Gregory Kaidanov, born in 1959, is an American chess Grandmaster (GM) known for his significant contributions to the world of chess. He was granted the GM title in 1988. Kaidanov was born in Berdichev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, but moved to Lexington, Kentucky in the U.S. in the 90s.
Kaidanov has an impressive list of achievements including winning the 2002 World Open, and the 2010 SPICE Cup. He also represented the U.S. on several occasions at the Chess Olympiad, earning a silver medal with the team in 1996 and 2008.
Kaidanov is ranked among the top 100 players worldwide, and has trained several young American talents. He is primarily known for his teaching, which he undertook soon after becoming a GM. His students include Abby Marshall and Alicia Wong, both of whom have won national scholastic titles.
In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic occurred, Kaidanov started streaming chess lectures on Twitch.
He won the 2013 U.S. Senior Open Championship.
Regarding his style of playing, Kaidanov is noted for being a highly tactical player and having a deep understanding of the game's nuances.