Early Life
He was born in 1947 in Leningrad, USSR, and learned chess at age five. He studied music intensively as a youth, specializing in piano, and was very talented. He was orphaned at age 14 when his mother died; she had wanted him to become a concert performer. He essentially gave up this path to concentrate on chess. Ivanov studied Mathematics at Leningrad State University, but left before completing his degree. He was a member of the Army Sports Club, for which he trained chessplayers, and also played extensively. For several years in the early-to-mid 1970s, he was part of the exceptionally deep class of Soviet masters which was just below international standard. Ivanov did qualify for the 1975 Soviet Championship First League; this event, with several Grandmasters in the field, was still one stage below the top level at that time.
Ivanov took an opportunity to represent Uzbekistan, a central Asian Soviet republic, and to be a professional player there. Several victories in strong Soviet events soon followed, such as Vladivostok 1978, Yaroslavl 1979, and Ashkhabad 1979. He tied for the second place in the Soviet Championship Otborochnii (qualifying tournament) held at Daugavpils, Latvia, in 1978. But for the 64 players, only one place was open to the Soviet Championship Premier League, and it was Garry Kasparov (future World Champion). Ivanov thus again qualified for the First League of 1979.
Ivanov first became internationally famous later in 1979, when he defeated World Champion Anatoly Karpov in a superb game from the USSR Spartakiad team tournament. This likely earned him the privilege of his first international travel, very difficult for Soviets to obtain during those years.
Read more about this topic: Igor Vasilyevich Ivanov
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