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Legendary Soviet chess player Boris Gelfand is known for being part of the world’s top 20 players for most of his life. His accomplishments include two Belarusian national titles and a Chess World Cup. An author, too, he has co-written books such as Positional Decision Making in Chess.
Belarusian chess player Sergei Zhigalko received the FIDE title of Grandmaster in 2007. His achievements as a player so far include winning Under 14 division at World Youth Chess Championships and European Youth Chess Championships in 2003; Under 18 division at European Youth Championships in 2006; the Belarusian Chess Championship thrice (2009, 2012, 2013) and Baku Open twice (2011, 2012).
Chess sensation and International Master Olga Badelka initially played for Belarus and now represents Russia. She was also named a Woman Grandmaster in 2019. Previously, she has won several medals for Belarus at the European and World Youth Chess Championships. She now studies linguistics at the University of Missouri.
Anna Sharevich is a chess player who achieved the prestigious Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title in 2006. Born in Brest, Soviet Union, Sharevich represented Belarus before 2014. Since 2014, she has been representing the United States in international tournaments. Anna Sharevich was part of Saint Louis Arch Bishops, which won the United States Chess League in 2014.
Three-time Women's Soviet Champion Kira Zvorykina had lived in Belarus for quite some time. Born into a family of chess players, she later married grandmaster Alexey Suetin. The Woman International Master and Woman Grandmaster was also named an International Arbiter. She also participated in the 1960 Women's World Championship.
Although Russian chess player, Elena Tairova, lived for only eighteen years she is still remembered for her enormous talent and outstanding records. Debuting in professional chess at the age of eight, she won a gold medal at 2021 European Youth Chess Championships in the Girls U10 category, eventually becoming a Woman Grandmaster at 14 and an International Master at 15.
