Person of day   -  30 MAY 2023

IGOR KURNOSOV

IGOR KURNOSOV

Igor Kurnosov is a representative of Chelyabinsk’s chess school. During his youth, he was trained by master Alexander Kozyrev. In 2001, he made a name for himself after he qualified through several difficult rounds for the final of the Russian Cup. 

International grandmaster since 2003, he was the Russian junior champion in that same year. He won tournaments in Serpukhov and Alushta in 2002, Minsk in 2006, Hastings and Tromso in 2008, Bhubaneshwar in 2009, Khanty-Mansiysk in 2010, Helsingor in 2011, and Abu Dhabi and Nakhichevan in 2013.     

He was a wonderful team player from a young age: he is the world champion among students with the Russian team, he won the 2012 Russian championship with Tomsk-400 and he became the best reserve in the Russian league with 8,5 points out of 9! He also won several European championships with various teams. 

In 2006, Igor Kurnosov qualified for the final of the Russian Cup, where he lost to Konstantin Sakaev. He also played in the Superfinal of the 2010 Russian championship, the final of the Russian Grand-Prix in 2011 and in the world rapid championship in 2012. 

He was considered one of the most erudite and creative Russian chess players and a wonderful expert on Grunfeld’s Defence. His record rating neared 2700.   

Igor Kurnosov defeated Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Pavel Eljanov, Boris Gelfand, Dmitry Jakovenko, Nikita Vitiugov and other leading grandmasters. 

On August 8th, 2013, he was fatally knocked over by a car that belonged to a dancer of a nightclub in Chelyabinsk. A criminal case was opened only after the personal intervention of Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich. 

“A gifted, happy man who was always a wonderful and easy-going companion. When talk turned to a position, his eyes shone- everything to do with chess interested him.

Igor’s chess style does not need compliments. He won multiple tournaments. I was always amazed by his ability to remain first even when places were split. Heregularlywondecisivepointsforhisteams.” (E. Inarkiev)

The book Chelyabinsk Meteorite was written by the friends and colleagues of Igor Kurnosov.