Alapin Semyon Zinoviech (19.11.1856 – 15.07.1923)

Russian chess master born in Saint Petersburg. Railway engineer and merchant, for some time he was living in Paris and Berlin. By the end of 1870’s he was one of the strongest chess players in Russia.

One of his best achievements was in Petersburg Tournament, 1878/79, when he shared the victory with Mikhail Chigorin. He was second in Vienna, 1901, in Lodz 1908 and in Munich 1909 then finally won in Munich 1911.

In matches, he drew with Carl Schlechter in 1899 – 3-3 and lost to Mikhail Chigorin 3-7 in 1880.

Today he is best known for his creation of opening systems in almost all major openings including one main line in the Sicilian defence (B22) 1. e4 c5 2. c3.

Historical ELO: 2500.