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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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Korchnoi,V vs Akopian,Vl
1/2-1/2
36th Olympiad 2004 D46
Macieja,B vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
36th Olympiad 2004 C45
Fridman,D2 vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
36th Olympiad 2004 E18
Korchnoi,V vs Rahman,Zia
1/2-1/2
36th Olympiad 2004 E52
Korchnoi,V vs Xu Jun
0-1
36th Olympiad 2004 E53
Korchnoi,V vs De la Riva Aguado,O
1/2-1/2
36th Olympiad 2004 D11
Mok Tze Meng vs Korchnoi,V
0-1
36th Olympiad 2004 C00
Portisch,L vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
II Gyorgy Marx Mem 2004 D34
Korchnoi,V vs Beliavsky,A
0-1
II Gyorgy Marx Mem 2004 E46
Korchnoi,V vs Portisch,L
1-0
II Gyorgy Marx Mem 2004 E07
Beliavsky,A vs Korchnoi,V
0-1
II Gyorgy Marx Mem 2004 E54
Korchnoi,V vs Navara,D
0-1
Match 2003 A10
Navara,D vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
Match 2003 C83
Shirov,A vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
EuTCh 2003 C83
Radjabov,T vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
EuTCh 2003 E14
Morozevich,A vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
It 2003 C13
Korchnoi,V vs Morozevich,A
1/2-1/2
It 2003 B14
Polgar,Ju vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
It 2003 C10
Adams,Mi vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
It 2003 C10
Radjabov,T vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
It 2003 D94
Korchnoi,V vs Gelfand,B
0-1
It 2003 E21
Gelfand,B vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
It 2003 E01
Korchnoi,V vs Short,N
1/2-1/2
It 2003 A28
Leko,P vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
It 2003 C99
Korchnoi,V vs Polgar,Ju
0-1
It 2003 E12
Shirov,A vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
Hrokurinn 2003 C83
Korchnoi,V vs Adams,Mi
1-0
Hrokurinn 2003 E12
Timman,J vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
40th Ann Open 2002 C11
Polgar,S vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
40th Ann Open 2002 B30
Korchnoi,V vs Bruzon,L
1-0
Olympiad 2002 D46
Sasikiran,K vs Korchnoi,V
0-1
Olympiad 2002 E32
Felgaer,R vs Korchnoi,V
0-1
Olympiad 2002 C19
Korchnoi,V vs Rahman,Zia
1/2-1/2
Olympiad 2002 B44
Volkmann,F vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
Olympiad 2002 B83
Korchnoi,V vs Winants,L
1-0
Olympiad 2002 E12
Korchnoi,V vs Macieja,B
0-1
Olympiad 2002 E39
Korchnoi,V vs Kotsur,P
1-0
Olympiad 2002 E38
Bacrot,E vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
Olympiad 2002 E12
Magai,V vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
Olympiad 2002 D24
Kasimdzhanov,R vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
4th Borowski GM 2002 C11
Korchnoi,V vs Jussupow,A
1-0
4th Borowski GM 2002 D30
Leko,P vs Korchnoi,V
1-0
4th Borowski GM 2002 C12
Korchnoi,V vs Beliavsky,A
1/2-1/2
Mitropa Cup 2002 D12
Korchnoi,V vs Polgar,S
1-0
Klompendans 2001 B38
Polgar,S vs Korchnoi,V
0-1
Klompendans 2001 C14
Polgar,Ju vs Korchnoi,V
1/2-1/2
Essent 2001 C11
Korchnoi,V vs Polgar,Ju
1-0
Essent 2001 D43
Korchnoi,V vs Radjabov,T
1/2-1/2
Najdorf Memorial 2001 E70
Polgar,Ju vs Korchnoi,V
0-1
Najdorf Memorial 2001 C11
Korchnoi,V vs Karpov,An
1/2-1/2
Najdorf Memorial 2001 E51
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