Chess Player. Born in Riga, Latvia, he became interested in chess when he saw the game played in his physician father's waiting room. He soon became obsessed with the game, playing with anyone as often as he could. Known as an attacking genius at the board, he defeated Mikhail Botvinnik in 1960, at the age of 24 to become the youngest grandmaster to hold the world champion title of that time. Suffering from poor health, he lost the rematch the next year and never qualified for a world title match again. However, he was still able to achieve world-class success by adding four more Soviet Championship victories in (1967, 1972, 1974, and 1978). He died of renal failure at the age of 55.
Chess Player. Born in Riga, Latvia, he became interested in chess when he saw the game played in his physician father's waiting room. He soon became obsessed with the game, playing with anyone as often as he could. Known as an attacking genius at the board, he defeated Mikhail Botvinnik in 1960, at the age of 24 to become the youngest grandmaster to hold the world champion title of that time. Suffering from poor health, he lost the rematch the next year and never qualified for a world title match again. However, he was still able to achieve world-class success by adding four more Soviet Championship victories in (1967, 1972, 1974, and 1978). He died of renal failure at the age of 55.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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