Alexander Zaitsev (chess player)

Alexander Nikolayevich Zaitsev (Russian: Александр Николаевич Зайцев, scientific transliteration Aleksandr Nikolaevich Zajcev; born June 15, 1935 † October 31, 1971 in Vladivostok ) was a Soviet chess player.

An electrical engineer Alexander Zaitsev 1967 International Grandmaster and was the first chess player from the Far East, which won this item. First major successes he achieved in 1953 with the first through third places in the youth championship of the Russian Soviet Federative Republic. Between 1954 and 1959, Zaitsev was at the same regional champion of the territory Primorye. In 1968, Zaitsev earned the championship of the RSFSR. He was a four-time finalist for the title of a Soviet chess master he never reached. His best finish was there in 1968, a common first course with Lev Abramovich Polugajewski, against whom he then lost the playoff for the title with 2,5:3,5.

Zaitsev preferred an active position game that has been described by Mikhail Tal to be extremely interesting, as Zaitsev in his creative approach neither openings nor during the game used stereotyped standards.

Date of death, cause of death

In "The Penguin Encyclopedia of Chess" ( Harry Golombek ) is given as the date of death November 8, 1971. The cause of death complications are mentioned in an operation on his foot. The GM title in 1967 and the date of death November 8, 1971 are also given in the FIDE Golden book.