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  3. /Geller, Efim

Geller, Efim

classical era

Efim Geller (1925-1998) was a Soviet grandmaster who ranked among the world's top ten players for nearly two decades and qualified for the Candidates Tournament six times between 1953 and 1971. Known for his deep theoretical knowledge and sharp tactical play, Geller later served as trainer to World Champions Boris Spassky and Anatoly Karpov, cementing his legacy as both player and coach.

Total Games

2198

Wins

791

Draws

1069

Losses

338

36.0% wins48.6% draws15.4% losses

Most Played Openings

D58 - Queen's Gambit Declined: Tartakower Defense44C93 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Smyslov Defense43B85 - Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line40D55 - Queen's Gambit Declined: Pillsbury Attack39C88 - Ruy Lopez: Closed39C92 - Ruy Lopez: Closed36B92 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation34E05 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line32D31 - Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit28E92 - King's Indian Defense: Exchange Variation27

Most Faced Opponents

Smyslov, Vassily52 gamesPetrosian, Tigran V39 gamesSpassky, Boris V37 gamesPolugaevsky, Lev34 gamesKeres, Paul34 gamesTal, Mihail34 gamesKortschnoj, Viktor31 gamesIvkov, Borislav28 gamesTaimanov, Mark E27 gamesGligoric, Svetozar27 games

Featured Games

FCGFCG
0-1

Longo, E. vs Geller, Efim P

Wch Seniors

1991

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FCGFCG
0-1

Usachyi, Mark vs Geller, Efim P

Wch Seniors

1991

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FCGFCG
1-0

Reshevsky, Samuel Herman vs Geller, Efim P

Sousse Interzonal

1967

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FCGFCG
1-0

Geller, Efim P vs Pachman, Ludek

Wch Seniors

1992

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FCGFCG
0-1

Blank, Alexander vs Geller, Efim P

Wch Seniors

1992

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FCGFCG
1-0

Bronstein, David I vs Geller, Efim P

Gothenburg Interzonal

1955

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FCGFCG
1-0

Geller, Efim P vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir

Petropolis Interzonal

1973

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FCGFCG
0-1

Winiwarter, Felix vs Geller, Efim P

Wch Seniors

1991

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FCGFCG
1-0

Geller, Efim P vs Krogius, Nikolai V

Wch Seniors

1992

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FCGFCG
0-1

Jahr, Ulrich vs Geller, Efim P

Wch Seniors

1991

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Games (2198)

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Portisch, Lajos vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
Moscow 1981 D58
Timman, Jan H vs Geller, Efim P
1-0
Moscow 1981 C82
Geller, Efim P vs Petrosian, Tigran V
1/2-1/2
Moscow 1981 B06
Geller, Efim P vs Kasparov, Gary
0-1
Moscow 1981 B83
Karpov, Anatoly vs Geller, Efim P
1-0
Moscow 1981 D58
Polugaevsky, Lev vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
Moscow 1981 D58
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
Moscow 1981 E05
Geller, Efim P vs Smyslov, Vassily
1/2-1/2
Moscow 1981 C43
Geller, Efim P vs Jussupow, Artur
0-1
URS-ch48 1980 C43
Larsen, Bent vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
Lone Pine 1980 D58
Geller, Efim P vs Beliavsky, Alexander G
1/2-1/2
URS-ch48 1980 D53
Geller, Efim P vs Beliavsky, Alexander G
1/2-1/2
Novi Sad 1979 C92
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Geller, Efim P
0-1
URS-ch47 1979 D58
Geller, Efim P vs Kasparov, Gary
1/2-1/2
URS-ch47 1979 B07
Geller, Efim P vs Jussupow, Artur
1/2-1/2
URS-ch47 1979 C43
Tal, Mihail vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
URS-ch47 1979 B52
Geller, Efim P vs Kasparov, Gary
1/2-1/2
URS-ch46 1978 B19
Geller, Efim P vs Beliavsky, Alexander G
1/2-1/2
URS-ch46 1978 C92
Geller, Efim P vs Smyslov, Vassily
1/2-1/2
Lvov zt 1978 C43
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Geller, Efim P
0-1
Lvov zt 1978 C93
Tal, Mihail vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
URS-ch46 1978 D55
Geller, Efim P vs Polugaevsky, Lev
0-1
URS-ch46 1978 B85
Geller, Efim P vs Timman, Jan H
1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1977 B08
Geller, Efim P vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Sochi 1977 B85
Tal, Mihail vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
URS-ch45 1977 C93
Polugaevsky, Lev vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
URS-ch45 1977 E05
Smyslov, Vassily vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
URS-ch45 1977 D01
Petrosian, Tigran V vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
URS-ch45 1977 D58
Petrosian, Tigran V vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
Sochi 1977 E92
Geller, Efim P vs Diaz, Joaquin C
1-0
Biel Interzonal 1976 E87
Geller, Efim P vs Smejkal, Jan
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1976 A14
Matanovic, Aleksandar vs Geller, Efim P
0-1
Biel Interzonal 1976 B66
Geller, Efim P vs Portisch, Lajos
1/2-1/2
Las Palmas 1976 B92
Petrosian, Tigran V vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
URS-ch44 1976 E89
Geller, Efim P vs Rogoff, Kenneth
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1976 B17
Geller, Efim P vs Lombard, Andre
1-0
Biel Interzonal 1976 B33
Gulko, Boris F vs Geller, Efim P
1-0
Biel Interzonal 1976 A65
Sanguineti, Raul vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1976 E99
Geller, Efim P vs Karpov, Anatoly
1-0
URS-ch44 1976 C16
Polugaevsky, Lev vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
URS-ch44 1976 D93
Geller, Efim P vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
URS-ch44 1976 B85
Polugaevsky, Lev vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
Sochi 1976 E18
Larsen, Bent vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
Las Palmas 1976 C28
Smyslov, Vassily vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
URS-ch44 1976 E67
Byrne, Robert E vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1976 B66
Castro Rojas, Oscar Humberto vs Geller, Efim P
1-0
Biel Interzonal 1976 B31
Geller, Efim P vs Liberzon, Vladimir M
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1976 D55
Geller, Efim P vs Sosonko, Gennadi
1-0
Biel Interzonal 1976 D38
Csom, Istvan vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1976 A13
Huebner, Robert vs Geller, Efim P
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1976 E61
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