Mikhail Chigorin (1850-1908) (oct 31, 1850 – jan 25, 1908)

Description:

Was a Russian chess player. He played two World Championship matches against Wilhelm Steinitz, losing both times.

Through his original talent, lively games and prolific teachings, many Russians regard Mikhail Chigorin as the founder of their "School of chess", later to become known as the Soviet School of Chess. Overshadowed to some extent in the 1920s by the exciting new theories of the hypermodern movement, Chigorin's influence nevertheless demands a prominent and permanent place in the Soviet chess hegemony of the 20th century.