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Happened Today in the Chess World - May 18, 2024

BOOKS AND WJIK AAN ZEE

GM Gennadi Sosonko - source: wikipedia.org

Today is the birthday of Grandmaster Gennady Borisovich Sosonko, born in Troitsk, Russia, on May 18, 1943.
Sosonko is a Dutch chess player of Russian origin. In 1972, he moved from the Soviet Union to the Netherlands.
He earned the title of International Master in 1974 and Grandmaster in 1976. In 2004, FIDE also awarded him the title of "FIDE Senior Trainer."
Sosonko has won the Dutch championship twice, in 1973 and 1978 (shared).
The Dutch GM represented the Netherlands in 11 Chess Olympiads from 1974 to 1996, winning two individual medals (gold in Haifa 1976 and bronze in Nice 1974) and two team medals (silver in Haifa 1976 and bronze in Thessaloniki 1988).
Sosonko, among other important results, won the prestigious Wijk aan Zee tournament twice: in 1977 and 1981.
He reached his peak rating in January 1981, with 2595 Elo points.
Sosonko has authored six non-technical chess books centering heavily on his chess life in the Soviet Union and his relationships with and memories of both leading Soviet players and lesser-known characters in chess history.

Bent Larsen vs Gennadi Sosonko (Phillips & Drew Kings 1980, London ENG)
Black to move