Atanas Kolev is a Bulgarian chess player who holds the title of Grandmaster (GM). Born on 15th July 1967, Kolev achieved the Grandmaster status in 1993. He's earned numerous achievements throughout his chess career.
Notable among his successes are winning the Bulgarian Chess Championship in 2002 and 2008, and placing third in 2000, 2004, 2005, and 2007. Multi-time winner of the International Open Championships in Serbia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Greece, and Turkey, In 2008 he won a strong open tournament in Arco, Italy to mark his other significant winnings.
More important is his performance in team events. Representing Bulgaria, he took part in European Team Chess Championships in 1992, 1997, 1999, and 2003. In his performance at the team chess championships held in Plovdiv in 2003, the players won silver medals.
Kolev is renowned for his unique playing style; aggressive and tactical. Many of his best games were compiled in his book, "The Sharpest Sicilian." Besides being a successful player, he is also famous for his teaching at world renowned chess camps and as an author of chess books.