 Ehud Lahav 22 1977 Michael Passman 23 1978 Alon Greenfeld Alon Greenfeld Alon Greenfeld is an Israeli chess grandmaster ., his Elo rating was 2557, making him the # 12 player in Israel and the 286th-highest rated player in the world. His peak rating was 2610 in 1994.In 1982, he was European Junior Sub-Champion.... 24 1979 Alon Greenfeld Alon Greenfeld Alon Greenfeld is an Israeli chess grandmaster ., his Elo rating was 2557, making him the # 12 player in Israel and the 286th-highest rated player in the world. His peak rating was 2610 in 1994.In 1982, he was European Junior Sub-Champion.... 25 1980 Dan Lefen 26 1981 Ran Shabtai 27 1982 Moshe Feirnik 28 1983 Ofer Brook 29 1984 Ronen Lev 30 1985 Ilan Manor 31 1986 Dani Barash 32 1987 Ronen Lev 33 1988 Ilan Manor 34 1989 Eran Liss 35 1990 Dan Zoler 36 1991 Victor Mikhalevski Victor Mikhalevski Victor Mikhalevski is an Israeli chess grandmaster who lives in Beer Sheva. his Elo rating was 2611, making him the #7 player in Israel and the 171st-highest rated player in the world... 37 1992 Victor Mikhalevski Victor Mikhalevski Victor Mikhalevski is an Israeli chess grandmaster who lives in Beer Sheva. his Elo rating was 2611, making him the #7 player in Israel and the 171st-highest rated player in the world... 38 1993 Eran Liss 39 1994 Michael Oratovsky 40 1995 Alik Vydeslaver 41 1996 Boris Avrukh Boris Avrukh Boris Leonidovich Avrukh is an Israeli chess grandmaster. He was the World Under-12 champion in 1990.He has played for Israel six times in Chess Olympiads.* In 1998, at second reserve board at the 33rd Chess Olympiad in Elista ;... 42 1997 Dimitri Tyomkin Dimitri Tyomkin Dimitri Tyomkin is a Canadian chess grandmaster .In 1997 he won the Israeli Junior Championship and the European Junior Chess Championship in Tallinn... 43 1998 Alexander Rabinovich 44 1999 Michael Roiz Michael Roiz Michael Roiz is an Israeli chess Grandmaster.He learned to play chess at the age of 7. At the age of 9, he finished 2nd in the national championship under-10 category... 45 2000 Alik Gershon Alik Gershon Alik Gershon is an Israeli chess grandmaster. On 21 October 2010 he set the Guinness World Record for simultaneous games after playing 523 opponents in Tel Aviv. After 18 hours and 30 minutes, he won 454 games , lost 11 and drew 58... 46 2001 Evgeny Postny Evgeny Postny Evgeny Postny is an Israeli chess player with the title of Grandmaster.-Junior success:As a junior player, he scored very well in international competitions such as the World and European Championships, taking three major medals;... 47 2002 Sergey Erenburg 48 2003 Sergey Erenburg 49 2004 Baruch Shterenberg 50 2005 Gaby Livshits 51 2006 Maxim Rodshtein Maxim Rodshtein Maxim Rodshtein is an Israeli chess Grandmaster . As of January 2009, his Elo rating is 2650, making him the #4 player in Israel and the #76 best player in the world. It was his peak rating so far. He won the World U-16 championship in Greece in 2004.Rodshtein won the 2006 Israeli Chess... 52 2008 Gil Popilsky