Azmaiparashvili Zurab (16.03.1960)

azmaiparashvili

Zurab started to play chess at 4 and was invited at 6 to play his first simultaneous display with 13 boards (=9=3-1). His first coach at the time was Shota Intskirveli. In 1970 he became a first category player. At 12 he scored a splendid victory at festival of Soviet pioneers with 100% and at 13 he became U20 champion of Georgia. First national title in 1978 with the U20 championship of Soviet Union which gave him the title of Soviet Sport Master. In 1979, playing his first championship abroad, he finished second at the U20 European championship.
With his first title at the Georgian champion in 1979, Zurab was now ready to face the best players in the world. Joint first with Mikhail Tal at Albena in 1986, 1st in Moscow, II tournament, cat VIII.1986 – 1-2nd in Tbilisi with Tal in 1988 – 1st in Amsterdam OHRA Open; 1st in London (Lloyds Bank); 1st at Havana (Capablanca Memorial) 1990 – 1-5th place in GMA Final Tournament Moscow. 1990, Member of Soviet team in Reykjavik 1992, 1st in Toledo 1991, 1-3rd in Dortmund 1993, 1st at San-Sebastian Open 1993 and 1995, 1st in Struga Zonal Tournament 1997, 1st at Portoroz, cat XVI (Vidmar memorial.) In 1999 he finished 2nd in Antwerp, in 2000 he was 3rd at Montecatini, cat XVII. The following year, he finished third at the European Championship behind Emil Sutovsky and Ruslan Ponomariov, but in 2003 he took his revenge by wining the European title ahead of a strong field. He also won Nova Gorica in 2005 and 2006 and Singapore in 2007 and 2010.
Being the 2003 European Champion he was invited to play Garry Kasparov in a Rapid match which he lost 5½-½.
Since 2006 he has spent half of his time coaching in Singapore. In 2009, as a coach, he helped the Azerbaijan national team to win the European Team Championship.

A member of the national team from 1992, he was awarded a bronze medal in 1998 for his performance on the first board. Zurab is also well known as a coach. From 1987 – 1993 he coached Garry Kasparov, 1995 – 1996 Judith Polgar, 1998 – 2000 the French star Etienne Bacrot and 2000-2004 Teimour Radjabov.

In 1998 Azmaiparashvili went to “politic” and became the President of Georgia Chess Federation. In 2000 he was elected ECU’s board member then became FIDE Vice President between 2002 and 2010 and finally he was elected  ECU President in 2014.

Peak rating : 2703 in 2003.