Chigorin M.I., (1850-1908), chess-player

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CHIGORIN MIKHAIL IVANOVICH (1850, Gatchina - 1908), the founder of the Russian chess school. In 1859-68 was brought up in Gatchina Orphan Boarding School of Emperor Nicholas I (today, 25 Oktyabrya avenue, No. 2; memorial plaque). From 1873 he participated in chess competitions and by the beginning of the 1880s became the best chess player in the nation. In 1876-81 he served as editor and publisher of Shakhmatny Listok journal, and in 1885-87 as chairman of Shakhmatny Vestnik journal, as well as edited chess columns in various periodicals. In 1884 he founded St. Petersburg Chess Amateurs Society (Chigorin Circle; originally situated in Chigorin's apartment, later moved to 2 rooms of the Angleterre Hotel). In 1891-98 he served as Vice-President of St. Petersburg Chess Society. In the autumn of 1893 a match between Chigorin and Z. Tarrasch (Germany) took place in St. Petersburg. It was the first international chess competition in Russia. Chigorin was chess champion of Russia in 1899-1906. In 1901-07 he lived at 15 Devyatoi Roty (today, Krasnoarmeyskaya Street; memorial plaque). In 1907 he moved to Lyublin where he died. In 1914 his ashes were reburied in Navodevichye Cemetery. St. Petersburg Chess Club bears Chigorin's name (25 Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street). In 1909 the 1st International Chigorin Chess Competition was held in St. Petersburg (from 1947 on, Chigorin Memorial Meetings were held in the USSR).

Reference: Панов В. Н. Рыцарь бедный: Док. повествование о великом рус. шахматисте М. И. Чигорине. М., 1968; Юдович М. М. Михаил Чигорин: Жизнь и творчество. М., 1985.

I. A. Bogdanov. Chigorin Mikhail Ivanovich
Tarrasch S.
9th Krasnoarmeiskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 15
Bolshaya Konyushennaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 25
Панов В. Н. Рыцарь бедный: Док. повествование о великом рус. шахматисте М. И. Чигорине. М., 1968
Юдович М. М. Михаил Чигорин: Жизнь и творчество. М., 1985 Angleterre Hotel
Novodevichye Cemetery
Novodevichye Cemetery
1879
1893