Yuri Averbakh, the world's oldest grandmaster, passed away today, May 7th, three months after celebrating his 100th birthday. Yuri, who was born in Kaluga, Russia on February 8th 1922, got to see the 2nd World Chess Champion Emanuel Lasker play as a child. In 1954 Yuri went on to win the formidable USSR Championship, and he also tied for first two years later. In later years he was a renowned chess arbiter, writer, presenter, journalist and historian, staying active until the very end.
Yuri Averbakh recovered from a COVID scare in 2021, so that on February 8th this year he celebrated his 100th birthday, with his extraordinary life receiving the widespread recognition it deserved. Don't miss FM Yosha Iglesias' article on a chess legend:
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