Olga Levina (draughts player)
Encyclopedia
Olga Levina is a retired International draughts
player and 4 times Women's World Champion in International draughts. Levina is a Kharkiv University
alumnus. Her father, Vadim Levin, is a poet and translator, an author of numerous books for children.
player but once having, in 10th grade, reached a Master's level, the highest possible in this variant of draughts, has switched to International draughts. In 1981, as 19-year old, she won her first World title. In 1986 she was awarded an International Grandmaster title.
She clinched World championship title three more times, in 1987, 1989 and 1993. Her victory in Rosmalen
in 1989 was particularly impressive as she managed to win all her games at that championship.
In 1995 Olga Levina emigrated to Israel
and settled in Haifa
. The same year she participated for the last time in the World championships; after realizing that the Israeli sports authorities cannot provide her with the kind of support she was used to in the Soviet Union
, she decided to retire. Today she is a certified specialist in Neuro-linguistic programming
and a traditional Reiki
Master.
International draughts
International draughts is a board game, one of the variants of draughts. It is played on a 10×10 board with alternatingly dark and light squares, of which only the 50 dark ones are used. There are two players on opposite sides, with 20 pieces each, light for one player and dark for the other...
player and 4 times Women's World Champion in International draughts. Levina is a Kharkiv University
Kharkiv University
The University of Kharkiv or officially the Vasyl Karazin Kharkiv National University is one of the major universities in Ukraine, and earlier in the Russian Empire and Soviet Union...
alumnus. Her father, Vadim Levin, is a poet and translator, an author of numerous books for children.
Career
Olga Levina started her professional career as a Russian draughtsRussian checkers
Russian draughts is a variant of draughts played in some parts in Russia and some parts of the former USSR, as well as parts of Eastern Europe and Israel.-Rules:...
player but once having, in 10th grade, reached a Master's level, the highest possible in this variant of draughts, has switched to International draughts. In 1981, as 19-year old, she won her first World title. In 1986 she was awarded an International Grandmaster title.
She clinched World championship title three more times, in 1987, 1989 and 1993. Her victory in Rosmalen
Rosmalen
Rosmalen is a city in the province of North Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands. It is located near 's-Hertogenbosch and has belonged to its municipality since 1996. In 2005 the city began construction of a new neighbourhood, De Groote Wielen...
in 1989 was particularly impressive as she managed to win all her games at that championship.
In 1995 Olga Levina emigrated to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and settled in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. The same year she participated for the last time in the World championships; after realizing that the Israeli sports authorities cannot provide her with the kind of support she was used to in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, she decided to retire. Today she is a certified specialist in Neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...
and a traditional Reiki
Reiki
is a spiritual practice developed in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui. The teaching was continued and adapted by various teachers. It uses a technique commonly called palm healing as a form of complementary and alternative medicine and is sometimes classified as oriental medicine by some...
Master.