Russian chess grandmaster known for his aggressive and creative playing style, winning numerous tournaments and being a contender for the World Chess Championship title.
Igor Kurnosov was a Russian chess grandmaster known for his exceptional skills on the board, having won numerous tournaments and championships throughout his career. With a FIDE rating of 2662, he was ranked 84th in the world at the time of his untimely death in 2013.
Kurnosov's chess career was marked by a series of impressive victories and achievements. In 2004, he won the 8th Open International Bavarian Chess Championship in Bad Wiessee, edging out five other grandmasters on tiebreak. This was followed by a clear first-place finish at the Arctic Chess Challenge in Troms, Norway in 2008, and a win at the 2009 Hastings Masters tournament.
Other notable achievements include winning the 2011 Politiken Cup in Helsingør, Denmark, and the Zurich Christmas Open in 2011. In 2012, he qualified for the World Rapid Chess Championship final and tied for 1st-3rd place with Sergei Movsesian and Romain Edouard in the Biel Masters Open.
Kurnosov was known for his aggressive playing style, which often led to complex and intriguing games. One of his most famous games is against Marat Dzhumaev at the 2nd Agzamov Memorial in 2008, where he employed the Pirc Defense Byrne Variation to secure a win.
However, his game against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov at the 2009 Aeroflot Open in Moscow was marred by controversy. Mamedyarov filed a complaint of cheating following the game, but it was eventually dismissed. The incident did little to tarnish Kurnosov's reputation as a skilled and fearless player.
On August 8, 2013, Kurnosov's life was tragically cut short when he was hit and killed by a motorist in his hometown of Chelyabinsk, Russia. He was just 28 years old.
Despite his untimely death, Kurnosov's impact on the chess world continues to be felt. A book titled "The Chelyabinsk Meteorite: Selected Games of Igor Kurnosov" was published in 2018, showcasing his most impressive games and cementing his legacy as one of the greatest chess players of his generation.
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