Efstratios Grivas - Early Years

Early Years

He was born in Egio, Achaia and grew up in Athens, in the neighbourhood of Kallithea, as his family moved to the Greek capital in 1970. His registration at the Kallithea Chess Club in 1979 was his first contact with chess. His chess evolution was immediate and rapid, as only two years later he won the Greek Cadet Championship, under the coaching guidance of FM Panagiotis Drepaniotis (1979–1981). It immediately became clear that he was a very talented young chess player, capable of great achievements in his chosen sport. He has written a very famous book "The Grivas Sicilian", rightly named after him as he has explored the book over 20 years.