Viktor Kupreichik (BLR) 1949 - 2017
Viktor Kupeichik, who passed away a few days ago, became an IM in 1977 and a GM in 1980. He first came to international notice by winning the Gold Medal with 6.5 out of 7 as second reserve at the World Student Championship in Ybbs in 1968 and won the Belarusian Chess Championship in 1972 and 2003 (probably a record gap between winning championships).
His major tournament wins were in Wijk aan Zee B in 1977, Reykjavik and Plovdiv in 1980, and Hastings 1981/2. He also won the European Seniors’ Rapid Championship in 2010. He almost certainly would have won many more major tournaments but for his style of sharp, creative and fighting chess, which meant that he would often run out of steam in later rounds.
FIDE send its condolences to the Belarus Chess Federation, his family and friends.
Kupreichik - Tal, Sochi 1970
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8. Be3 Qc7 9. f4 a6 10. Bd3 b5 11. a3 Be7 12. Qf3 Bb7 13. O-O Rc8 14. Rae1 O-O 15. Qh3 b4 16. Nd5 ed5 17. ed5 Nb8 18. Bd4 g6 19. Rf3 Bd5 20. Rfe3 Bd8 21. Qh4 Nbd7 22. Qh6 Qb7 23. Rg3 Nc5 24. Nc5 dc5 25. f5 cd4 26. fg6 fg6 27. Bg6 Kh8 28. Qf8 Ng8 29. Bf5 Rb8 30. Re8 Qf7 31. Rh3
