Aleksander Genrikhovich Belyavsky
b. Dec. 17, 1953
Career Highlights:
Belyavsky was considered one of the world's top ten chess players in the 1980s. After winning the world Junior championship in 1973, Aleksander became a candidate for the World Championship in 1982, but was crushed by Kasparov: +1=4-4 (1983). Between 1973 and 1987, Belyavsky participated in eleven USSR championships and achieved three victories.
Belyavsky was a member of the winning USSR team in the 1982 Chess Olympiad (he scored 7 points out of 10) and the 1984 Chess Olympiad (scoring 8 out of 10).
He was awarded with a Medal of Honor in 1981 and a Friendship of the People medal in 1985.
Kasparov once said of him: "It goes without saying, Belyavsky's most notable qualities are his determination and astonishing ability to work behind the chess board. This makes him a dangerous opponent."
Origin:
Lvov, Ukraine, USSR
Category:
International Grand Master: 1975