Sveshnikov Evgeny Elinovich (11.02.1950)

Latvian Grandmaster (1977). A chess theorist. Coach. An engineer-mechanic by profession. Sveshnikov started his chess career by winning the All-Union Young Masters in 1973 and 1976. He took part then in numerous international tournaments where he won or shared first place in Plovdiv 1973, Decin 1974 and Sochi 1976 together with Lev Polugaevsky in 1977, Cuenfuegos 1979, Moscow championship 1983, Hastings 1984-85 Sochi 1985, Moscow 1989, Bled 1991, Torcy 1991, Podolsk 1993, Bled 2001, Predeal 2006, Najdorf Memorial (POL) 2010 and Guernsey Open 2010. A participant in eight USSR championships having shown the best result in 1976 when he shared the eighth place, and 1978 when he was equal fifth. In 1976, he participated in the World Youth Championship and the European Championship in 1977 as a member of the Soviet team. Since 2002 he is participating in the Olympiads under Latvian flag. Sveshnikov headed a chess school for many years in Russia for which his best prodige was super-Grandmaster Andrei Kharlov, a former World Junior Champion. However, he for the most part, remained an active tournament competitor. After developing the Sveshnikov Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5), he then abandoned it and concentrated on the Kalashnikov (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5) and the Sicilian Alapin Variation (1.e4 c5 2.c3). He contributed so much to the latter that no one calls it the Alapin anymore, choosing to call it the Sicilian c3. Sveshnikov had for many years been complaining that he does all the developmental work but other people reap the benefits of his research, since his games are published worldwide and other masters can then simply copy his style. Best ELO: 2620 in 1993.