Viktor Korchnoi

Chess Player

Birthday March 23, 1931

Birth Sign Aries

Birthplace Russia

DEATH DATE Jun 6, 2016 (85)

#229,136 Most Popular

About

Master of aggressive counter-attacks and considered one of the greatest players to never win a World Chess Championship.

Before Fame

He graduated from Leningrad State University in Saint Petersburg with a degree in history.

Trivia

While almost exclusively a counter-attacker early in his career, he became proficient at initiating attacks and developed a deadly endgame.

Family Life

He grew up in the USSR; his father was Jewish, and his mother was Catholic.

Associated With

His counter-attacking style was a natural foil to Grandmaster Mikhail Tal's all-out attack, giving Tal lots of trouble in their matches.