Panov Vasily Nikolayevich (01.11.1906 – 18.01.1973)

Russian international Master (1950), theorist and journalist. Panov won the Moscow championship in 1929, competed in six USSR Championships from 1929 to 1948 with modest results, and achieved his best tournament win (+10=6-1) at Kiev 1938.

His reputation was, however, chiefly formed by his theoretical and literary abilities. He contributed greatly to the theory of the Caro-Kann, where one important variation bears his name, and to the Ruy Lopez.

He wrote, in Russian, a beginner’s book, several manuals of the game, a book of the Moscow tournament of 1956, biographies with games of Alekhine and Capablanca, with Estrin he was the co-author of Kurs Debyutov, Moscow (1957), an excellent handbook on the openings which continued with many editions, and was Russia’s best-selling book on the subject.

Panov was also for many years the chess correspondent of Izvestia.