Ilya Kan
Encyclopedia
Ilya Abramovich Kan was a Russian / Soviet International Master (IM) of Chess.
He played ten times in Soviet Championships
. In 1929, he took 3rd in Odessa
(6th URS-ch; Boris Verlinsky
won). In 1931, he took 7th in Moscow
(7th URS-ch; Mikhail Botvinnik
won). In 1933, he took 9th in Leningrad
(8th URS-ch; Botvinnik won). In 1934/35, he tied for 9-12th in Leningrad (9th URS-ch; Grigory Levenfish
and Ilya Rabinovich
won). In 1937, he took 13th in Tbilisi
(10th URS-ch; Levenfish won). In 1939, he tied for 13-14th in Leningrad (11th URS-ch; Botvinnik won). In 1945, he took 17th in Moscow (14th URS-ch; Botvinnik won). In 1947, he tied for 13-15th in Leningrad (15th URS-ch; Paul Keres
won). In 1952, he took 18th in Moscow (20th URS-ch; Botvinnik and Mark Taimanov
won). In 1955, he took 17th in Moscow (22nd URS-ch; Vasily Smyslov
and Efim Geller
won).
In the 1931 Moscow City Championship
, he took 2nd, behind Nikolai Riumin
. In the 1932 Moscow City Championship, he took 3rd, behind Nikolai Riumin and Duz-Hotimirsky. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/al2055km/nat_tour/1932/moscow32.html&date=2009-10-25+12:12:48
In 1933/34, he took 5th in Moscow–ch (Riumin won). In 1934, he took 5th in Leningrad (Botvinnik won). In 1935, he tied for 6-7th in Moscow (2nd it; Botvinnik and Salo Flohr
won). In 1936, he tied for 7-10th in Moscow (3rd it; José Raúl Capablanca
won). In 1936, he tied for 1st-2nd with Vladimir Alatortsev
in Moscow–ch. In 1937, he took 4th in Moscow–ch (Alatortsev and Sergey Belavenets
won). In 1937, he took 2nd, behind Reuben Fine
, in Moscow.
He was awarded the IM title in 1950. His opening theory contributions were mainly in the Sicilian Defence
variation which bears his name: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6.
http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_opng_shrtcts/041001_anti_sicilians_4.html
This flexible line has been adopted frequently by top players since 1950, including Anatoly Karpov
, World Champion 1975-85, and English Grandmaster Tony Miles
. The line is sometimes called the Paulsen Variation in the West, for German Master Louis Paulsen
, who played it earlier in the 19th century. Kan scored several victories over Botvinnik early in his career; Botvinnik became World Champion 1948–1957, 1958–1960, and 1961–1963.
He is named as the editor of the Shakhmatny Bulletin
issue 6. http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kibitz66.pdf
He played ten times in Soviet Championships
USSR Chess Championship
This is a list of all the winners of the USSR Chess Championship. It was the strongest national chess championship ever held, with eight world chess champions and four world championship finalists among its winners...
. In 1929, he took 3rd in Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
(6th URS-ch; Boris Verlinsky
Boris Verlinsky
Boris Markovich Verlinsky was a Ukrainian-Russian International Master of chess. He was one of the top Soviet players of the 1920s, and was in the top 20 in the world in 1926, clearly of Grandmaster strength at that time...
won). In 1931, he took 7th in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
(7th URS-ch; Mikhail Botvinnik
Mikhail Botvinnik
Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik, Ph.D. was a Soviet and Russian International Grandmaster and three-time World Chess Champion. Working as an electrical engineer and computer scientist at the same time, he was one of the very few famous chess players who achieved distinction in another career while...
won). In 1933, he took 9th in Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
(8th URS-ch; Botvinnik won). In 1934/35, he tied for 9-12th in Leningrad (9th URS-ch; Grigory Levenfish
Grigory Levenfish
Grigory Yakovlevich Levenfish was a leading Jewish Russian chess grandmaster of the 1920s and 1930s. He was twice Soviet champion - in 1934 and 1937. In 1937 he tied a match against future world champion Mikhail Botvinnik...
and Ilya Rabinovich
Ilya Rabinovich
Ilya Rabinovich was a Russian chess master.-Biography:In 1911 Ilya Leontievich Rabinovich tied for 1st with Platz in Saint Petersburg...
won). In 1937, he took 13th in Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
(10th URS-ch; Levenfish won). In 1939, he tied for 13-14th in Leningrad (11th URS-ch; Botvinnik won). In 1945, he took 17th in Moscow (14th URS-ch; Botvinnik won). In 1947, he tied for 13-15th in Leningrad (15th URS-ch; Paul Keres
Paul Keres
Paul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
won). In 1952, he took 18th in Moscow (20th URS-ch; Botvinnik and Mark Taimanov
Mark Taimanov
Mark Evgenievich Taimanov is a leading Soviet and Russian chess player and concert pianist.-Chess:He was awarded the International Grandmaster title in 1952 and played in the Candidates Tournament in Zurich in 1953, where he tied for eighth place. From 1946 to 1956, he was among the world's top...
won). In 1955, he took 17th in Moscow (22nd URS-ch; Vasily Smyslov
Vasily Smyslov
Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov was a Soviet and Russian chess grandmaster, and was World Chess Champion from 1957 to 1958. He was a Candidate for the World Chess Championship on eight occasions . Smyslov was twice equal first at the Soviet Championship , and his total of 17 Chess Olympiad medals won...
and Efim Geller
Efim Geller
Efim Petrovich Geller was a Soviet chess player and world-class grandmaster at his peak. He won the Soviet Championship twice and was a Candidate for the World Championship on six occasions...
won).
In the 1931 Moscow City Championship
Moscow City Chess Championship
-References: ****** from chessbase.com...
, he took 2nd, behind Nikolai Riumin
Nikolai Riumin
Nikolai Nikolaevich Riumin was a Russian chess master, one of the strongest Soviet players of the 1930s.Riumin was Moscow Champion in 1931, 1933/34, and 1935. He played in four Soviet Championships. In 1929, he took 5th in a quarter final group in Odessa...
. In the 1932 Moscow City Championship, he took 3rd, behind Nikolai Riumin and Duz-Hotimirsky. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/al2055km/nat_tour/1932/moscow32.html&date=2009-10-25+12:12:48
In 1933/34, he took 5th in Moscow–ch (Riumin won). In 1934, he took 5th in Leningrad (Botvinnik won). In 1935, he tied for 6-7th in Moscow (2nd it; Botvinnik and Salo Flohr
Salo Flohr
Salomon Mikhailovich Flohr was a leading Czech and later Soviet chess grandmaster of the mid-20th century, who became a national hero in Czechoslovakia during the 1930s. His name was used to sell many of the luxury products of the time, including Salo Flohr cigarettes, slippers and eau-de-cologne...
won). In 1936, he tied for 7-10th in Moscow (3rd it; José Raúl Capablanca
José Raúl Capablanca
José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera was a Cuban chess player who was world chess champion from 1921 to 1927. One of the greatest players of all time, he was renowned for his exceptional endgame skill and speed of play...
won). In 1936, he tied for 1st-2nd with Vladimir Alatortsev
Vladimir Alatortsev
Vladimir Alexeyevich Alatortsev , was a Russian chess grandmaster, organizer, teacher, author, and administrator. During his career, he became champion of both Leningrad and Moscow, and played nine times in the Soviet Chess Championship finals, with his best competitive results in the 1930s...
in Moscow–ch. In 1937, he took 4th in Moscow–ch (Alatortsev and Sergey Belavenets
Sergey Belavenets
Sergey Belavenets was a Soviet chess master, theoretician, and chess journalist of Belarusian descent.- Early life :Belavenets was born in Smolensk to a noble family. He and Mikhail Yudovich, known as the Smolensk twins, had been close friends since meeting in a school match in 1925...
won). In 1937, he took 2nd, behind Reuben Fine
Reuben Fine
Reuben Fine was one of the strongest chess players in the world from the early 1930s through the 1940s, an International Grandmaster, psychologist, university professor, and author of many books on both chess and psychology.Fine won five medals in three chess Olympiads. Fine won the U.S...
, in Moscow.
He was awarded the IM title in 1950. His opening theory contributions were mainly in the Sicilian Defence
Sicilian Defence
The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The Sicilian is the most popular and best-scoring response to White's first move 1.e4...
variation which bears his name: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6.
http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_opng_shrtcts/041001_anti_sicilians_4.html
This flexible line has been adopted frequently by top players since 1950, including Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. He was the official world champion from 1975 to 1985 when he was defeated by Garry Kasparov. He played three matches against Kasparov for the title from 1986 to 1990, before becoming FIDE World Champion once...
, World Champion 1975-85, and English Grandmaster Tony Miles
Tony Miles
Anthony John Miles was an English chess Grandmaster.- Early achievements in chess :Miles was born in Edgbaston, a suburb of Birmingham...
. The line is sometimes called the Paulsen Variation in the West, for German Master Louis Paulsen
Louis Paulsen
Louis Paulsen was a German chess player.In 1860s and 1870s, he was among the top five players in the world. He was a younger brother of Wilfried Paulsen....
, who played it earlier in the 19th century. Kan scored several victories over Botvinnik early in his career; Botvinnik became World Champion 1948–1957, 1958–1960, and 1961–1963.
He is named as the editor of the Shakhmatny Bulletin
Shakhmatny Bulletin
Shakhmatny Bulletin was a Russian chess magazine. It was published monthly from 1955–1990 and published about 2,500 complete games per year. Yuri Averbakh was an editor. The circulation was 20,000. Bobby Fischer called Shakhmatny Bulletin "the best chess magazine in the world."...
issue 6. http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kibitz66.pdf