Boris Gelfand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boris Gelfand |
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During the Tata Steel Chess, 2012
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| Full name | Boris Abramovich Gelfand |
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| Born | 24 June 1968 Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Title | Grandmaster (1989) |
| FIDE rating | 2676 (August 2025) |
| Peak rating | 2777 (November 2013) |
| Ranking | No. 60 (September 2020) |
| Peak ranking | No. 3 (July 1990) |
Boris Abramovich Gelfand (born June 24, 1968) is a famous chess player from Belarus and Israel. He is known as a Grandmaster, which is the highest title a chess player can earn.
Gelfand is one of the strongest players of his generation. He has competed for the World Championship six times. In 2012, he played a match for the title of World Chess Champion against Viswanathan Anand. The match was very close, but Gelfand lost in the final tiebreak games.
Throughout his long career, Gelfand has won many of the world's most important chess tournaments. He was ranked among the top 30 players in the world for over 25 years, from 1990 to 2017.
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A Young Chess Star
Boris Gelfand was born in Minsk, which was then part of the Soviet Union. His parents were both engineers. When Boris was just five years old, his father gave him a chess book, and he quickly fell in love with the game.
His talent was clear from a young age. He started training with his first coach in 1974. He later studied at the famous Tigran Petrosian School, named after a former world champion. Petrosian once told him, "Never make a move without there being an idea behind it." Gelfand took this advice to heart.
His hard work paid off. He won the Belarusian Chess Championship two years in a row (1984 and 1985). By 1988, he was already ranked in the top 40 players in the world. In 1989, he officially earned the title of Grandmaster.
Rise to the Top
In the 1990s, Gelfand became one of the world's elite players. He was invited to major tournaments and often finished near the top. He played against legends like Garry Kasparov and Viswanathan Anand.
In 1993, Gelfand won the Biel Interzonal tournament. This victory earned him a spot in the Candidates Matches, a series of games to decide who gets to challenge the World Champion. He defeated strong players like Michael Adams and Vladimir Kramnik. He reached the final match but lost to Anatoly Karpov.
Even after this, Gelfand continued to be a powerful force in chess. He won major tournaments in Spain, France, and Austria. He was known for his calm and strategic style of play.
Competing for the World Title
Gelfand's biggest dream was to become World Champion. In 2007, he came very close, finishing tied for second place at the World Chess Championship tournament.
His next big chance came in 2009 when he won the Chess World Cup. This victory qualified him for the 2011 Candidates Tournament. The winner of this event would get to challenge the World Champion. Gelfand played brilliantly and won the tournament, defeating Alexander Grischuk in the final match.
The 2012 World Championship Match
In 2012, Gelfand faced World Champion Viswanathan Anand in Moscow for the championship title. The match was a series of 12 games. After six draws, Gelfand won the seventh game, taking the lead. But Anand won the eighth game, tying the score.
The match ended in a 6–6 tie. To decide a winner, they had to play a "rapid" tiebreak, which are games with much less time on the clock. Anand was stronger in the rapid games and won the tiebreak, keeping his title as World Champion. Even though he lost, Gelfand had proven he was one of the best players in the world.
Career After the Championship
Gelfand did not let the loss stop him. He continued to compete at the highest level. Just a few months after the world championship match, he shared first place at a major tournament in London.
In 2013, he had a fantastic year. He won the prestigious Tal Memorial tournament in Moscow, finishing ahead of world number one Magnus Carlsen. This victory helped him reach his highest-ever FIDE rating of 2777, a score only a handful of players in history have achieved.
Playing for His Country
Gelfand has represented three teams in his career: the Soviet Union, Belarus, and Israel. He has played in eleven Chess Olympiads, which is like the Olympics for chess.
In these team events, he has won several medals:
- Team Gold: Once with the Soviet Union (1990).
- Team Silver: Twice with Israel (2008 Olympiad, 2003 European Team Championship).
- Team Bronze: Once with Israel (2010 Olympiad).
- Individual Silver: Once at the 2008 Olympiad for his excellent performance.
Playing Style
Gelfand is known for his deep understanding of chess strategy. He doesn't always go for flashy attacks. Instead, he likes to build up small advantages and control the game. Former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik said that Gelfand is a "highly universal player" who can play any type of position well.
As White, he usually starts the game by moving his queen's pawn (1.d4). As Black, he is an expert in famous defenses like the Najdorf Sicilian and the King's Indian Defence.
Personal Life
In 1998, Gelfand moved to Israel and lives in the city of Rishon LeZion. He is married to his wife, Maya, and they have two children. Besides chess, he is a big fan of football and supports the team FC Barcelona.
See also
In Spanish: Borís Gélfand para niños
- List of Jewish chess players
