Evgeny Sveshnikov

Evgeny Ellinovich Sveshnikov (; 11 February 195018 August 2021) was a Russian chess player and writer who is credited with the development of the Sveshnikov Variation of the Sicilian Defence. He was awarded the title of Grandmaster by FIDE in 1977.

In team competitions, he played on the gold medal-winning Soviet team in the 1976 World Student Team Chess Championship, and was selected as a reserve for the Soviet side participating at the 1977 European Team Chess Championship in Moscow. Although only an international master at the time, he registered a score of 80%, winning individual and team gold medals. He represented Latvia at the Chess Olympiads of 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010, and at the European Team Championship in 2011. In 2016 he was the top board of the gold medal-winning Russian team in the 65+ section of the World Senior Team Championship.

Activism

Known as one of the most outspoken and controversial grandmasters on the circuit, Sveshnikov became linked with player revolts over the handing in of . It was (and is) accepted practice that players submit copies of their game scores to tournament organisers and these games later appear on the internet, in books, magazines and in database programs. Sveshnikov insisted that it was not in the best interests of chess professionals to allow this to continue.

He contended that game scores were the labors and intellectual property of the two players concerned and therefore copyright permissions and royalty fees should apply. It is morally corrupt, he argued, that only authors, editors and owners of Chess Publishing Houses profit from the publication of game scores. Effectively, players are even prevented from producing an exclusive book of their own best games as an investment for their retirement. He also questioned the wisdom of handing over such detailed information to future opponents, who would utilise databases to improve their chances of victory, regardless of original thought or chess-playing ability.

Opening theory

Sveshnikov is best known for the opening theory he pioneered during the 1960s and 1970s with his close friend Grandmaster Gennadij Timoscenko in the Sveshnikov Sicillian.

He was also a pioneer in the development of the following lines: The Advance Variation of the French Defence. The Alapin Variation of the Sicilian Defence. 6.e5 in the Classical Variation of the Giuoco Piano.

Personal life Sveshnikov was born in Chelyabinsk on 11 February 1950.

He was married twice, and had two sons and two daughters. One of the sons, Vladimir Sveshnikov, is a chess player with the title of International Master. His death came a few months after the death of his mother.

Notable games Evgeny Sveshnikov vs. Ruslan Sherbakov, Moscow ch-URS 1991, Sicilian Rossolimo, 1–0. White expertly probes on the kingside to create weaknesses on the dark squares and then springs a surprise mating net, commencing with a queen sacrifice. Evgeny Sveshnikov vs. Igor Ivanov, Russia 1976, Caro–Kann, 1–0. White initiates early razor-sharp tactics and concludes the game with a stylish mating attack.