Knaak Rainer Fritz Albert (16.03.1953)

German Grandmaster (1975). Knaak was the youngest player to gain this title in East Germany. He won the East German championship in 1974, 1978, 1982, 1983 (shared) and 1984 and also participated in the 1972, 1988 and 1990 Olympiads.

Best results: Winner or shared first at Olomouc 1972, Balashiha 1977, Zabrze 1977, Leipzig 1977, Halle 1978, Leipzig 1983 and 1984, Cienfuegos 1984, Varna 1985. He was equal second at Potsdam 1985, Leipzig 1986, Kobanya 1986, Berlin 1987, Dortmund II 1990, Athens Acropolis 1992, Bad Worishofen Open 1992 and Jyvaskyla Open in 1994.

The author of: Morphy: Genius and Myth (Chessbase CD), The Greatest Tournaments in the History of Chess, 1851-1986 (Chessbase CD), 1000 Opening Traps (Chessbase CD), Trompowsky (Chessbase CD),Mating Attack Against 0-0 (Chessbase CD), 222 Opening Traps after 1.e4 (2008).

Peak rating: 2565 in 1979.