Stein Leonid Zakharovich (12.11.1934 – 04.07.1973)

Ukraine Grandmaster (1962), one of the best Soviet players of his time. Three times USSR Champion in 1963, 1965 and 1966.

Best results: won or shared first in Moscow 1967, Hastings 1966-67, Kecskemet 1968, Tallinn 1969, Moscow 1971, Zagreb 1972 and Las Palmas 1973. Also finished second equal at the strong Moscow tournament in 1967.

Stein had additional impressive life records against top players. He beat Mikhail Tal (+4=13-0), Viktor Korchnoi (+2=13-1), David Bronstein (+4=9-1), Boris Spassky (+3=9-1), Paul Keres (+2=6-0), drew with Mikhail Botvinnik (+1=2-1), Smyslov (+1=11-1) and Samuel Reshevsky (+0=7-0), finally he lost to Boby Fischer (+0=1-1), Tigran Petrosian (+1=8-3), Anatoly Karpov (+0=3-2) and Efim Geller (+1=10-7).

A participant in the Olympiads of 1964 and 1966 where he got two team gold medals and one gold for the best performance at board four in 1964.

Stein was never a Candidate; despite being qualified, he missed his chance in 1962 because FIDE limited the number of participants of one country and was he replaced by the American Pal Benko.

Peak rating: 2620 in 1972, he was then the eleventh world ranked player.