Shamkovich Leonid Aleksandrovich (01.06.1923 – 22.04.2005)

US Grandmaster (1965) born in Russia. Coach. graduated in engineering. Russian (federal) Champion in 1954 and 1956. He emigrated to Israel in 1972, moved to Canada in 1973 and then to the US in 1976.

Best results: USSR Championships, 1964 and 1965, 5^th-6^th. Interzonal Tournament Rio de Janeiro 1979, 10^th-11^th; Moscow 1962, 3^rd-6^th; Marianske Lazne 1965, 3^rd; Salgotarjan 1967, 1^st-3^rd; Sochi 1967, 1^st-5^th; Constance 1969, 1^st; Dubna 1971, US Open 1972, 1st; 2^nd; Timisoara 1972, 1^st-2^nd; Mexico 1978, 1^st; Bill 1980, 2^nd-3^rd; Holon, Tel Aviv, 1986-87, 5^th-8^th. Immigrated to Israel in 1972, New York Open 1976, 1st, New York Masters,197§, 1st.

Shamkovich’s expertise was as an analyst and tactician. He was sought after as a coach, and worked for two world champions, Mikhail Tal and Garry Kasparov.

Author of more than a dozen books, including ones on the Gruenfeld Defense and the Schliemann Defense, the latter a particularly tactical opening, World Champion Tactics, Saving Lost Positions (1987).

Shamkovich died of complications from Parkinson’s disease and cancer in his Brooklyn home.