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  3. /Korchnoi, Viktor

Korchnoi, Viktor

classical era

Viktor Korchnoi was one of the greatest players never to become World Champion, twice challenging for the title against Anatoly Karpov in epic Cold War-era matches in 1978 and 1981. His fierce determination and fighting spirit allowed him to compete at the highest level for an extraordinary six decades, winning top tournaments well into his 70s. He defected from the Soviet Union in 1976 and his subsequent championship matches became geopolitical spectacles.

Total Games

1037

Wins

405

Draws

397

Losses

235

39.1% wins38.3% draws22.7% losses

Most Played Openings

C11 - French Defense: Steinitz Variation34E11 - Bogo-Indian Defense31E32 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation25D37 - Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack22E12 - Queen's Indian Defense22C02 - French Defense: Advance Variation18D11 - Slav Defense: Modern Line17E16 - Queen's Indian Defense: Yates Variation16E81 - King's Indian Defense: Steiner Attack15A13 - English Opening: Neo-Catalan15

Most Faced Opponents

Ponomariov,R12 gamesUhlmann,W12 gamesTimman,J12 gamesSpassky,B11 gamesGelfand,B11 gamesPolgar,Ju9 gamesPelletier,Y9 gamesBeliavsky,A9 gamesVallejo Pons,F9 gamesVaisser,A8 games

Featured Games

FCGFCG
0-1

Korchnoi,V vs Ivanchuk,V

34th Olympiad

2000

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FCGFCG
1-0

Psakhis,L vs Korchnoi,V

FIDE WCh KO

2001

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FCGFCG
1-0

Leko,P vs Korchnoi,V

38th Olympiad

2008

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FCGFCG
1-0

Caruana,F vs Korchnoi,V

38th Olympiad

2008

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FCGFCG
1-0

Morozevich,A vs Korchnoi,V

36th Olympiad

2004

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FCGFCG
1-0

Polgar,Ju vs Korchnoi,V

Gibraltar Open

2012

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FCGFCG
1-0

Shirov,A vs Korchnoi,V

Czech Coal

2007

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FCGFCG
1-0

Korchnoi,V vs Kakageldyev,A

38th Olympiad

2008

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FCGFCG
1-0

Korchnoi,V vs Polgar,S

Klompendans

2001

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FCGFCG
1-0

Kamsky,G vs Korchnoi,V

TCh-RUS

2008

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Games (1037)

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Leko,P vs Korchnoi,V★
1-0
38th Olympiad 2008 C92
Caruana,F vs Korchnoi,V★
1-0
38th Olympiad 2008 C77
Svidler,P vs Korchnoi,V★
1/2-1/2
38th Olympiad 2008 C11
Korchnoi,V vs Radjabov,T★
1/2-1/2
36th Olympiad 2004 D78
Navara,D vs Korchnoi,V★
1/2-1/2
36th Olympiad 2004 C05
Gelfand,B vs Korchnoi,V★
1/2-1/2
36th Olympiad 2004 E11
Morozevich,A vs Korchnoi,V★
1-0
36th Olympiad 2004 C77
Korchnoi,V vs Kasimdzhanov,R★
1/2-1/2
Olympiad 2002 D37
Psakhis,L vs Korchnoi,V★
1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO 2001 B18
Korchnoi,V vs Psakhis,L★
1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO 2001 A30
Korchnoi,V vs Psakhis,L★
1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO 2001 E13
Psakhis,L vs Korchnoi,V★
1-0
FIDE WCh KO 2001 B19
Korchnoi,V vs Ivanchuk,V★
0-1
34th Olympiad 2000 E04
Polgar,Ju vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
Gibraltar Open 2012 C11
Korchnoi,V vs Khalifman,A
0-1
XII Puhajarve Handicap 2011 D31
Korchnoi,V vs Jussupow,Ar
0-1
XII Puhajarve Handicap 2011 D37
Portisch,L vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
Botvinnik Mem Senior 2011 D38
Caruana,F vs Korchnoi,V
0-1
Gibraltar Masters 2011 C77
Spassky,B vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
Match 2009 C42
Korchnoi,V vs Spassky,B
0-1
Match 2009 E11
Spassky,B vs Korchnoi,V
0-1
Match 2009 C49
Korchnoi,V vs Spassky,B
0-1
Match 2009 A28
Spassky,B vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
Match 2009 C14
Korchnoi,V vs Spassky,B
1/2-1/2
Match 2009 E21
Spassky,B vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
Match 2009 C00
Korchnoi,V vs Spassky,B
1-0
Match 2009 E21
Adams,Mi vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
17th TCh-Eur 2009 B12
Timman,J vs Korchnoi,V
0-1
7th Staunton Memorial GM 2009 C07
Korchnoi,V vs Berg,E
1/2-1/2
38th Olympiad 2008 E15
Korchnoi,V vs Megaranto,S
1/2-1/2
38th Olympiad 2008 D10
Baburin,A vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
38th Olympiad 2008 E41
Korchnoi,V vs Jones,Ri
1/2-1/2
38th Olympiad 2008 E98
Zhao Zong Yuan vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
38th Olympiad 2008 A17
Korchnoi,V vs Roselli Mailhe,B
1/2-1/2
38th Olympiad 2008 E70
Korchnoi,V vs Kakageldyev,A
1-0
38th Olympiad 2008 D11
Korchnoi,V vs Caruana,F
0-1
3rd NH 2008 D43
Caruana,F vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
3rd NH 2008 C80
Gelfand,B vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
4th Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup 2008 D41
Korchnoi,V vs Karpov,Ana
1/2-1/2
4th Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup 2008 E40
Korchnoi,V vs Gelfand,B
0-1
4th Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup 2008 A28
Karpov,Ana vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
4th Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup 2008 E32
Ponomariov,R vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
4th Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup 2008 C77
Korchnoi,V vs Ponomariov,R
0-1
4th Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup 2008 A16
Kamsky,G vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
TCh-RUS 2008 C83
Timman,J vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
Corus Honorory 2008 C45
Korchnoi,V vs Ljubojevic,L
0-1
Corus Honorory 2008 D48
Portisch,L vs Korchnoi,V
0-1
Corus Honorory 2008 A90
Ljubojevic,L vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
Corus Honorory 2008 E33
Korchnoi,V vs Timman,J
1/2-1/2
Corus Honorary 2008 E34
Korchnoi,V vs Portisch,L
1-0
Corus Honorary 2008 D37
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