Participants
Boris Gelfand (was born in 1968, June, 24, in Minsk). Is living in Israel since 1998. Almaty is one of his favorite cities. Relatives of his wife live in Almaty. It was necessary to get training in mountain conditions to prepare to the World Championship 2007, took placing in Mexico. Where did Boris Gelfand prepare? In one of sanatoriums of Zailiy Alatau! The result was good – sharing of the 2nd place!
It was spoken in 80th about talented young chess-player from Belarus, when Borya began training in famous chess-school of 9th world champion Tigran Petrosyan. Gelfand justified hopes and became the pretender for world chess crown in the beginning of 90th. He was the real candidate with Ivanchuk and Anand to interfere in the argue of historical rivals – Karpov and Kasparov. He was in Top 5 greatest chess-players in the world, but than his successes were reduced. It’s very cramped on chess Olympus now, and it is very hard to come back on the top of it. But Israeli grand-master goes through the chess Renascence. He has new successes in international tournaments, and shared the 2nd place with Vladimir Kramnik at the World Championship 2007.
Tournament successes of Gelfand are impressive: Belgrade, Tilburg, Linares, Vienna, Polanica-Zdrój… Boris Gelfand is one of grand-masters, who won match against Vladimir Kramnik! It was in 1994. The future world champion Kramnik was the favorite after the beginning of the match, but Boris could create mini-sensation and win in hard duel. Will Boris Gelfand surprise chess world in Almaty, lucky city for him?
