| Birth Day | February 19, 1924 |
| Birth Place | Ukraine |
| Age | 96 YEARS OLD |
| Died On | Dec 5, 2006 (age 82) |
| Birth Sign | Pisces |
Grandmaster who was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of tactics and creativity in applying them; he was one of the world's best from the '40s until the '70s.
His grandfather taught him to play chess when he was 6 years old.
He became a Soviet Master when he was only 16 years old.
He grew up in Bila Tserkva, Ukraine.
He came close to becoming World Chess Champion in 1951 but lost to Mikhail Botvinnik.
