Happy 80th Birthday Viktor Korchnoi

Not many chessplayers can be described as living legends, but Viktor Korchnoi undoubtedly qualifies for that honour.

Born on 23 March 1931 in Leningrad, Korchnoi survived the siege of that city to become one of the greatest chess players of the 20th Century.

Always a creative and awkward opponent, Korchnoi crossed swords with the best from the 1950s to the present day. 

At the venerable age of 80, Viktor "The Terrible" is by far the oldest GM still playing regularly on the chess circuit.

After his defection from the Soviet Union in 1976, Korchnoi famously clashed with the great world champion Anatoly Karpov in 1978 in Baguio in the Philippines, and again in 1981 in Merano, Italy.

The 1978 match was agonisingly close with Viktor losing 6-5 after 32 games.

Still passionate about chess after 80 years, and still giving painful lessons to his opponents after more than half a century!

Happy birthday Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi!

Picture from the Tradewise Gibraltar Festival website