Final Chess Masters Bilbao 2009

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ALEXANDER GRISCHUK

Well-balanced, with strong character, elegant and 190 cm height, Alexander Grischuk studied Physical Education, but, at the age of 25, he has succeeded in two hard disciplines: winner of Linares 2009, the chess Wimbledon, even though he is also a poker professional. This duality seemed impossible in the 21st century, since computer innovations force players to a strict training in order to be up to date. Perhaps to make up for that chess deprivation he has married to the Ukrainian Grandmaster Natalia Zhúkova.

He is only child, his parents and grandfathers were prestigious physicists in their country. One of his grandfathers directed the Physics Scientific Institute of the former URSS. He was five years old, when his father taught him to play chess. His mother decided he should have a particular coach. When Alexander was 11, his family hired the Russian Grandmaster Anatoly Bikhovsky, they had the advantage of living in the same street.

Bikhovsky was soon impressed:”I will not venture to talk about his future, but during the 25 years that I have been chess junior team trainer I see that the energy that he puts in the board in each game he plays is extraordinary. Apart from give himself up, he tries to find all in each move he makes. And he always fights to win. He doesn’t resign himself to draw, as the other players do.”

Alexander was Russian Chess Champion in almost all age categories, he won medals in European and World Championships – such as the Spanish player Paco Vallejo, -one of his strongest rivals-, although Grischuk didn’t become World Champion U-18. His results for the last seven years have been good but not brilliant (with the exception of being the winner of the World Blitz Championship (five minutes) 2006.

In 2009, he is invited to play in Linares Tournament, he had not much time to preparing it due to his moonlighting, alone (without second or companion), he never went to the hotel restaurant at lunch time, smoking in the backstage area and with time problems almost each day, the young Russian player made a splendid first half with victories over Wang Yue, Radjabov y Aronian (this was a brilliant one) and draws with the rest of the players. After this winning, there is no doubt he might also be the winner of the Masters Final.

He only lost to Carlsen (beauty prize) in the second half. He is the most surprising winner in the history of this tournament.