Mikhail Gurevich

Born February 22, 1959 in Kharkov
Grandmaster since 1986.

Champion of the USSR in 1985, winner of international tournaments in Reggio Emilia (1988/89), Munich (1992), North Sea Cup (2000), Pardubice-Open (2000), Wijk aan Zee-In (2000).

Professional rating from 1 February 2002. - 2578
FIDE rating of 1 January 2002. - 2641


Mikhail Gurevich - 'cult figure' of modern chess. It is difficult to name another native of the former Soviet Union, so popular in the West as 'Huron'. This nickname stuck to Michael since the Kharkov time, when he won first in the republic, and then in the Allied Championships. The fate of Hurewicz largely typical - it shared many of the talented, but inconvenient for 'system' chess. His pain was wounded in the allied times. For example, in 1985, after Michael won the championship of the country, it simply was not allowed to interzonal tournament: lost documents ... A few years later he literally escaped from the Union and naturalized in Belgium, . where his chess talent finally was able to turn in all power! Is symbolic, . that in this difficult time for him comes victory at super-tournament in Reggio Emilia, . where he is ahead of Anand, . Ivanchuk, . Ribli and Andersson ..,
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Based in the new world, Gurevich virtually ceases to play in tournaments, switching to coaching (among his students - Anand) and journalistic activities. Returned to active practice, he was only in the late 90's, came very close to the 40-year anniversary. And how is back! Today he won almost all tournaments, in which participating ... His rating is growing by leaps and bounds, and members of any opena know: if you came to them 'Misha', you can safely forget about the first place and lead the countdown to the second. Another proof - a side tournament in Wijk aan Zee 2001. "Guru" (so-affectionately referred to him respectfully foreign members of the ICC) once again confirmed its reputation of King shveytsarok and won the right to play in the main tournament in 2002! Allies Hurewicz victories - the old school 'of the Soviet chess school', . strong nerves, . amazing fearlessness and pure worldly wisdom, . helping to find a way out of any critical situation! Certainly at the very top of this is not quite enough, . but in the middle tournaments Huron is still irresistible.,